Abstract
The distinct role of subnational governments such as states and provinces in addressing climate change has been increasingly acknowledged. But while most studies investigate the causes and consequences of particular governments’ actions and networking activities, this article argues that subnational governments can develop climate action as a collective entrepreneurial activity. Addressing many elements explored in this special issue, it focuses on the second question and identifies climate entrepreneurship in two subnational governments—the states of California (USA) and São Paulo (Brazil). Examining internal action, as well as interaction with local authorities, national governments and the international regime, entrepreneurial activities are identified in the invention, diffusion and evaluation of subnational climate policy in each case. The article draws from the recent scholarship on policy innovation, entrepreneurship and climate governance. It contributes to the literature by exploring entrepreneurial subnational government activity in addressing climate change and expanding the understanding of the effects of policy innovation at the subnational level.
Highlights
The role of subnational governments1 in addressing climate change has been increasingly acknowledged in the past decade
To help navigate the conceptual fuzziness associated with the term entrepreneurship in climate governance, we argue that collective entrepreneurship can be established by a subnational government as a whole, rather than by particular individuals, through in-state, domestic and transnational activities
Rather than exploring the entrepreneurship of particular individuals working for or with a government, we investigate whether subnational governments can establish a collective entrepreneurship in addressing climate change, highlighting their role in the invention, diffusion and evaluation of policies and legislation
Summary
The role of subnational governments in addressing climate change has been increasingly acknowledged in the past decade. Influential states and provinces can facilitate emission reductions and can be nimble in policy implementation where national governments falter (Chen et al 2010; Falkner et al 2010; Rabe 2008). They can legislate and implement policies in areas where local governments lack resources, capacity and information to act (Anderton 2012; Van den Brande et al 2012; Galarraga et al 2011). We aim to better understand the motivation behind, the strategies of entrepreneurship and the effect of these activities
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