Transnational Municipal Climate Networks and the Politics of Standardisation: The Contested Role of Climate Data in the New Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate and Energy

Friederike Gesing

doi:10.17645/pag.v6i3.1111

Abstract

This article analyses the formation of a new global network, the Global Covenant of Mayors for Climate &amp; Energy (GCoM), by two existing initiatives, the EU-based Covenant of Mayors and the UN-supported Compact of Mayors. While this merger of two transnational networks provides evidence for the increased coordination and standardisation of transnational municipal climate action, this remains a contentious and incomplete process. The article identifies different modes of transnational climate governance that have contributed to conflict between the founding networks and zooms in on the role of municipal climate data. Using empirical evidence, it analyses the contested politics of municipal climate data, including the role of the Global Protocol for Community-Scale Greenhouse Gas Emission Inventories (GPC) as a standard tool, the definition of a common target, and the inclusion of financial actors. Concerns over the reshaping of public-private boundaries and the possible commodification of public data are identified as major obstacles for the (EU) Covenant of Mayors, which consequentially seeks to remain as independent as possible within the new GCoM. Data politics emerges as a crucial factor for the future direction of transnational municipal climate policy and the ongoing processes of standardisation and coordination.

Highlights

Transnationalising Municipal Climate ActionNon-state actors have gained increasing recognition in global climate policy in recent years (Fuhr & Hickmann, 2016; Pattberg & Widerberg, 2015)
The Covenant of Mayors has focused on establishing a new Transnational climate governance (TCG) structure which links municipalities to a common target for emission reductions, whereas the Compact of Mayors has developed a data-based approach to municipal climate action, building on the Global Protocol for Community-Scale Greenhouse Gas Emission Inventories (GPC) introduced as a standard tool
The remainder of this article addresses the struggles over the role of the GPC, and over the definition of a common target for the GCoM as being facets of an unfolding controversy regarding the politics of municipal climate data and the future role of standardisation practices in transnational municipal climate governance

Summary

Introduction

Non-state actors have gained increasing recognition in global climate policy in recent years (Fuhr & Hickmann, 2016; Pattberg & Widerberg, 2015). This article asks whether the politics of standardisation inherent in this merger are responsible for the difficulties encountered It uses empirical evidence: participant observation at the COP 21, document analysis and interviews.. The Covenant of Mayors has focused on establishing a new TCG structure which links municipalities to a common target for emission reductions, whereas the Compact of Mayors has developed a data-based approach to municipal climate action, building on the Global Protocol for Community-Scale Greenhouse Gas Emission Inventories (GPC) introduced as a standard tool. It analyses the role of municipal climate data by looking at discussions about the future use of the GPC by the GCoM, the inclusion of financial actors, and the suggestion to define a common target. Concerns over the reshaping of public-private boundaries are identified as the main obstacle for further integration, most visible in concerns over the possible commodification of public data voiced by the Covenant of Mayors, which consequentially seeks to remain as independent as possible within the GCoM

The Covenant of Mayors

Visions for the GCoM

Towards an Accounting Framework

An Alternative Political Framework

Findings

Conclusions