Why firms do not expect climate policies to have the intended effects – positioning in a polycentric governance landscape

Abstract

A polycentric governance regime that includes non-state actors has potential to increase the pace in mitigating climate change if there is concerted action among the actors involved. However, previous research has shown that climate policy directed at business firms does not always have the intended effects. Taking a polycentric perspective to climate governance, this paper contributes insight into why some firms expect that to be the case. The paper builds on qualitative interviews with firms in the Swedish construction and civil engineering industry. We apply positioning theory to analyse firms’ views on their own and other actors’ roles and responsibilities in climate transformation. The results suggest that governance authorities could take on a more traditional, coercive leadership role, setting clear rules and regulations, if these extend in time and space to create a market where the shared goals are ambitious, and the playing field is level for firms.