Climate Governance Research Articles

Structure, agency and local climate governance: how do individual actors exploit local contexts to shape policymaking in smaller cities and towns?

ABSTRACT Previous studies stress that structural conditions influence local climate action, but often neglect the role of agency in policymaking. Drawing on fieldwork in 11 German towns, we show how municipal managers frame climate-related policies in different ways to gain local support for action. Although these framings are influenced by each town’s socio-economic, demographic and political conditions, as well as its vulnerability to climate threats, they nonetheless highlight the importance of individuals in policymaking. We then present a two-dimensional framework to inform future research into structure and agency in local governance, whilst cautioning that undertaking such studies can be difficult.

Boosting Firm Environmental Performance: The Roles of Top Management Team Functional Diversity, Environmental Disclosures, and Government Subsidy

Contemporary organizations are actively striving to achieve a higher level of environmental performance (the extent to which the organization reduces and minimizes its negative impact on the natural environment). This pursuit is not only driven by the need to comply with governmental climate change regulations but also by the desire to gain a competitive advantage. While a limited number of studies have acknowledged the importance of top executives’ strategy-making on firms’ environmental performance, questions still persist regarding how the role structure of the top management team (TMT) promotes the disclosure of environmental policies, and subsequently enhances firm environmental performance. Based on the attention-based view and resource-dependency perspective, this study aims to examine how TMT functional diversity is beneficial for formulating better environmental disclosures, which in turn, is expected to increase environmental performance. Additionally, we explore the extent to which external resources (i.e., government subsidies) can strengthen this relationship. We employed an archival dataset from 406 Chinese manufacturing firms over a ten-year period (2010–2019) and tested a moderated mediation model. Our findings suggest that greater functional diversity within TMTs positively influences firm environmental performance through the improved environmental disclosures, and this indirect effect is amplified when firms receive higher levels of government subsidies. Our study contributes to the existing literature on environmental governance by demonstrating that (1) functional diversity within the TMT can predict more favorable environmental performance metrics; and (2) government financial support can particularly be a booster for the relationship between TMT environmental disclosures and firm environmental performance.

Data Scaling: Implications for Climate Action and Governance in the UK

Local actors have growing prominence in climate governance but key capacities and powers remain with national policymakers. Coordination between national and local climate action is therefore of increasing importance. Underappreciated in existing academic and policy literature, coordination between actors at different scales can be affected not only by politics and institutional arrangements, but also by methods of data analysis. Exploring two datasets of GHG emissions by local area in England—one of consumption-based emissions and the other of territorial emissions—this paper shows the potential for a data scaling problem known as the modifiable areal unit problem and its possible consequences for the efficacy and equity implications of climate action. While this analysis is conceptual and does not identify specific instances of the modifiable areal unit problem or its consequences, it calls attention to methods of data analysis as possible contributors to climate governance challenges. Among other areas, future analysis is needed to explore how data scaling and other aspects of data processing and analysis may affect our understanding of non-state actors’ contribution to climate action.

Germany's allocation of bilateral adaptation aid: Understanding the role of institutional context in shaping allocation decisions

Allocation of adaptation aid to the countries most vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change is a topic that has received increasing attention in global climate governance in recent years. Studies have attempted to explain the role of vulnerability as a determinant of adaptation aid using largely quantitative methods and focusing on recipient characteristics with varying results. I argue that we cannot assess the role of vulnerability in allocation decisions without paying attention to the decision-making process itself. This article examines how the allocation of bilateral adaptation aid to developing countries is shaped by donors’ institutional context, consisting of the institutional identity, institutional beliefs and allocation stages. Through a case study of the allocation process of the German Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, I show that these three elements of the institutional context govern how vulnerability is understood and considered in the allocation of adaptation aid.

Research on a global periodic climate prediction method based on improved BP neural network

Climate prediction has a wide social demand, but due to the complexity of climate system formation and the uniqueness of Chinas terrain, accurate prediction is extremely complex and difficult. Therefore, this article proposes a global periodic climate prediction method based on an improved BP neural network. Firstly, based on historical meteorological data, establish a climate model and summarize and analyze the characteristics of the patterns; Then, based on the BP neural network, considering the relationship between adjacent days, rolling sampling of historical data is carried out according to seasonal and meteorological factors in the sampling interval, establishing a multi-state transition probability matrix, and constructing an annual time series forecasting model; Finally, taking precipitation prediction as an example, an example was used to simulate the annual precipitation situation. The calculation results have verified the effectiveness of the proposed method, indicating that it can simulate climate conditions well and provide guidance for climate governance and engineering construction.

Green bonds: Fueling green innovation or just a fad?

This study investigates the impact of green bond issuance on green innovation and its underlying mechanisms. We find that green bond issuance promotes green innovation, with stronger effects observed in regions with weaker climate regulation, industries exhibiting better environmental performance, and firms with more concentrated ownership. Further analysis reveals that corporate green bonds facilitate the reallocation of investment capital into research and development, effectively mitigating financial constraints on green innovation. This upsurge in green innovation not only enhances financial performance but also yields specific environmental benefits, such as improved environmental investment and ESG performance. These empirical results underscore the significance of green finance in fostering sustainable corporate innovation and advancing climate governance, rather than merely engaging in greenwashing practices.

Speeches in the green: The political discourse of green central banking

In this paper, we employ a keyword-assisted topic model to quantify the extent of climate-related communication of central banks. We find evidence for a significant increase in climate-related speeches by central banks, which address the topic mostly in parallel with issues related to financial stability, whereas monetary policy and price stability are less emphasized. Finally, we examine factors that can explain the extent of green communication by central banks. Controlling for macroeconomic and climate-related variables, we identify two external factors that can prompt central banks to increase green communication: First, peer pressure, as measured by membership in Network for Greening the Financial System (NGFS), increases green communication. Second, a high degree of governmental climate engagement, reflected by the scope of national climate policies, correlates positively with central banks’ green communication. Whether the central bank has an implicit or explicit sustainability mandate, however, does not explain the extent of green communication.

Climate Change as an Existential Threat: Translating Global Goals into Action

Climate change is the greatest existential challenge for the humanity and this makes the implementation of the SDG 13 ‘Climate Action’ and Paris Agreement on Climate Change crucial for our survival. This article begins by elaborating the concept of implementation of international law, makes a comparison between the legal character of the Paris Agreement on Climate Change and the SDGs. It argues that the Paris Agreement creates the necessary legal framework, transparency, technology transfer, accountability, capacity building, financing and other mechanisms to implement SDG 13. However, the lack of political will and ignorance by some governments has led to a lack of progress, which may jeopardize not only Climate Action, but other SDGs too. The article ends with the argument that UN member-states should undertake urgent action to mitigate climate change, adapt to its negative consequences and co-operate towards an effective global climate governance, and for that matter it would be helpful, if climate action is formulated as a new and separate purpose in the UN Charter.

The framing of Indigenous and local ecological knowledge amidst climate change education in the COP27 cyberspace

ABSTRACT We explore representations of Indigenous and local ecological knowledge (IEK/LEK) within the cyberspace of COP27 through a digital ethnography of the UNESCO-UNFCCC Webinar Series organized to supplement the in-person meetings that took place in Egypt. Through frame analysis and an accounting of UNFCCC literature on knowledge produced by Indigenous Peoples and local communities (IPLCs), we argue that while the UN’s efforts toward inclusivity are valuable, this webinar demonstrates the significant shortcomings of international climate governance’s engagement with IEK and LEK. Digital spaces surrounding global climate governance represent a contradictory dualism for Indigenous and at-risk communities, as these spaces both provide an outlet for decentralized climate activism and a method of co-optation by neoliberal forces orbiting the UN system. We argue that meaningful changes are necessary in the digital approaches of the UNFCCC and UNESCO to climate change education and epistemic inclusivity to account for the place-based, localized impacts of global climate governance. The changes should reflect the diversity of IEK and LEK forms, give agency to IPLCs to determine whether to share climate information, and must include adequate representation from affected communities.

Progress in Digital Climate Governance in China: Statistical Measurement, Regional Differences, and Dynamic Evolution

The capacity for climate governance is crucial for sustainable advancement, with data elements being a pivotal production factor in contemporary governance. This study examines the trajectory and strategy of digital transformation in climate governance, creating a three-dimensional dataset encapsulating 11 primary and 36 secondary indicators to facilitate the assessment of digital climate governance. Employing spatiotemporal analysis and coupling coordination models, this study evaluates the digitalization levels in climate governance across 30 regions in China, examining how to progress digital integration from governmental and market perspectives. Findings reveal a consistent improvement in China’s regional digital climate governance, bolstering economic and social progress. Nonetheless, regional disparities and developmental lags persist, with convergence analysis indicating a divergence trend in provincial climate governance capabilities. Moreover, kernel density and Markov chain analyses suggest an ongoing evolution in regional digital climate governance efforts, aiming at achieving a higher development plateau. The study emphasizes the dual role of government and market dynamics in boosting digital governance levels, deducing from two-stage regression that effective government-market interplay is vital for elevating governance quality and fostering new productive forces, recommending an integrated governance mechanism for optimal synergy.

New development: Climate consulting and the transformation of climate governance

IMPACT External consultancies’ involvement in climate governance has grown substantially in recent years. Public sector managers encounter them in government tasks from policy research and design to climate modelling and training. Climate consultants include experts from large multinational firms, such as Deloitte and McKinsey, as well as from smaller ‘pure play’ advisories. Analysing why governments increasingly contract climate consultancies is important for understanding the implications for the ability to achieve climate mitigation and adaptation objectives and, ultimately, how governments can best harness the skills and knowledge of external actors to meet those goals.

Selective Attention to Environmental Justice by International Cooperative Initiatives for Biodiversity and Climate

Abstract The relevance of environmental justice in global biodiversity and climate governance has increased as stakeholders’ unequal affectedness by environmental action is becoming ever more obvious. International Cooperative Initiatives (ICIs) play an ever increasing role in addressing global environmental change and biodiversity loss. Yet, the consideration of demands of environmental justice by these non-state or hybrid actors is still under-explored. Informed by a three-pillar environmental justice framework comprising distributive, procedural, and recognition justice, we use content analysis to identify if and how these different pillars are presented on the websites and in the key publications of a sample of 53 ICIs. A majority of these ICIs include references to environmental justice and its different pillars in their description of their work. But environmental justice seems to be neither a central concern nor are the references very nuanced. Distributive justice receives the most attention, whereas aspects of procedural and recognition justice receive less attention. To better anchor environmental justice within global biodiversity and climate governance, we encourage ICIs to thoroughly integrate environmental justice in operational work and to integrate and establish ongoing dialogues with marginalised groups.

Interrogating Neoliberalist Approach to Global Climate Governance

While global climate governance has been identified across a wide range of international political events, it has been deeply rooted in the liberal international order which encounters various political challenges. This work employs the ecological modernization approach as a way to observe how the neoliberal elements of the global climate governance have been interrogated by different and emerging critical discourses. This work identifies that the populism, green movements and (radical) left-wing concepts have been emerging to challenge the existing global climate governance by holding critical stances on the key elements of the ecological modernization approach.

Network Effects in Global Carbon Transfer: New Evidence from a Carbon-Connectedness Network Centered on China

There is plenty of evidence to suggest that global carbon emission transfer has evolved into a mutually related system, where a realistic and complex network is formed. To profile the structures and features in the global carbon emission transfer network, a carbon-connectedness network model is adapted and combined with the multiregional input–output analysis framework, on the basis of massive and multi-layer global carbon flow data. This study formulates the topological features, spatio-temporal features, dynamic features and core–periphery features from a brand-new perspective on China. Meanwhile, this study identifies the network effects in the global carbon transfer network, including spillover, spillin and spillback effects. In general, an increase in China’s carbon emission transfer would lead to significant spillover effects on most economies worldwide, especially on developing economies and those with weaker tertiary industry or situated at the upstream of the global value chain. Simultaneously, China itself would also face substantial spillback effects. Spillovers and spillbacks underscore a broader negative impact that exceeds its initial magnitude. Focused on the connectedness network centered on China, this study is complementary to traditional insights, helping to comprehend the connections and relationships of carbon emissions among economies. This understanding is of substantive significance for the formulation of multi-national mitigation strategies and fostering global climate governance cooperation.

Strategic implications of carbon pricing on global environmental sustainability and economic development: A conceptual framework

This study critically evaluates the strategic implications of carbon pricing mechanisms on global environmental sustainability and economic development. Employing a systematic literature review and content analysis, the research synthesizes recent findings from peer-reviewed articles, reports, and policy documents published between 2010 and 2024. The study's objectives include analyzing the effectiveness of carbon pricing in reducing greenhouse gas emissions, assessing its economic impacts, exploring environmental benefits, and understanding the role of international cooperation in enhancing the efficacy of carbon pricing policies. The methodology hinges on a structured search strategy, applying rigorous inclusion and exclusion criteria to ensure the relevance and quality of the literature reviewed. The analysis reveals that carbon pricing, encompassing both carbon taxes and cap-and-trade systems, serves as a pivotal tool for mitigating climate change while fostering economic growth and structural transformation. Key findings highlight the potential of carbon pricing to drive innovation in green technologies, the importance of addressing social equity concerns, and the critical role of international policy coordination in mitigating cross-border carbon leakage and competitiveness issues. The study concludes that carbon pricing mechanisms, when effectively designed and equitably implemented, can align environmental sustainability with economic development goals. Recommendations for policymakers emphasize the need for comprehensive strategies that integrate carbon pricing with broader economic and environmental policies, underscore the importance of international cooperation, and advocate for continued research to refine carbon pricing models and strategies. This research contributes to the ongoing discourse on carbon pricing, offering insights into its potential as a cornerstone of global climate governance and sustainable economic policy. Keywords: Carbon Pricing Mechanisms, Environmental Sustainability, Economic Development, International Cooperation.

Climate governance and carbon emission disclosure

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to shed light on the influence of climate governance on carbon emission disclosure.Design/methodology/approachThis study is based on S&P BSE 500 Indian firms over six years, i.e. from 2016–2017 to 2021–2022. The panel regression has been used to determine the association between climate governance and carbon emission disclosure.FindingsThe results of this study suggest that climate governance exerts a significant influence on corporate carbon emission disclosure. Moreover, results corroborate that climate governance elements such as the environment committee, carbon strategy and environment management system are critical contributors to carbon emission disclosure.Practical implicationsThis study adds to the emerging literature on climate change, carbon emission disclosure, corporate governance and climate governance.Social implicationsThis work provides valuable insights to corporate managers and policymakers as the study concludes that climate governance enhances firms’ carbon emission disclosure.Originality/valueEarlier literature has examined the influence of corporate governance on carbon emission disclosure. However, this study extends to the corporate governance literature by providing novel insights into how integrating climate governance elements into corporate governance can influence carbon emission disclosure. Moreover, to the best of the authors’ knowledge, this study is the first to explore the association between climate governance and carbon emission disclosure in the Indian context.

The diverse cities of global urban climate governance

AbstractGlobal politics has shown increasing interest in cities, particularly in the field of climate policy and governance. Yet, we still have little understanding of which cities engage the most in global urban climate governance. Answering this question is a first step towards understanding who decides for whom in a system that has decisive influence on wider global policy processes. In this article, we seek to identify and analyse the characteristics and position of cities in global urban climate governance to reassess its composition. To do so, we conduct a social network analysis of 15 transnational city networks. Results emphasise that global and large cities are the most central, but small and middle‐size cities are the most numerous actors of the system. Global South cities are larger than their Northern counterparts in the system. Those less central and understudied actors likely have less influence over which norms are shared, yet they should not be seen as followers or imitators of climate policy. It is important to pay more attention to them to understand their multifaceted role in cities' collective efforts to address climate change.

The Politics of Youth Representation at Climate Change Conferences: Who Speaks, Who Is Spoken of, and Who Listens?

Abstract In this article, we examine how young climate activists make use of the United Nations (UN) constituency system to give voice to children and youth in global climate governance. Our study is based on a mapping of accredited youth nongovernmental organizations (YOUNGO) as well as fieldwork at two UN Climate Change Conferences, where we conducted interviews, observed events, and analyzed plenary interventions. Informed by constructivist accounts of political representation, the article pays attention to the performative relationship between institutionalized means of youth representation and “the represented.” When analyzing our material, we asked who speaks for youth, how youth are spoken of, and how institutions shape representative speech. Our study identifies three subject positions that offer competing interpretations of who youth are as a political community and what they want. Rather than taking youth’s demands and interests as a starting point for representative politics, the article illustrates how the UN constituency system actively constructs youth and effectively molds young climate activists into professional insiders.

Climate Governance Pathway for BRICS in the Post-Paris Era

BRICS countries comprise 41.87% of the world’s population and generate over 42% of the global greenhouse gas emissions. As the largest political cluster in global climate governance, their positions and alignment in the post-Paris Agreement era would determine the future trajectory of climate governance for the international communities. This article aims to ascertain the respective positions of BRICS nations by examining their nationally determined contributions and targets for carbon peak and neutrality. Through this analysis, the article endeavors to consolidate a comprehensive BRICS decarbonization roadmap, providing stakeholders and policymakers with greater clarity. In addition, in-depth case studies from China and India, the two biggest emitters, offer valuable insights into their climate mitigation paths. This would inspire unity among the BRICS countries and encourage them to uphold the stability of their partnership in climate governance collectively.

Testing the Ambition Loop: Do Country- and Company-Level Net-Zero Targets Reinforce Each Other? A Global Comparison

One theory about company- and country-level climate actions is that they interact with one another through a mutually reinforcing “ambition loop”. Using publicly available data on country- and company-level net-zero targets, our econometric analysis reveals a positive relationship between state and company: A country introducing a domestic net-zero target in law increases the likelihood of companies introducing their own voluntary targets and vice-versa. Our findings offer important insights into the mechanisms of climate governance—knowledge that will be critical if we are to meet global net-zero targets by 2050.