Climate governance in federal Belgium: modest subnational policies in a complex multi-level setting

Abstract

To cite this article: Sander Happaerts (2015) Climate governance in federal Belgium: modest subnational policies in a complex multi-level setting, Journal of Integrative Environmental Sciences, 12:4, 285-301,

Urban sustainability transitions in a context of multi-level governance: A comparison of four European states

“…The current "management of unsustainability" approach is further reinforced by austerity discourses, which dominate current Belgian political discourses, by cuts in investments and activities in environmental policy (GK 2; GK 6; GK 9; GK 20-23). Therefore, in contrast to the innovative potential that is often associated with the dispersion of power, Belgian federalism provides rather a case for policy failure (Happaerts, 2015).…”

“…Where German federalism is characterised by entanglement, Belgian federalism features separation. It can be described by three main characteristics: the exclusive division of competences, the principle of no hierarchy and the Europeanization of inter-governmental relations within Belgium (Happaerts, 2015).…”

“…In this context, external pressure by EU or international policy commitments is essential to forge agreement between different levels of governance within Belgium (Beyers and Bursens, 2006b;GK 20-23). This has resulted in the Europeanisation of intergovernmental relations (Happaerts, 2015).…”

“…In this context, the federal government retained considerable authority to define regulation and the policy orientation in single policy domains (hard power). This multilevel architecture has so far reproduced a status quo in environmental and climate policy (Happaerts, 2013;Maesschalck and Van De Walle, 2006) which is reinforced by a lack of ambitious visions for energy, transport and food policy for example. The current approach is thus more an approach of "managing unsustainability" (focussing on the symptoms instead of the causes) in the way that current market-driven, growth-oriented economic development can continue (Blühdorn, 2007).…”

Does Car-Sharing Reduce Car-Use? An Impact Evaluation of Car-Sharing in Flanders, Belgium

“…Additionally, limiting the fiscal benefits of company cars may lead to less effective car-ownership, a particular issue in Belgium [39]. However, these policies involve different levels of government (federal, regional and city/municipal) and different actors (car-sharing firms, company car fleet operators, businesses, employees, consumers) that make a coordinated policy mix a complex multi-level governance problem, especially in Belgium [40]. In Belgium, the fiscal treatment of cars and company cars is a federal responsibility.…”