Governing Climate Change Transnationally: Assessing the Evidence from a Database of Sixty Initiatives

Abstract

Abstract. With this paper we present an analysis of sixty transnational governance initiatives and assess the implications for our understanding of the roles of public and private actors, the legitimacy of governance 'beyond' the state, and the North-South dimensions of governing climate change. In the fi rst part of the paper we examine the notion of transnational governance and its applicability in the climate change arena, refl ecting on the history and emergence of transnational governance initiatives in this issue area and key areas of debate. In the second part of the paper we present the fi ndings from the database and its analysis. Focusing on three core issues, the roles of public and private actors in governing transnationally, the functions that such initiatives perform, and the ways in which accountability for governing global environmental issues might be achieved, we suggest that signifi cant distinctions are emerging in the universe of transnational climate governance which may have considerable implications for the governing of global environmental issues. In conclusion, we refl ect on these fi ndings and the subsequent consequences for the governance of climate change.

The Transnational Regime Complex for Climate Change

“…The organizations shown in fi gure 2 are largely the same as those considered in Bulkeley et al (2012). However, I omit a few schemes in their database, (3) and add some additional schemes, (4) to a total of sixty eight (fi gure 3 identifi es each scheme).…”

“…(6) The placement of an organization is determined by judging each actor group's approximate 'share' in its creation, governance, and operations: the greater the role played (2) Some institutions in the Bulkeley et al (2012) Abbott and Snidal (2009a;2009b). In this paper and in Bulkeley et al (2012) a few schemes are implicitly 'coded' differently: I focus on the actors involved in the governance of a scheme, whereas Bulkeley et al consider all the actors that participate in a scheme's programs.…”

“…Under the analytical framework set out in Bulkeley et al (2012): (1) The organizations I consider are 'transnational' because they operate in more than one country and include private actors and/or subnational units of government as well as, or rather than, states and interstate organizations (IOs).…”

Who should do what in environmental management? Twelve principles for allocating responsibilities

“…Crona and Hubacek, 2010;Rhodes, 2007;Sørensen and Torfing, 2009). Yet, much of this collaboration takes place in the shadow of formal arrangements (Bulkeley et al, 2012). Formal arrangements such as the allocation of responsibilities structure the arena where collaboration takes place.…”

“…Other strands of literature are much more specific, such as the literature on polycentric governance (e.g. Galaz et al, 2012;Hooghe and Marks, 2003;Ostrom et al, 1961;Skelcher, 2005), transnational governance (Bulkeley et al, 2012), fit and interplay (Moss, 2012;Young, 2003Young, , 2008 common pool resources management (e.g. Agrawal, 2001;Cox et al, 2010;Ostrom, 1990;Ostrom, 2010), scale (e.g.…”