Moving from agenda to action: evaluating local climate change action plans

Abstract

Climate change is conventionally recognised as a large-scale issue resolved through regional or national policy initiatives. However, little research has been done to directly evaluate local climate change action plans. This study examines 40 recently adopted local climate change action plans in the US and analyses how well they recognise the concepts of climate change and prepare for climate change mitigation and adaptation. The results indicate that local climate change action plans have a high level of 'awareness', moderate 'analysis capabilities' for climate change, and relatively limited 'action approaches' for climate change mitigation. The study also identifies specific factors influencing the quality of these local jurisdictional plans. Finally, it provides policy recommendations to improve planning for climate change at the local level.climate change, local jurisdiction, action plan, quality,

National climate policies across Europe and their impacts on cities strategies

“…This is contrary to other parts of the world as outlined by a global survey of 468 cities, conducted by the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (Carmin et al, 2012), which found membership to organizations linking and working with local governments to sustainable practices (such as ICLEI) boosting action to adapt to climate change. Further, examining 40 local climate change action plans in the US points out that these plans have typically "a high level of awareness", moderate "analysis capabilities" for climate change, and relatively limited "action approaches" for climate change mitigation" (Tang et al, 2010). This is also supported by an assessment of the available best practices in both mitigation and adaptation for North American cities, highlighting the need for increased attention to adaptation at the local level (Zimmerman and Faris, 2011).…”

Climbing the Adaptation Planning Ladder: Barriers and Enablers in Municipal Planning

“…Among the most basic needs are climate change awareness and technical knowledge of how to proceed; Australian research has found that planners express uncertainty about how to begin CCA planning, despite evident awareness and conviction about the need for action (Measham et al, 2011, Baker et al, 2012, Gurran et al, 2012a. Consistently, if regulatory authority or mandates to support adaptation efforts are absent, it is much more difficult for planners overcome local barriers arising from insufficient information and capacity constraints (Few et al, 2007, Funfgeld, 2010, Tang et al, 2010. State mandates, while sometimes viewed by local officials as obtrusive and controlling without the benefit of additional funding, can provide both an alignment of values and the political cover needed when facing opposition from constituents (Bedsworth & Hanak, 2010;Dalton & Burby, 1994).…”

Urban Responses to Climate Change: Framework for Decisionmaking and Supporting Indicators

“…• political changes, such as the election of a new leader who makes responding to climate change a priority (Ford et al, 2011) • pressure from citizens for protection from the effects of climate change (Sippel and Jenssen, 2009) • local government's desire to have a "green" reputation to attract new businesses and workers (Sippel and Jenssen, 2009) • the presence of state and federal mandates or initiatives (Wallis, 2011;Tang et al, 2010).…”