Organizing and Institutionalizing Local Sustainability

Abstract

This Element explores the role of public managers as designers. Drawing from systems-thinking and strategic management, a process-tracing methodology is used to examine three design processes whereby public managers develop strategies for adapting to climate change, build the requisite capabilities and evaluate outcomes. Across three cases, the findings highlight the role of managers as 'design- oriented' integration agents and point to areas where additional inquiry is warranted. This title is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core.

Local government managers are on the frontlines of climate change: Are they ready?

“…Climate action, however, is an unavoidable venture into uncertainty, where the linkages between action and outcomes may be unknowable and risks cannot be easily navigated (Ostrom, 2010). In light of this, pilot projects that can demonstrate easily measurable climate and community cobenefits can offer accessible entry points for many local governments (Deslatte, 2022).…”

“…But these capabilities often cannot be pieced together quickly; rather, significant planning and coordination have to occur sequentially, such as through securing technical assistance, engaging stakeholders, and building political support, long before the community will likely land a grant. These processes or loops of planning (Hawkins et al, 2021), management (Deslatte & Stokan, 2020; Krause et al, 2021), and evaluation (Deslatte et al, 2022), are time‐ and labor‐intensive as new initiatives are developed, piloted, and then expanded when they perform well (Deslatte, 2022).…”

“…Externally, collaboration risks are most likely to materialize among networks of local governments, nonprofits, and other potential partners when the organizations are large in number, represent heterogeneous populations, and when previous cooperative behavior or norms do not exist (Scott & Thomas, 2017). Thus, before any substantive climate action can occur, managers must confront multiple sequences of decisions about where to focus their competencies, mobilize partners, and allocate resources (Deslatte, 2022).…”

“…Drawing from recent data and cumulative evidence on local sustainability activities, we argue policy makers and managers at all levels of governance need to apply the lessons learned over the last two decades of subnational climate efforts. For local government managers working in the 21st century, climate change will likely be a defining social dilemma of their lifetimes (Deslatte, 2022; Fiorino, 2010). After years of inaction, the United States has taken a major step in trying to meet its greenhouse‐gas mitigation pledges.…”