The Impact of Local Environmental Advocacy Groups on City Sustainability Policies and Programs

Abstract

American cities vary considerably in the degree to which they pursue sustainability. What explains this variation? One plausible cause of such differences is that sustainability may be more appealing to high‐income cities than to more economically challenged cities. Yet such strict economic determinism seems simplistic and removes politics from an inherently political process. The hypothesis here is that any such relationship between income and commitment to sustainability is conditioned by a city's level of environmental advocacy. The data utilized in this analysis are derived from two large‐scale data sources. One is a comprehensive inventory of sustainability programs and policies in 50 large American cities. The other is a set of surveys in those same 50 cities. The multivariate model supports the hypothesis. Controlling for income growth and the predisposition of policymakers to be supportive of sustainability (as well as other alternative explanations), a city's commitment to sustainability is strongly linked to the advocacy of environmental and sustainability groups in the policymaking process. The example of Sustainable Seattle is used to illustrate the linkages that would seem to underlie the statistical analysis.

Comparing Climate Change Policy Adoption and Its Extension across Areas of City Policymaking

“…Finally, while this analysis did not support the notion that a city being more Democratic party leaning would assist coalition formation around these issues, my measure of the potential for an oppositional coalition existing—the city economy's dependence on manufacturing—did have a statistically significant negative association with the adoption of mitigation. This finding is consistent with work on sustainability policy showing that, while there is little evidence that economic development and sustainability policy efforts conflict (Portney, ), for local action it is important that potential adversaries perceive that no such conflicts exist (Portney & Berry, ). At the same time, it is important to note that this region's long relationship with manufacturing may make the established presence of manufacturing a more influential factor in narrowing the space in which certain new policy issues and strategies might emerge than in other regions.…”

“…My results also provided some support for the notion that the presence of potential institutional sources for coalitions to form would be positively associated with adoption. This resonates with discussions regarding coalition formation around sustainability policy where the influence of sustainability policies is tied to the influence of environmental interests (Portney & Berry, ). The presence of an environmental or sustainability focused department or commission was associated with adoption for both issues, but the number of districts or wards directly electing city council members was associated only with mitigation while membership in a sustainability network was only associated with adaptation.…”

The Structure of City Action: Institutional Embeddedness and Sustainability Practices in U.S. Cities

“…Based on these patterns, we anticipate that the ecosystem of nonprofits in a city will have a positive effect on city action. While we expect the overall size of the nonprofit sector to influence city action in general, considerable evidence indicates that environmental nonprofits contribute to local sustainability reforms (Portney, 2005; Portney & Berry, 2010, 2015) Organizations that want to lobby extensively do not incorporate as charitable nonprofits due to federal restrictions on the activity (available evidence indicates that far less than 5% lobby in a given year and expenditures are modest), suggesting that these organizations are not coercive interest groups, but a positive effect for this environmental field would be reasonable as well (J. Berry, 2005; Suárez & Hwang, 2008).…”

Drivers of Policy Instrument Selection for Environmental Management by Local Governments

“…Urban residents have been shown to be more supportive of Democrats over Republicans and to provide greater support for organized interest groups advancing environmental initiatives. These areas also have adopted larger numbers of environmental, energy, climate, and/or sustainability policies (Portney and Berry ; Ramírez de la Cruz ) and are more likely to adopt financing measures to support their implementation (Wang, Liu, and Hawkins ). Politics and political support can also influence the type of policy instrument used.…”