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Cities to the rescue? Assessing the performance of transnational municipal networks in global climate governance

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  • Jennifer S. Bansard

    (University of Potsdam)

  • Philipp H. Pattberg

    (VU University Amsterdam)

  • Oscar Widerberg

    (VU University Amsterdam)

Abstract

Despite the proliferation and promise of subnational climate initiatives, the institutional architecture of transnational municipal networks (TMNs) is not well understood. With a view to close this research gap, the article empirically assesses the assumption that TMNs are a viable substitute for ambitious international action under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). It addresses the aggregate phenomenon in terms of geographical distribution, central players, mitigation ambition and monitoring provisions. Examining thirteen networks, it finds that membership in TMNs is skewed toward Europe and North America while countries from the Global South are underrepresented; that only a minority of networks commit to quantified emission reductions and that these are not more ambitious than Parties to the UNFCCC; and finally that the monitoring provisions are fairly limited. In sum, the article shows that transnational municipal networks are not (yet) the representative, ambitious and transparent player they are thought to be.

Suggested Citation

  • Jennifer S. Bansard & Philipp H. Pattberg & Oscar Widerberg, 2017. "Cities to the rescue? Assessing the performance of transnational municipal networks in global climate governance," International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics, Springer, vol. 17(2), pages 229-246, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:ieaple:v:17:y:2017:i:2:d:10.1007_s10784-016-9318-9
    DOI: 10.1007/s10784-016-9318-9
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    10. Sylvia Croese & Cayley Green & Gareth Morgan, 2020. "Localizing the Sustainable Development Goals Through the Lens of Urban Resilience: Lessons and Learnings from 100 Resilient Cities and Cape Town," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-16, January.
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    14. Angel Prieto, 2019. "Alliances de villes pour le climat - Modélisation par la théorie des jeux," CIRANO Working Papers 2019s-16, CIRANO.
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    17. Ekaterina Domorenok & Giuseppe Acconcia & Lena Bendlin & Xira Ruiz Campillo, 2020. "Experiments in EU Climate Governance: The Unfulfilled Potential of the Covenant of Mayors," Global Environmental Politics, MIT Press, vol. 20(4), pages 122-142, Autumn.
    18. Joshua Long, 2021. "Crisis Capitalism and Climate Finance: The Framing, Monetizing, and Orchestration of Resilience-Amidst-Crisis," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 9(2), pages 51-63.
    19. Salvia, Monica & Reckien, Diana & Pietrapertosa, Filomena & Eckersley, Peter & Spyridaki, Niki-Artemis & Krook-Riekkola, Anna & Olazabal, Marta & De Gregorio Hurtado, Sonia & Simoes, Sofia G. & Genele, 2021. "Will climate mitigation ambitions lead to carbon neutrality? An analysis of the local-level plans of 327 cities in the EU," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 135(C).
    20. Cathrin Zengerling, 2019. "Governing the City of Flows: How Urban Metabolism Approaches May Strengthen Accountability in Strategic Planning," Urban Planning, Cogitatio Press, vol. 4(1), pages 187-199.

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