Governing climate change transnationally: assessing the evidence from a survey of sixty initiatives

Bulkeley, Harriet; Andonova, Liliana; Backstrand, Karin; Betsill, Michelle; Compagnon, Daniel; Duffy, Rosaleen; Kolk, Ans; Hoffman, Matthew; Levy, David; Newell, Peter; Paterson, Matthew; Pattberg, Phillip; VanDeveer, Stacy

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 first part of the paper we examine the notion of transnational governance and its applicability in the climate change arena, reflecting 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 findings 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 significant 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 reflect on these findings and the subsequent consequences for the governance of climate change.

Citation

Bulkeley, H., Andonova, L., Backstrand, K., Betsill, M., Compagnon, D., Duffy, R., Kolk, A., Hoffman, M., Levy, D., Newell, P., Paterson, M., Pattberg, P., & VanDeveer, S. (2012). Governing climate change transnationally: assessing the evidence from a survey of sixty initiatives. Environment and planning. C, Government & policy, 30(4), 591-612. https://doi.org/10.1068/c11126

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Publication Date: Jan 1, 2012
• Deposit Date: Dec 11, 2013
• Journal: Environment and Planning C: Government and Policy
• Print ISSN: 0263-774X
• Electronic ISSN: 1472-3425
• Publisher: SAGE Publications
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 30
• Issue: 4
• Pages: 591-612
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1068/c11126