Systemic assessment of urban climate policies worldwide: Decomposing effectiveness into 3 factors

Jeroen C.J.M. van den Bergh*

*Corresponding author for this work

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Abstract

Optimism about the contribution of city policies worldwide to reduce greenhouse gas emissions is widespread. It is based, though, on partial and anecdotal studies rather than comprehensive system-wide estimates. Popular empirical indicators to support the importance of cities, such as consumption-based emissions within city borders, lack a policy connection. Here I undertake an initial assessment of the effectiveness of emissions reduction through urban climate policies. It employs a novel decomposition of effectiveness into reach, capability and stringency. This results in a qualitative estimation of current and maximum contributions of city climate policies – divided into four types – to global emissions reduction. I formalize the framework to numerically illustrate additional policy aspects. Based on the insights obtained, I suggest policy and political strategies to make better use of cities’ competences to mitigate climate change.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)35-42
Number of pages8
JournalEnvironmental Science and Policy
Volume114
Early online date4 Aug 2020
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2020

Funding

This paper has benefitted from comments by, and discussions with, many colleagues: Isabelle Anguelovski, Wouter Botzen, Stefano Carattini, Juana Castro, Amar Causevic, Maurie Cohen, Stefan Drews, Filippos Exadaktylos, Joël Foramitti, Eric Galbraith, Franziska Klein, Théo Konc, Jordi Roca, Ivan Savin, Martina Siskova, Gara Villalba and Erik Verhoef. The research was supported by an advanced grant from the European Research Council (ERC), under the EU’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program (grant agreement n° 741087 ).

FundersFunder number
EU's Horizon 2020 research and innovation program
EU’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program
Horizon 2020 Framework Programme741087
European Research Council

    Keywords

    • Buildings
    • Cities
    • Climate change
    • CO emissions
    • Infrastructure
    • Transport

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