QUICK READS
Quick Reads are short overviews of key NetZeroCities concepts providing essential information in a practical and visual way. More comprehensive resources and additional information will be available in the knowledge repository.
GOVERNING A TRANSITION TO CLIMATE-NEUTRALITY
Rapid decarbonisation necessitates radical transformation of current modes of governance. Governance innovations can enhance the capacity of actors and organisations to reach climate neutrality. The better we govern collective action, the faster and fairer the required transformation is achieved.
A number of existing governance innovations, such as Climate City Contracts, can be incorporated in the cities’ own ways of working. Learning about novel ways to make climate action a central and integrated part of local level decision-making will increase policy coherence at the local level. Governance innovations can also support shared ownership of climate action amongst different actors and ensure clear accountability.
A number of existing governance innovations, such as Climate City Contracts, can be incorporated in the cities’ own ways of working. Learning about novel ways to make climate action a central and integrated part of local level decision-making will increase policy coherence at the local level. Governance innovations can also support shared ownership of climate action amongst different actors and ensure clear accountability.
Key attitudes to unlock the governance we need for the transition
A conscious stance
A conscious stance on local governance in order to bring in innovations (e.g. novel leadership models or a truly participatory approach in framing joint goals) and to give up outdated governance mechanisms.
Curiosity for new forms of governance
Curiosity towards governance innovations that have been developed elsewhere and the willingness to develop and adapt them locally (e.g. in procurement systems that incorporate greenhouse gases as criteria).
An experimental mindset
An experimental mindset to develop completely new ways to organise collective action and to scale up these innovations, e.g. through policy labs and other living lab methodologies to experiment with, test and learn from novel ways of governing urban transformations (e.g. multilevel governance models, new stakeholder partnerships).
Participatory governance
Prioritising adaptive, transdisciplinary and participatory modes of governance to better deal with uncertainty and complexity.Inspiration
Roadmaps as governance innovation: Local and regional roadmaps for climate neutrality in specific industrial sectors help both to reduce emissions and to create a competitive business environment. Cities can be members and supporters of such alliances – and can also initiate new ones. For a regional level example of nearly 160 active parties in the construction sector, see LFM30
Healthy Clean Cities: Collaborative governance arrangements can bring about broad, committed coalitions across sectors and actors. For lessons learnt see e.g. a deep demonstration of the Healthy, Clean Cities project.
Climate budgets: Climate budgets calculate the effect of climate neutrality measures and show which administrative entities in the city have the responsibility to implement them. The budgets also spell out how the status of the climate measures is reported in line with the entities’ financial reporting.
Open data on progress on carbon neutrality measures and their impact on CO2 emissions, e.g. through transparent online tools, will strengthen the accountability of climate governance.