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7th International Scientific Conference on Energy and Climate Change Athens 8-10 October 2014 Cooperation between local and regional authorities for sustainable energy and climate - results of the European Coopenergy project Edoardo Croci IEFE – Bocconi University, Milan.
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7th International Scientific Conference on Energy and Climate Change Athens 8-10 October 2014 Cooperation between local and regional authorities for sustainable energy and climate - results of the European Coopenergy project Edoardo Croci IEFE – Bocconi University, Milan
New York City, 2012 Blackout after hurricane Sandy
New York City, 2014 People’s Climate March New York City, 2012 Blackout after hurricane Sandy
Climate change and its complex governance Climate change is unequivocally happening, and GHG emissions from human activities are recognized as a major cause (IPCC, AR5, 2014). Two different approaches confront each other: • A global agreement with compulsory emission reduction Country targets: averting climate change is a global “public good” and needs a global solution; • A decentralized approach based on multiple scale voluntary actions: “Given the failure to reach agreement at the international level on efficient, fair, and enforceable reductions of greenhouse gas emissions, continuing to wait without investing in efforts at multiple scales may defeat the possibilities of significant abatements and mitigations in enough time to prevent tragic disasters” (Olstrom, 2012);
New flexible instruments in the Kyoto Protocol • Two different mechanisms emerged at COP17 (Durban, 2011) and are under definition: • New Market-based Mechanism (NMM) refers to an international market mechanism that would be set up and governed or regulated centrally under UNFCCC; • Framework for Various Approaches (FVA) framework that would leave it up to the countries to define their own approaches and methodologies in a decentralized manner. Two alternatives: • Recognition of units issued by domestic schemes under the condition that they are approved by a UNFCCC body; • UNFCCC with no approval power; it would only provide a general set of common principles and a platform to exchange information.
Framework of variousapproaches Source: IGES, 2012 6
New Market Mechanism Source: IGES, 2012 7
Multi-level climate change governance • Actions to reduce GHG are already taking place at multiple scales, through the initiatives of several public and private actors, which also generate nested, positive externalities; • A polycentric governance of climate change has thus emerged over time, which needs to be better understood in terms of its effectiveness, efficiency, equity and relationship with the global Kyoto regime; • In this multi-level context, Regional and Local Authorities are increasingly committed to energy and climate targets as they hold several policy levers to promote climate action.
Map of existing, emerging and potential emissions trading and carbon tax schemes Source: World Bank, 2014
Cities’contribution to energy-related CO2 emissions Cities are responsiblefor a relevant share of global energydemand and related CO2 emissions; accordingtoIEA ‘s estimations (2008), urban areas account for over 67% of energy-related GHGs, expected to rise to 74% by 2030. Source: World Bank (2010)
Largest cities’ contribution to GHG emissions and world economy World Bank (2010) “Cities and ClimateChange: anurgent agenda”
Relevant sectors for urban GHG emissions source: ICLEI, 2011
GDP and carbon emissions in selected countries and cities (Source: LSE Cities based on multiple sources, published in UNEP, 2010)
Rationale for action at regional and local level • Regional and LocalAuthorities have several competences and powers in fields that are relevant for energy use and related emissions, including transportation and infrastructures, waste, urban and territorial planning. • They are also the closest level to citizens and communities, and thus they can act on several levers to implement sustainable energy and CO2 reduction policies: • as a consumer and manager of their properties and assets (self-governing) • as planners and regulators (governing by authority) • as providers and suppliers (governing by provision) • as enablers and advisors (governing by enabling), raising awareness of stakeholders (Alber and Kern, 2008).
European cities committed to energy and climate targets Source: JRC (2013),
European cities committed to energy and climate targets Source: JRC (2013),
Multi-Level governance for energy and climate policies • A key hypothesis investigated in literature is that promoting collaboration between government levels can increase the effectiveness and efficiency of energy and climate policies and enhance their implementation. • This can be achieved combining their complementary skills, competences and resources (IEA, 2009) • To verify such hypothesis, there is need to investigate: • in which ways levels of government are currently cooperating, through which models and approaches; • which approaches are proving to be successful and which factors are causing success/weaknesses to the collaboration; • which are the key enabling conditions of successful collaborations. The European funded project COOPENERGY addresses these questions.
COOPENERGY projectMulti-Level Governance inSustainable Energy Planning • Co-Financed by the Intelligent Energy Europe programme • Duration: 2013-2016 • Main objective: to implement and promote effective cooperation models in sustainable energy planning between regional and local public authorities Lead partner: Regional Council of Rhône-Alpes, 12 Partners, 9 EU Countries
Data • A EU-28 survey has been conducted within the COOPENERGY project, through the diffusion of a questionnaire to about 380 organizations • (254 Regional/Provincial authorities, 115 Energy Agencies, 20 other organizations) • Data presented here are from 109 responses
In which scopes are Regional and Local Authorities collaborating?
Which are the main success factors of collaborative initiatives?
Which are the mainweaknessfactors of collaborative initiatives?
Conclusions • A polycentric mult-scale climate governance framework is developing in absence of a credible global agreement; • Regional and local authorities worldwide are increasingly engaged to contribute to climate mitigation; • Cooperation between different levels of government can increase the effectiveness and efficiency of policies; • Strenghts and weaknesses characterize actual multilevel cooperation models In Europe; • Political commitment seems to be a major driver; • Lack of funding is recognized by several regional and local authorities as a major barrier.
