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The Limits and Opportunities of Networks: Municipalities and Canadian Climate Change Policy

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  • Christopher D. Gore

Abstract

Research on climate change policy and politics has become increasingly focused on the actions and influence of subnational governments. In North America, this attention has been particularly focused on why subnational governments have taken action in the absence of national leadership, what effect action might have on future national climate policy, and whether the collective action of networks of municipal governments are reshaping and challenging the character of national and global climate governance. This paper examines Canadian municipal climate in light of the absence of a comprehensive and effective climate national strategy. The paper considers various reasons why local governments in Canada have not been central players in national plans, and why their actions have not been more influential nationally. The paper argues that the potential influence of Canadian municipalities on national climate policy is weak, given the loose nature of the network and the long‐held structural view that municipalities are not significant units of political analysis in national political and policy debates. The paper concludes by considering the constraints and opportunities of subnational climate networks and municipal network analysis.

Suggested Citation

  • Christopher D. Gore, 2010. "The Limits and Opportunities of Networks: Municipalities and Canadian Climate Change Policy," Review of Policy Research, Policy Studies Organization, vol. 27(1), pages 27-46, January.
  • Handle: RePEc:bla:revpol:v:27:y:2010:i:1:p:27-46
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1541-1338.2009.00425.x
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. David J. Gordon, 2016. "Lament for a network? Cities and networked climate governance in Canada," Environment and Planning C, , vol. 34(3), pages 529-545, May.
    2. Vanesa Castán Broto & Linda K. Westman, 2020. "Ten years after Copenhagen: Reimagining climate change governance in urban areas," Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Climate Change, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 11(4), July.
    3. Pamela Robinson & Christopher Gore, 2015. "Municipal climate reporting: gaps in monitoring and implications for governance and action," Environment and Planning C, , vol. 33(5), pages 1058-1075, October.
    4. Joana Setzer & Rachel Biderman, 2013. "Increasing Participation in Climate Policy Implementation: A Case for Engaging SMEs from the Transport Sector in the City of São Paulo," Environment and Planning C, , vol. 31(5), pages 806-821, October.
    5. Hayley Leck & David Simon, 2013. "Fostering Multiscalar Collaboration and Co-operation for Effective Governance of Climate Change Adaptation," Urban Studies, Urban Studies Journal Limited, vol. 50(6), pages 1221-1238, May.
    6. Yunfang Jiang & Luyao Hou & Tiemao Shi & Qinchang Gui, 2017. "A Review of Urban Planning Research for Climate Change," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(12), pages 1-21, December.
    7. Hayley Leck & David Simon, 2018. "Local Authority Responses to Climate Change in South Africa: The Challenges of Transboundary Governance," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(7), pages 1-18, July.
    8. Taedong Lee & Chris Koski, 2015. "Multilevel governance and urban climate change mitigation," Environment and Planning C, , vol. 33(6), pages 1501-1517, December.
    9. Taedong Lee & Chris Koski, 2012. "Building Green: Local Political Leadership Addressing Climate Change," Review of Policy Research, Policy Studies Organization, vol. 29(5), pages 605-624, September.
    10. Anne Bach Nielsen & Marielle Papin, 2021. "The hybrid governance of environmental transnational municipal networks: Lessons from 100 Resilient Cities," Environment and Planning C, , vol. 39(4), pages 667-685, June.
    11. Damsø, Tue & Kjær, Tyge & Christensen, Thomas Budde, 2016. "Local climate action plans in climate change mitigation – examining the case of Denmark," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 89(C), pages 74-83.

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