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Do institutional structures matter? A comparative analysis of urban carbon management policies in the UK and Germany

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  • Marsden, Greg
  • Groer, Stefan

Abstract

The paper addresses the important question of how institutional structures matter to the delivery of climate change policy for urban transport. It examines the strategic goals, policy tools in operation and initial progress towards carbon emission reduction in seven cities across the UK and Germany where different institutional structures exist. The UK has the presence of a strong national carbon target and strong hierarchical national–local government relationships whilst Germany has a more integrated system of local transport provision in a context where local and regional government is stronger. Our findings show that the carbon agenda has made very little difference to what is happening on the ground in the cities. Across all sites, progress is being made but largely through technological improvements which are being almost completely offset by population growth. Even in the more integrated city environments there has not be an additional stimulus to manage the demand for travel.

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  • Marsden, Greg & Groer, Stefan, 2016. "Do institutional structures matter? A comparative analysis of urban carbon management policies in the UK and Germany," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 51(C), pages 170-179.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:jotrge:v:51:y:2016:i:c:p:170-179
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jtrangeo.2016.01.002
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    Cited by:

    1. Xiaochen Gong & Yunxia Liu & Tao Sun, 2020. "Evaluating Climate Change Governance Using the “Polity–Policy–Politics” Framework: A Comparative Study of China and the United States," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(16), pages 1-18, August.
    2. David Gray & Richard Laing & Iain Docherty, 2017. "Delivering lower carbon urban transport choices: European ambition meets the reality of institutional (mis)alignment," Environment and Planning A, , vol. 49(1), pages 226-242, January.
    3. Ilaria Delponte, 2021. "Institutional and Non-Institutional Governance Initiatives in Urban Transport Planning: The Paradigmatic Case of the Post-Collapse of the Morandi Bridge in Genoa," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-18, May.
    4. Mozos-Blanco, Miguel Ángel & Pozo-Menéndez, Elisa & Arce-Ruiz, Rosa & Baucells-Aletà, Neus, 2018. "The way to sustainable mobility. A comparative analysis of sustainable mobility plans in Spain," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 72(C), pages 45-54.
    5. Rye, Tom & Monios, Jason & Hrelja, Robert & Isaksson, Karolina, 2018. "The relationship between formal and informal institutions for governance of public transport," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 69(C), pages 196-206.
    6. Akgün, Emine Zehra & Monios, Jason & Rye, Tom & Fonzone, Achille, 2019. "Influences on urban freight transport policy choice by local authorities," Transport Policy, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 88-98.
    7. Zhang, Linling & Long, Ruyin & Li, Wenbo & Wei, Jia, 2020. "Potential for reducing carbon emissions from urban traffic based on the carbon emission satisfaction: Case study in Shanghai," Journal of Transport Geography, Elsevier, vol. 85(C).

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