Using historical institutionalism as a guidepost to understanding policy change in Rust Belt cities

In the absence of national policy to address climate change in the USA, many scholars shifted focus to examine state and local level actions. Mayors, city managers, and city councils are now central actors in the climate policy domain. Yet, we are years from initial city climate policy adoptions, and it is important to ask whether cities have continued their momentum and if new cities have been motivated to act. Unlike Republican strongholds in the South or liberal centers on the Coasts, less is known about small to midsize Rust Belt cities in the Great Lakes region and how their policy has changed (or not) over time. An online survey sent to city staff included questions that replicate the Integrated City Sustainability Database (ICSD) as well as new questions related to the COVID-19 pandemic and current considerations. Following the surveys, elite interviews were completed with city staff to better understand city action over time. Using historical institutionalism, this research asks whether the change in policy over time is predicated on critical junctures, gradual shifts, or some other factors. Findings revealed that Rust Belt cities continued to report the centrality of factors such as budget, staff, and interdepartmental coordination for their climate change policy action, continuing existing trends in mitigation policy noted by scholars. They have also updated their knowledge of climate change policy and changing external conditions to continue to think through their climate change policymaking. This research provides insight into the variation in policy adoption between similar cities and how climate policy changes at the municipal level over time.