Local governance for climate change: evidence from global cities and a case study of Hong Kong

Abstract

Cities have increasingly become the focal point for policy makers to launch climate change initiatives. However, how cities respond to climate change challenges and through what mechanisms have remained largely unexplored. This paper employs the framework of local governance to study climate change initiatives in cities, in an effort to illuminate the mechanisms which are more likely to enhance governing capacity for climate change. Our analysis consists two main interrelated parts, a review of a selection of 16 climate change initiatives in a number of cities in developed economies, and a detailed case study of Hong Kong’s initiatives on climate change. This paper has two major findings. First, our review provides some evidence that the elements of good governance are associated with effective climate change initiatives. Values of good governance including equity, legitimacy, efficiency, trust, coherence and accountability, and the use of strategies, particularly participation, deliberation, partnership and policy integration, are identified as the key. Second, by drawing comparison between the experience in other global cities and Hong Kong, our case study of Hong Kong provides insights on the barriers that could limit a city’s ability to respond to climate change challenges. The barriers include the central-local tension, the incompatibility of a traditional policy, a lack of institutional capacity and a lack of empowering and engaging capacity to mobilise civil society. This paper concludes by exploring potential role of local governance as a model to strengthen climate change initiatives at the city level.