Presentation short abstract

Through qualitative interviews in five EU cities, we assess policymakers’ and civil servants’ perceptions of the effectiveness, limits and potential of local climate governance. Results show strong local leadership but persistent barriers in competences, resources and multilevel coordination.

Presentation long abstract

Over 70% of global CO2 emissions occur within the boundaries of cities, whose growing populations make the need for effective local climate policies increasingly urgent. Nevertheless, the contribution of city policies to greenhouse gas mitigation remains both constrained and highly divergent among countries.

This study investigates the role of local governments in addressing the climate crisis in Barcelona, Berlin, Milan, Paris, and Prague. Through a systematic qualitative analysis of interviews with policymakers and civil servants working in climate, environmental, urban planning and mobility areas, we assess their perceptions of the effectiveness, limitations and potential of local climate governance. To this end, we identify perceived strengths and weaknesses of cooperation with regional, national, and EU levels and examine how legislation, regulations and the distribution of competences at higher governance levels shape local climate action. We also analyse how these perceptions differ across cities in light of their distinct governance structures and professional backgrounds of respondents.

Across the five cities, interviewees emphasise a significant local role in multilevel climate governance, with the strongest climate leadership found in Barcelona and Paris. This holds particularly true for areas where municipal governments hold relatively strong competences, such as mobility, urban planning and climate adaptation. Common cross-cutting barriers include limited financial and human capacities, insufficient competences, lack of coordination across governance levels, and bureaucratic hurdles that delay or constrain implementation. Key needs for accelerating local climate action involve stable long-term regulatory and funding frameworks alongside stronger cooperation with, and support from, regional and national governments.