Improving Local Governance to Combat Global Warming | The Urban Lens Newsletter

Local governments and officials can play essential roles in shaping urban environments in ways that are conducive to collective action that slows the rate of global warming.  Or, if their local governance mechanisms are not designed and implemented thoughtfully and effectively, they can also contribute to a range of problems and obstacles to such action.

Sometimes local governance mechanisms, along with the officials who conduct them, are part of the problem.  They effectively inhibit the success of efforts to induce the sorts of individual and collective behavioral change necessary to slow the rate of atmospheric warming. 

For example, many metro areas in the US have fragmented governance structures, with multiple layers of government and numerous special districts. This can lead to a lack of coordination and cooperation between different entities, which can hinder local efforts to combat climate change. 

Local governance structures can also result in an uneven distribution of resources across different neighborhoods and communities which, in turn can lead to disparities in access to essential services like healthcare, education, and public transportation.  Citizens preoccupied with basic healthcare, hindered by lack of education, or unable to get access to the means of transportation necessary to participate and engage in local decision-making are far less likely to participate in local decision-making and action against global warming. 

Some local governments are susceptible to corruption and cronyism, which can undermine the public trust in government and lead to alienation, inefficiency, and ineffective collective action.  And some local governance structures can sometimes promote NIMBYism (Not In My Backyard), where residents oppose renewable energy development projects, oppose affordable, energy efficient housing, and get in the way of initiatives that could otherwise contribute partial solutions. 

There are a number of ways that local governments can be improved, thereby improving their performance at combatting climate change.  In many cases, reducing the number of local governments and increasing regional cooperation can lead to more coordinated and efficient collective efforts. 

Encouraging community engagement and participation in decision-making can help ensure that local governance mechanisms are responsive to the needs and priorities of residents, including any related to global warming.  Implementing mechanisms for transparency and accountability, such as open meetings, public records laws, and independent audits, can help build public trust in local governance structures, and thereby lead to more effective collective action.  Increases in the provision of training and professional development opportunities for local officials can help ensure that they have the skills and knowledge necessary to effectively manage complex urban environments, and direct them in ways that are climate friendly.  Experimenting with new approaches and technologies, such as data-driven decision-making and participatory budgeting, can help local governments become more responsive, efficient, and effective. 

Ultimately, improving the performance of local governance aimed toward combatting global warming will require a concerted effort from both government officials and local residents.  By working together to identify and address the challenges facing their communities, and the people within them, they can create more effective and equitable governance structures that better serve the needs of all citizens to keep the increase of global temperatures at a minimum.

Increased levels of community engagement and participation in local decision-making are of paramount importance.  Such increases are essential for improving local governance mechanisms, and they can be achieved in a number of ways.  Local governments can engage with residents by using a variety of outreach methods, such as public meetings, social media, newsletters, and other forms of communication.

Local governments can also provide education and training opportunities to help residents understand the underlying atmospheric science, its most likely local implications, complex policy issues and decision-making processes.  They can collaborate with residents by creating opportunities for joint problem-solving, such as citizen advisory boards, participatory budgeting, and community-based planning processes.  Local governments can increase transparency and accessibility by making information and decision-making processes more accessible to the public. This can include providing online resources, publicizing meetings and decisions, and creating opportunities for public comment.  They can ensure that decision-making processes are inclusive by engaging a diverse range of community members, including underrepresented groups such as low-income residents, people of color, and youth.  Local governments can incentivize and reward community engagement by recognizing and celebrating the contributions of engaged residents, and by creating opportunities for residents to influence decision-making processes.

Overall, increasing levels of community engagement and participation in local decision-making has the potential to help shape urban environments in ways that are most conducive to keeping global temperature increases in check.  In turn, the decisions and actions necessary to induce these increased levels will require deliberate efforts to create more inclusive and accessible governance structures. By actively engaging with residents, local governments can build trust, foster collaboration, and create more effective and equitable policy outcomes that contribute to collective action against global warming.  Or, alternatively, if local governance structures are not designed and implemented effectively, they can get in the way.    

Bill Bowen