Deutsch Intern
Institute of Political Science and Sociology

Local Climate Policy

While much scholarly work on climate policy focuses on international negotiations, European or national politics, this research project explores the role of local authorities, particularly in smaller towns and municipalities as well as counties in rural regions. A significant share of the global population lives in these areas, making them a crucial yet often overlooked level of analysis for climate change mitigation, adaptation, and broader sustainability efforts.

This project seeks to address this research gap by systematically examining both the commonalities and differences in how local actors approach climate change in varying political, socio-economic, and ecological contexts. The aim is to better understand the specific characteristics and dynamics of local climate politics.

The project addresses key questions such as:

  • Who is involved in the governance of climate change mitigation and adaptation at the local level, and how?
  • What kinds of relationships exist between different actors involved in local climate governance?
  • What strategies do local actors pursue, and how effective are these approaches?
  • What mechanisms support sustainable processes or foster policy innovation in urban versus rural municipalities?
  • What (institutional, socio-economic, spatial) challenges shape local climate politics?

Several international workshops, publications, and collaborations have already emerged as part of this research project, including:

  1. International Writers’ Workshop: Local Authorities on their Way to Climate Action
  2. Keynote on “Cities in EU Multilevel Climate Governance” by Prof. Dr. Kristine Kern
  3. Topical Collection in npj Climate Action (in preparation, with Dr. Jonas Schoenefeld)
  4. Special Issue on „Local Climate and Energy Politics“ in Zeitschrift für Vergleichende Politikwissenschaft (with  Prof. Dr. Gilles Lepesant)
  5. International Conference on „Multi-level governance and climate action”
  6. Varios academic articles
  7. Workshop on local climate policy in Germany and Switzerland with Dr. Marlene Kammerer at the University of Bern