Do institutional structures matter? A comparative analysis of urban carbon management policies in the UK and Germany

Abstract

The paper addresses the important question of how institutional structures matter to the delivery of climate change policy for urban transport. It examines the strategic goals, policy tools in operation and initial progress towards carbon emission reduction in seven cities across the UK and Germany where different institutional structures exist. The UK has the presence of a strong national carbon target and strong hierarchical national-local government relationships whilst Germany has a more integrated system of local transport provision in a context where local and regional government is stronger. Our findings show that the carbon agenda has made very little difference to what is happening on the ground in the cities. Across all sites, progress is being made but largely through technological improvements which are being almost completely offset by population growth. Even in the more integrated city environments there has not be an additional stimulus to manage the demand for travel.Contrary to previous research therefore, we cannot conclude that institutional structures are paramount in delivering effective carbon reduction policies. The institutional structures in the UK and in Germany are not perfectly aligned to carbon management but, given the cross policy impacts of most transport interventions, this is perhaps inevitable. We can clearly conclude however that s are not sufficient to achieve the implementation of more effective carbon policies. Whilst institutional structures must matter, it is the broader governance environment and the resources and politics involved in transport policy that seem to dominate the importance of the carbon agenda and implementation paths that emerge.

Influences on urban freight transport policy choice by local authorities

“…They may also encourage road users to use more sustainable modes of transport. However, it is a politically controversial topic as citizens strongly oppose these types of schemes (Shoemaker et al, 2010;Marsden and Groer, 2016). Access restrictions are the most common regulatory measure, based on vehicle tonnage and size (Ogden, 1992;Visser et al, 1999;OECD, 2003;Quak, 2008), as well as times and routes where certain vehicles are prohibited (Dablanc, 2008;Munuzuri et al, 2005).…”

Delivering lower carbon urban transport choices: European ambition meets the reality of institutional (mis)alignment

“…For example, Bulmer and Padgett (2004: 103) suggest that the most successful transfers sponsored by the EU are actually the coerced and negotiated ones regarding macro level finance mechanisms, which occur in the 'more highly institutionalized governance regimes' in which the central governments of member states thrash out compromise. Undertaking real policy transfer is much more difficult for networks of lower tier governments at smaller spatial scales, which despite the efforts they put in, remain relatively 'weakly institutionalised', and for which 'extant policy preferences and practices may play a more decisive role' (Bulmer and Padgett, 2004: 124), something that Marsden and Groer (2016) also identified in their work on crosscutting carbon management practices in the UK and Germany.…”

Policy Integration for Sustainable Transport Development : Case Studies of Two Swedish Regions

“…Marsden and Groer (2016) find in a comparative analysis of urban carbon management in the UK and Germany that the more integrated and comprehensive German institutional structures have not resulted in better carbon management than in the UK (Marsden & Groer, 2016). This study thus shows that the possibility of institutional structures for integrated policymaking to produce more sustainable policy outcomes may be questioned.…”

“…Marsden & Groer, 2016) and that single processes thereby may integrate different sectors when unified by an object. These results should be contrasted with the argument for the policy integration perspective, that an organizational structure that favours and supports collaboration processes is necessary for integration and sustainable policy development (Hull, 2011;Stead & Meijers, 2009;Tornberg, 2011).…”

“…My case studies in this thesis are a contribution, but if sustainability is the goal, we need to know more about how to achieve it and question organizational models that currently are taken for granted to work (i.e. Marsden & Groer, 2016).…”