Non-governmental Organisations and Citizen Action on Climate Change: Strategies, Rationales and Practices

Abstract

Abstract:The article reports key findings from a fieldwork survey of NGOs conducted in France, Germany and the UK, which investigated strategies to encourage citizen action on climate protection. It illustrates the limited usefulness for NGOs of the 'information deficit' and 'rational actor' models. In contrast, it shows the importance of leading on values, as well as the need to build bridges between ideas and practice by providing opportunities for public engagement and building communities of action. NGOs focus on the positive benefits of citizen action (rather than on compelling behaviour change), with expected benefits extending beyond the material and financial to embrace well-being, personal development and community building, as well as the intrinsic value of protecting the environment.

Farmers’ Strategies to Climate Change and Urbanization: Potential of Ecosystem-Based Adaptation in Rural Chengdu, Southwest China

“…As for integrating and coordinating socioeconomic resources as well as different specialized agricultural knowledge, Fontanari (2017) thought local institutions (e.g., cooperatives or associations) play a critical role in societal responses to climate and non-climate changes [ 55 ]. Moreover, these institutions at the grass-roots level which are usually recognized and supported by local governments, occupy an essential position that governments are unable to perform [ 56 ], such as crop varieties acquisition, good practice sharing, market exploring, as well as new technology piloting.…”

The role of nongovernmental organizations in China's climate change governance

“…98 NGOs can play a vital role in fostering bottomup emissions cutting in various small-to medium-scale governance units. 17 Meng made the criticism that many Chinese NGOs do not see the links between international climate negotiation, national policy and local action, and regard the practical activities they do among communities as the 'real' work. 14 Our review of the literature suggests the opposite: the on-theground activities of Chinese NGOs, while important, are far from enough either in making a meaningful contribution to climate change governance or gaining necessary public trust.…”

“…Without considerable collective action and innovation at the local level, even the successful implementation of economic and technical policies may not be sufficient to achieve China's ambitious emissions mitigation targets . NGOs can play a vital role in fostering bottom–up emissions cutting in various small‐ to medium‐scale governance units . Meng made the criticism that many Chinese NGOs do not see the links between international climate negotiation, national policy and local action, and regard the practical activities they do among communities as the ‘real’ work .…”

“…13 Numerous studies have examined the role of NGOs in the climate change governance of Western democracies. [15][16][17][18] However, it is also instructive to look at their Eastern and Southern counterparts, where the NGO sector is less developed and where there are more sociopolitical restrictions. China, as the world's largest one-party polity and also the largest emitter of CO 2 , is facing significant domestic and international pressures to make a low-carbon economic transition.…”

“…Numerous studies have examined the role of NGOs in the climate change governance of Western democracies . However, it is also instructive to look at their Eastern and Southern counterparts, where the NGO sector is less developed and where there are more sociopolitical restrictions.…”