Policy implementation styles and local governments: the case of climate change adaptation

Abstract

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Mapping evidence of human adaptation to climate change

“…In the absence of systematic, global data on adaptation practices, adaptation actions documented in the academic literature provide a valuable (though imperfect) proxy for tracking adaptation on the ground. Existing literature includes assessments of adaptation planning and policy at the regional, [6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14] national, [15][16][17][18] and sub-national 19-23 levels, using for example National Communications, [24][25][26] local climate change action plans, 22,23,27,28 adaptation project proposals, and reported adaptations in the peer-reviewed literature [20][21][22] . Systematic approaches to synthesizing this evidence are emerging and crucial for learning about what adaptation measures work to what extent, under what conditions, for whom, and why.…”

Causes and Consequences of Local Government Efforts to Reduce Risk and Adapt to Extreme Weather Events: Municipal Organizational Robustness

“…The conventional literature on infrastructure approaches the subject mainly from a technical-economic perspective [9][10][11]14,[29][30][31][32][33]. The literature on sustainable development, DRR, climate change mitigation, and adaptation in cities and municipalities (hereafter sustainable cities literature) has integrated research frameworks and theories on organizational behaviors and governance relationships [1][2][3][4]13,34,35]. Some studies analyze experiences or compare cases of local governments that often are already committed to a transition [1][2][3][34][35][36].…”

“…The literature on sustainable development, DRR, climate change mitigation, and adaptation in cities and municipalities (hereafter sustainable cities literature) has integrated research frameworks and theories on organizational behaviors and governance relationships [1][2][3][4]13,34,35]. Some studies analyze experiences or compare cases of local governments that often are already committed to a transition [1][2][3][34][35][36]. However, more attention should be given to institutional dynamics (e.g., municipal institutional arrangements and governance processes) shaping decisions and outcomes in typical local governments (committed or not to address climate change or natural DRR), particularly in low-and middle-income countries.…”

“…We focused our research on understanding how municipal institutional arrangements and governance processes interact with both capacities of local governments and political qualities of the mayoral leadership (hereafter political leadership attributes). Capacities and political leadership attributes that support motivation have been identified by one part of the sustainable cities literature as key factors in shaping outcomes [1][2][3][4]13,[35][36][37][38]. Hence, we start from the assumption that in order for municipalities to be effective adaptors in terms of critical infrastructure Investment, they need to be organizations with resources (capacities) and have highly motivated agents with political leadership attributes (e.g., networks, support, continuity).…”

“…Null Hypothesis 1: The effects of capacities on Investment (Maintenance) are direct and independent. Capacities consist of resources available within the municipality and include financial, human, and professional expertise [1][2][3]13,35,38]. Hence, regardless of institutional moderators, capacities are always the key factor for Investment.…”