Strengthening global climate governance and international cooperation for energy-efficient buildings

Abstract

Buildings constitute one of the main GHG emitting sectors, and energy efficiency is a key lever to reduce emissions in the sector. Global climate policy has so far mostly focused on economy-wide emissions. However, emission reduction actions are ultimately sectoral, and opportunities and barriers to achieving emission reductions vary strongly among sectors. This article therefore seeks to analyse to what extent more targeted global governance may help to leverage mitigation enablers and overcome barriers to energy efficiency in buildings. To this end, the article first synthesises existing literature on mitigation enablers and barriers as well as existing literature on how global governance may help address these barriers (“governance potential”). On this basis, the article analyses to what extent this governance potential has already been activated by existing activities of international institutions. Finally, the article discusses how identified governance gaps could be closed. The analysis finds that despite the local characteristics of the sector, global governance has a number of levers at its disposal that could be used to promote emission reductions via energy efficiency. In practice, however, lacking attention to energy efficiency in buildings at national level is mirrored at the international level. Recently, though, a number of coalitions demanding stronger action have emerged. Such frontrunners could work through like-minded coalitions and at the same time try to improve conditions for cooperation in the climate regime and other existing institutions.

Decentralising Climate Governance in the Global South: Lessons from Itezhi-Tezhi and the Kafue Wetlands, Zambia

“…While the newly created Ministry of Green Economy and Environment is the focal point in climate governance at the national level, the decentralisation of sector ministries does not include climate governance units from the line ministry. Second, there is little activity to harmonise legislation, policy frameworks and enablers that relate to climate governance at the local government level (Banda et al, 2022;Obergassel et al, 2023). This study also reveals that there has been little effort to encourage conceptual harmonisation of the central government and agencies and municipal responsibilities at the local level.…”