Vulnerability and Capacity: Explaining Local Commitment to Climate-Change Policy

Abstract

Introduction Climate change is an environmental problem with considerable social, economic, and ecological risks (Scheraga and Grambsch, 1998). The thermometric instrumental record indicates that the global average surface temperature is increasing, and is up by about 0.6 8C in the last one hundred years. Proxy data from ice cores and tree rings suggest that the`abrupt' warming trend of the 20th century is`unique' by historical standards (North, 2003). The impacts of temperature change are many, and include coastal flooding and beach erosion, extreme weather events, continental drying and drought, loss of habitat and species, decreased revenue for commercial fisheries, fluctuations in crop yields, and increased spread of vector-borne diseases

Spatial determinants of local government action on climate change: an analysis of local authorities in England

“…Local economic landscapes have also been found to influence political will to engage in climate change policies (Bulkeley and Betshill, 2003;Bulkeley and Kern, 2006;Elliott et al, 1997;Lorenzoni et al, 2007;O'Connor et al, 2002;Zahran et al, 2006;Zahran et al, 2008a;Zahran et al, 2008b). Thus the areas which contribute most to the climate change problem in terms of industrial structure and per capita carbon emissions are least likely to be involved in voluntary climate protection schemes Zahran et al, 2008a;Zahran et al, 2008b).…”

“…Despite the absence of Federal government engagement with climate change policy, 565 municipal governments have currently signed up to CCP (ICLEI, 2011). Studies have found involvement to be linked to local environmental issues such as air quality (Betshill, 2001;Lindseth, 2004), whilst Zahran et al (2008a;2008b) found that factors related to a municipal area's geographic location and socioeconomic structure variously motivated or discouraged engagement with the programme.…”

“…Furthermore, numerous studies have identified links between demographic factors and levels of support for environmental policy (Dietz et al, 1998;Elliot et al, 1997;Klineburg et al, 1998;Konisky et al, 2008;O'Connor et al, 2002;Torras and Boyce 1998;Zahran et al, 2006;Zahran et al, 2008a;Zahran et al 2008b). Willingness to absorb the cost of implementing climate change initiatives increases with successive levels of education (Dietz et al, 1998;Elliott et al, 1997;Klineburg et al, 1998;Lubell et al, 2006;O'Connor et al, 2002;Zahran et al, 2008a;Zahran et al 2008b).…”

“…Thus the areas which contribute most to the climate change problem in terms of industrial structure and per capita carbon emissions are least likely to be involved in voluntary climate protection schemes Zahran et al, 2008a;Zahran et al, 2008b). Local governments can then be reluctant to take action on climate change in the face of opposition from businesses and the public (Bulkeley and Betshill, 2003;Bulkeley and Kern, 2006;Lorenzoni, 2007).…”

“…This is a comparative study with the United States, where there has been a wealth of research done around the voluntary participation of US cities in the Cities for Climate Protection (CCP) Programme (Betsill, 2001;Lindseth, 2004;Pitt and Randolph, 2009;Zahran et al, 2008a;Zahran et al, 2008b). Despite the absence of Federal government engagement with climate change policy, 565 municipal governments have currently signed up to CCP (ICLEI, 2011).…”