Fostering Multiscalar Collaboration and Co-operation for Effective Governance of Climate Change Adaptation

TLDR

Effective climate change adaptation requires collaborative relationships across national, regional, and local governments, yet relational dynamics between governance levels and external learning networks have been underexplored, especially in developing countries. The paper explores the relationships between two contrasting local authorities in South Africa and their connections to higher government levels and other networks to illustrate these issues. The authors analyze the implications for executing adaptation actions and the benefits of effective networking by applying concepts from multilevel governance, systems approaches to urban governance, and related literature. They find that most progressive local climate initiatives are undertaken autonomously, leading to mismatched priorities across government spheres.

Abstract

In order to address climate/environmental change successfully and sustainably, it is vital to foster collaborative relationships between national, regional and local government institutions. Insufficient attention has been paid to relational dynamics between multiple levels of governance, and related learning networks outside formal government structures, particularly in the context of development imperatives in poor countries. This paper illustrates these issues via an exploration of relations between two contiguous, yet contrasting local authorities in South Africa and between these local authorities and higher government levels and other networks. To date, most progressive local climate change initiatives have been undertaken autonomously and often there are mismatched priorities between different government spheres regarding climate change efforts. The likely implications for the execution of environmental change adaptation actions and the benefits of effective networking are considered in this light and through deploying conceptual insights from multilevel governance, systems approaches to urban governance and other literatures.