Can Cities, States and Regions Save Our Planet? Transatlantic Perspectives on Multilevel Climate Governance

Description

This book examines the potential for cities, states and regions to take decisive action on climate change at the local level. Local action constitutes an essential component of global efforts to keep temperatures below the 2°C Paris Agreement threshold. Focusing on three green municipal leaders - New York, Boston and Paris - this volume examines their multilevel interactions with higher governance echelons in the United States and France. Even though these countries are located on different continents, similar patterns emerge on both sides of the Atlantic. This book explores the key role of municipalities and sub-state entities in shaping the climate policy agenda vis-à-vis national governments in the US and France. It argues that inadequate articulation of multilevel governance may jeopardize efforts to limit global temperature increase below the 2°C threshold by the end of the century. Acknowledgments About This Book Praise for Can Cities, States and Regions Save Our Planet? Contents About the Author Abbreviations 1 Introducing Transatlantic Perspectives on the Role of Cities, States and Regions Within the Climate Regime 1 Introduction 2 Establishing the Research Agenda 2.1 Research Agenda, Context and Justification 2.2 Summary Structure of the Book 3 Contributions to the Academic Literature and Research Methodologies 3.1 Contributions to the Academic Literature 3.2 Methodology to Develop the Research Agenda Bibliography 2 Historical Context of American Cooperative Federalism on Environmental Issues, with Contrasting Perspectives Between Obama and Trump 1 Introduction 2 Historical Context of Cooperative Federalism and Multilevel Environmental Governance in the US: From the Origins up to Obama’s Election 2.1 Historical Context of Environmental Politics in the US Under the Framework of Cooperative Federalism 2.2 The Rise of National Gridlock on Environmental Issues Since the 1980s, with Lobbying Efforts to Block Federal Legislation and Policies 3 Contrasting Perspectives Between Obama and Trump on Cooperative Federalism and Multilevel Climate Governance 3.1 Cooperative Federalism and Multilevel Climate Governance During Obama’s Two Terms in Office (2008–2016) 3.2 Climate Policy Rollbacks Under Trump’s Presidency (2016–2020), Involving an Extreme Version of Cooperative Federalism 4 Conclusion Bibliography 3 Climate Politics Under Biden: The Clean Energy Revolution, Enhanced Cooperative Federalism and the ‘All-of-Government’ Approach 1 Introduction 2 The Clean Energy Revolution Under Biden (Since 2021), with an ‘All-of-Government’ Approach Involving an Enhanced Form of Cooperative Federalism 2.1 The 2020 US Presidential Election and Biden’s Clean Energy Revolution Platform, with an ‘All-of-Government’ Approach Relying on Enhanced Cooperative Federalism 2.2 Climate Legislation and Executive Orders Enacted Under Biden Involving an ‘All-of-Government’ Approach, with Prospects After the 2022 Mid-Term Elections 3 Assessing the US Climate Policy Framework Under Biden, Including in Terms of Multilevel Governance and the ‘All-of-Government’ Approach 3.1 Assessing Biden’s Climate Policy Framework Regarding Its Ability to Achieve Short, Medium and Long-term Climate Objectives 3.2 Assessing Biden’s ‘All-of-Government’ Approach in Terms of Multilevel Climate Governance and Enhanced Cooperative Federalism 4 Conclusion Bibliography 4 Hierarchical and Stratified Centralization: The Historical Context of Multilevel Environmental Governance in France 1 Introduction 2 Hierarchical and Stratified Centralization: Historical Context of Multilevel Environmental Governance in France from Presidents Chirac to Sarkozy (1995–2012) 2.1 National Climate Policies Enacted by President Chirac (1995–2007) and Multilevel Governance Under the Centralized French System 2.2 National Climate Policies Enacted by President Sarkozy (2007–2012) and Multilevel Governance Under the Centralized French System 3 Hierarchical and Stratified Centralization: Historical Context of Multilevel Environmental Governance in France Under President Hollande (2012–2017) 3.1 National Climate Policies Enacted by President Hollande (2012–2017) and Multilevel Governance Under the Centralized French System 3.2 The Third Phase of Decentralization, with a Comparison Between French Hierarchical Centralization and Cooperative Federalism in the US 4 Conclusion Bibliography 5 Climate Politics Under Macron: Towards More Hierarchical Centralization in Multilevel Governance? 1 Introduction 2 Modest Evolutions in Multilevel Climate Governance During President Macron’s First Term (2017–2022) 2.1 National Climate Strategies Enacted During President Macron’s First Term (2017–2022) and Interfaces with Sub-State Entities 2.2 National Climate Legislation Enacted During President Macron’s First Term (2017–2022) and Interfaces with Sub-State Actors 3 Towards More Hierarchical Centralization? Ecological Planning and Multilevel Governance During President Macron’s Early Second Term (Since 2022) 3.1 Ecological Planning and Multilevel Climate Governance During President Macron’s Early Second Term (Since 2022) 3.2 Remaining Shortcomings with the Centralized French Climate Policy Framework, Including in Terms of Multilevel Governance 4 Conclusion Bibliography 6 Cities as Pioneers: Multilevel Climate Governance in New York 1 Introduction 2 Context About US Federalism and Historical Background of Multilevel Climate Governance Between the City and State of New York 2.1 Context of Environmental Politics for States and Cities Under the US Federal System 2.2 Historical Background of Multilevel Climate Governance Between the City and State of New York, with Partial Coordination Between the Two Echelons 3 The ‘Green New Deal’ and Multilevel Climate Governance Between the City and State of New York 3.1 The City and State of New York Achieve Global Climate Leadership by Enacting Their Respective ‘Green New Deals’ 3.2 Effective Articulation and Remaining Shortcomings for Multilevel Climate Governance Between the City and State of New York 4 Conclusion Bibliography 7 Cities as Catalysts: Multilevel Climate Governance Between Boston and Massachusetts 1 Introduction 2 Historical Context of Multilevel Climate Governance Between Boston and Massachusetts, with the City Reaching a New Level of Green Ambition Under Mayors Walsh and Wu 2.1 Historical Context of Multilevel Climate Governance Between Boston and Massachusetts, with an Effective Coordination Early On 2.2 Boston Reaches the Next Level of Climate Ambition Under the Leadership of Mayors Walsh and Wu 3 Partial Multilevel Climate Governance Between Boston and Massachusetts Gradually Improves During Baker’s Two Terms in Office, with Prospects for an Effective Alignment Under New Governor Healey 3.1 Baker’s Mixed Environmental Record During His First Term, Leading to a Partial Multilevel Framework with the City of Boston 3.2 Baker Raises His Level of Climate Ambition During His Second Term, with Prospects for a Far-Reaching Green Agenda Under New Governor Healey Involving Effective Alignment with Boston 3.3 Effective Articulation and Remaining Shortcomings for Multilevel Climate Governance Between Boston and Massachusetts 4 Conclusion Bibliography 8 Cities as Focal Points: Multilevel Climate Governance Between Paris and the Île-de-France 1 Introduction 2 Historical Background of Multilevel Climate Governance Between Paris and the Île-de-France, with a Contextual Comparison Between French Centralization and US Federalism 2.1 Contextual Material on Cities and Regions Under the Centralized French Framework, with Points of Contrast to the US Federal System 2.2 Historical Background of Climate Politics in Paris and the Île-de-France, with Relatively Effective Multilevel Coordination Early On 2.3 Comparative Perspectives on Multilevel Climate Governance Between the French and American Cities and Regions/States in Our Sample 3 Multilevel Climate Governance from the Municipal to the Regional Level Under Hidalgo and Pécresse: Paris Leading the Way in Terms of Galvanizing the Higher Echelons 3.1 Paris Enhances Its Level of Climate Ambition Under Mayor Hidalgo, with a Comparison of the Policies Enacted by Our Three Sample Cities 3.2 Paris Leads the Way, Galvanizing the Higher Echelons to Enhance Their Climate Ambition 3.3 Effective Articulation and Remaining Shortcomings for Multilevel Climate Governance Between Paris and the Île-de-France 4 Conclusion Bibliography 9 Can Cities, States and Regions Save Our Planet? Concluding Assessment on the Contrasting Examples of the US and France 1 Introduction 2 Can Cities, States and Regions Save Our Planet? Key Findings in Comparing the US and France 2.1 Patterns Formed by Multilevel Climate Governance, as Exemplified by the US and French Case Studies 2.2 Advantages and Disadvantages of US Federalism Versus French Centralization in Terms of Multilevel Climate Governance, and Its Implications 3 Projections on the Evolving Nature of Multilevel Governance and Its Role Within the Climate Regime, with Directions for a Future Research Agenda 3.1 Projections on the Evolving Nature of Multilevel Governance and Its Role Within the Climate Regime 3.2 Questions That Remain Open and Directions for a Future Research Agenda 4 Conclusion Bibliography Index