Local Governments Facing Climate Change I

Abstract

Local governments play a key role in mitigating the causes of climate change and adapting to the new challenges this collective problem presents. Municipal policies benefit from their knowledge of the place, the proximity to the community and the possibility to engage local citizens. While international and national climate change policies set the general standards and strategies, it is at the local level and through local action where most real changes can be observed. And this topic has become timely since it has recently ascended positions in local agendas after emerging as one of the SDGs (Sustainable Development Goals) set for the UN 2030 Agenda. Against this background, this panel has an empirical approach that contribute to building knowledge on how municipalities are facing climate change. Therefore, analysis on the strategies, networks, outputs, outcomes or other elements characterizing actual and current local government action on this topic will be discussed.