What is local carbon governance? A critical systematic review

• In Event: Environmental Sociology Section Roundtables
  In Refereed Roundtable (60 minute): Table 9: Governance, Policy, and the State

Abstract

Carbon governance has emerged as an urgent agenda to tackle rising global CO2 emissions and stay below 1.5C. Considering the challenges associated with international climate policymaking, local municipalities have moved to the forefront of decarbonization initiatives. However, the concept of local carbon governance remains elusive, with limited consensus on its defining characteristics, stakeholder-engagement components, and processes. Following critical systematic review methodology, this paper examines the ways that local carbon governance has been defined—and often left undefined—to identify critical gaps in decarbonization agendas. Given that definitions are never neutral labels but rather world-making practices that shape which actors and priorities are made visible, we posit that definitions matter in the movement to develop comprehensive strategies capable of attending to the complexities of local climate mitigation. Building on the literature on environmental justice and anti-colonial praxis, we call for careful thinking on questions of stakeholder and knowledge diversity, problem framing, community leadership, as well as equity, privilege, and private interests.

Author

• Aryana Soliz, University of Tennessee-Knoxville