Local Governments and Climate Change

The reality of the human impact on climate change is now widely accepted, with the extent and potential catastrophic magnitude increasingly recognised by scientists and politicians, also by business people and citizens. Scientific climate observations, the development of scenarios on which planning and decisions can be based, studies on the economic impact of climate change, and monitoring actual impacts – at the macro (world) and micro level (community) – all point in a specific direction: humans must change towards sustainable energy solutions and change their lifestyle. As the urban population continues to grow, the centres of human life require a drastic rethink in terms of energy and the use of resources, also from a climate change mitigation and adaptation perspective. People are looking to their governments to respond appropriately. They are waiting for courageous leadership, guidance, motivation and direction – they need to know that a more coherent climate protection response is being developed. Expectations in this regard are particularly directed towards national government, but all other levels as well. Citizens are also looking towards their local governments, with the local impact of climate change requiring a local response, with plans for community based adaptation and local climate change mitigation. This publication addresses local governments and climate change, with a specific focus on smaller sized communities and renewable energy solutions.

With scientific evidence showing an unprecedented rate of climate change – a rate much faster than anticipated a few years ago – more active climate protection engagement is needed around the globe. In this context individuals and the community level play a vital role, and there are also considerable expectations by citizens that national governments will take the lead. Yet engagement is slow, and this raises questions regarding the motivation for action and how to get widespread engagement, particularly at the local level. Some issues that have motivated action include experiencing the local impact of climate change and a realisation that it has a security impact (from many different perspectives – from climate migration to socio-economic impacts). Studies that address the cost of action and inaction have placed climate change on the political map, and community leaders that have engaged from various angles such as improving air quality have gained multiple benefits for the community and the environment, as an indirect approach to local climate action. This chapter explores why the local level urgently needs to engage, and what its representatives – political leaders, staff and citizens – need to know about what they are dealing with, and why they should deal with it.

Cities and local authorities are involved in a process aimed at incorporation in the international climate change negotiations in the months leading up to the 15th Conference of the Parties (COP 15) in December 2009, Copenhagen, Denmark. They call for a strong and comprehensive post-2012 climate agreement, as well as for greater recognition of their crucial role in contributing to global climate protection in the anticipated agreement to be adopted in Copenhagen. Such recognition could be a starting point for a new dynamic wave of local activities and action. In this context the international Local Government Climate Roadmap was initiated in Bali in December 2007, working towards COP 15 and beyond, for an inclusive and effective global climate agreement.

Local climate action, sustainable energy and urban planning are closely interconnected, focusing on action in the (municipal) government and whole community area. Change is needed to improve existing policies or develop new policies, raise peoples’ awareness on the need for change and how to do so, apply existing effective technologies and measures, and, last but not least, sustaining this over the longer term to achieve the required results. Three streams of local climate action are presented in this article, namely: strategy and policy; technology and measures; people and lifestyle – all closely inter-related, and linked to urban planning and sustainable energy. When addressing these issues, typical questions asked by local decision-makers and municipal staff revolve around aspects such as how to determine the right strategies and policies to guide the implementation of a Local Action Plan (LAP), where processes need to change, which key steps should form part of a LAP, how to select the right technologies, and how to engage people. The ‘people stream’ remains the largest challenge, in part also as it implies a redefinition of quality of life for all citizens – engaging them, retaining their interest, encouraging them to take responsibility for their choices, and radically changing the way they live.

The German Renewable Energy Act is an exemplary piece of legislation, one of the first effective examples that has led to an upsurge in the expansion of electricity produces from renewable energy sources. This Act has been implemented in several other countries in various forms. The German legislation is effective as it started with a fixed remuneration, providing a secure opportunity for investors and resulting in a continuously growing clean energy industry and an efficient regulated market.

Växjö, a city in southern Sweden, aims to become free of fossil fuels, and is taking its responsibility to minimise its impact on global climate change seriously. The core of Växjö’s climate strategy is based on the knowledge that the climate is changing and the ability to identify solutions to problems. This has lead to a common understanding among politicians, companies, inhabitants and organisations that there is a need to stop using fossil fuels. Already in 1996, the local politicians unanimously decided on the long-term vision of a fossil fuel free city. This goal covers the entire geographical area, meaning that all inhabitants, companies, non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and public authorities have to contribute to achieve this vision. To reach the goal a wide range of actions have been identified, and are being carried out – in particular to ensure that the use of heat, electricity and transport becomes more climate friendly. Excellent results have already been achieved – between 1993 and 2007 the CO₂ emissions per capita were reduced by 32%. This is an exemplary city that is also keen to share its strategy and developments to encourage other communities to follow suit.

The changing approach towards energy, increasingly regarding it as a comodity that needs to be reassessed in terms of its value, is visible throughout the modern world. This change can also be seen at the community level, with local governments and citizens being impacted by rising fuel prices and issues of energy scarcity and stability. The need for sufficient and affordable energy, as elements of energy security, are among others leading to a review of local resources, developing new concepts for generating and using energy more efficiently, considering how people as energy users should change their lifestyles.