Climact Regions: Dedicated Modes of Governance

The challenge of climate change calls for closer cooperation and joint action amongst all stakeholders at all levels. A higher level of energy efficiency, reduction in GHG emissions, and an increase in the production of renewable energies can be achieved only when all resources are mobilised. Being a complex and global issue, climate change cannot be dealt with at only one level; it requires coherent action starting at the local level and then reaching global levels.

Regions have a key role to play in fighting climate change. They are well placed to implement climate governance and to build and share a strategic and integrated vision within a management framework covering different levels of government and cooperation between stakeholders while encouraging the active participation of citizens.

The objective of this manual is to make general recommendations on the definition and management of governance processes. To do this, a limited number of good practices were selected from among 130 practices of 20 countries that were identified within the framework of the Climact Regions project, based on 7 criteria (link with the regional level, effective contribution to the fight against climate change, contribution to sustainable development, acquisition of tangible results, their innovative character, their cost-effective ratio & financial viability, and innovation, & ambition).

The good practices as identified are attached to this methodological guide. The objective of identifying and analysing practices that were successfully implemented is to inspire and encourage regions to put in place appropriate and efficient governance processes with a view to taking ambitious steps against climate change. This provides regional partners with the resources to define their own methodology and mode of action.

They reveal gaps relating to traditional government institutions and to areas of public policy intervention. Governance processes are designed to provide support, expertise and advocacy for the design and joint execution of environmental policies. They offer the possible involvement of a variety of players at different levels and the opportunity to assist in defining and implementing a collective project through an open process of interaction and cooperation.

After writing general manuals about adapted governance, partners of Climactregions adapted the manuals in their regional context.