The role of institutions, governance and planning for mitigation and adaptation by cities

TExamines the current state of urban climate change policy and action by drawing on 10 case studies of cities in those countries considered most likely in academic and policy circles to be faced with some form of emissions reduction target in the post-2012 era and where many of the world's largest and potentially most vulnerable cities are located. Key factors shaping responses to mitigation are the following: effective policy entrepreneurs; municipal competencies in critical areas such as transportation, infrastructure, energy, and planning policy; access to additional financial resources, and flexibility in their deployment; an enabling policy framework at national and regional levels; the fit between jurisdictional areas and problem boundaries; the ability to engage partners to achieve action beyond the municipality; the knowledge and resource capacity, as well as political support, generated by networks and partnerships; and the reframing of climate change as an issue of local importance and the absence of conflict between addressing climate change and other local priorities.