Going Down The Local The Challenges Of Place-Based Net Zero Governance Final

Catney, Philip; Bedford, Tom; Robinson, Zoe

Abstract

Place-based decarbonisation is emerging as a significant element in the UK government’s net zero agenda, specifically through central government devolution deals. Such localised governance has the potential to reap social and economic benefits for communities whilst also potentially delivering on net zero goals. However, pre-existing institutional constraints and unresolved tensions remain such as the uneven distribution of initiatives across areas and the fiscal limitations within local authorities. These could potentially exacerbate regional inequality rather than promote a just transition.

The report characterises the current governance regimes and challenges to net zero delivery in four parts of the Midlands: Coventry, Nottingham, Leicester and Staffordshire. It highlights variation in local scale action and identifies the constraints to multi-scalar governance for net zero. It recommends cultivating policy innovation, particularly to align planning with the net zero transition and identifies the potential role of regulatory sandboxes to this end as well as community ownership.

Citation

Catney, P., Bedford, T., & Robinson, Z. (2023). Going Down The Local The Challenges Of Place-Based Net Zero Governance Final. Journal of the British Academy, 11(s4), 125–156. https://doi.org/10.5871/jba/011s4.125

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Aug 1, 2023
• Online Publication Date: Sep 28, 2023
• Publication Date: Sep 28, 2023
• Deposit Date: Aug 14, 2023
• Publicly Available Date: Feb 21, 2024
• Print ISSN: 2052-7217
• Publisher: British Academy
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 11
• Issue: s4
• Pages: 125–156
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.5871/jba/011s4.125
• Publisher URL: https://www.thebritishacademy.ac.uk/publishing/journal-british-academy/11s4/going-down-the-local/