A new book sheds light on one of today’s most pressing global challenges: Decentralized Governance and Climate Change, edited by Jorge Martinez-Vazquez, Paul Smoke, and Serdar Yilmaz, examines the intersection between decentralization and climate policy, highlighting the pivotal role that subnational governments play in addressing climate risks.
Part of the Studies in Fiscal Federalism and State-Local Finance series, the volume addresses a critical but underexplored dimension of the climate debate: how multilevel governance and fiscal frameworks shape the effectiveness of climate action. By situating climate change within the structures of decentralization, the book underscores that global and national commitments must be matched with robust, empowered action at the local level.
The editors bring together contributions that bridge theory, fiscal policy, and practice. The chapters explore the implications of intergovernmental finance, administrative arrangements, and multilevel institutional design. Particular attention is paid to developing and emerging economies, where subnational governments often face the greatest burdens from climate change but lack adequate resources or clarity of mandate.
Regional and country-focused chapters examine climate governance experiences in Latin America, Africa, East Asia, Brazil, China, India, Nepal, and South Africa. In addition, the volume investigates fiscal instruments and financing mechanisms—from land value capture to market-based climate finance—that can enable local climate action. The result is a comprehensive assessment of how decentralized governance can be leveraged to strengthen resilience and accelerate the ecological transition.
Read more about the book from the publisher’s website:
https://www.e-elgar.com/shop/usd/decentralized-governance-and-climate-change-9781035356379.html
CONTENTS
PART I INTRODUCTION
1 Decentralized governance and climate change: Basics, opportunities, and challenges (Paul Smoke, Jorge Martinez-Vazquez and Serdar Yilmaz)
PART II FINANCING AND MANAGING CLIMATE CHANGE IN A DECENTRALIZED SYSTEM
2 Redesigning fiscal decentralization to combat climate change (Jorge Martinez-Vazquez)
3 Managing administrative decentralization for subnational climate action (Paul Smoke and Mitchell Cook)
4 Multilevel governance of climate change and ecological transition (Sean Dougherty and Andoni Montes Nebreda)
5 Climate adaptation: Why local governments cannot do it alone (Simon Touboul, David Munká and Catherine Gamper)
PART III REGIONAL AND COUNTRY CASE STUDIES OF CLIMATE ACTION
6 Decentralized governance and climate change in Latin America and the Caribbean (María Dolores Almeida, Huáscar Eguino, Juan Luis Gómez Reino and Axel Radics)
7 Leveraging decentralization for climate action in Africa (Onur Erdem and Maud Frangi)
8 The role of decentralized governance in climate change action in East Asia (Alma Kanani, Muhammad Khudadad Chattha and Min Zhao)
9 Decentralized governance and climate change in Brazil (Carolina L. Vaira, Rose Mirian Hofmann and Isabella Vallejo)
10 The role of subnational governments in China’s decarbonization program (Roy Bahl)
11 Climate change and India’s federalism (Jorge Martinez-Vazquez and Farah Zahir)
12 Building subnational resilience in Nepal (Rachana Shrestha)
13 Subnational climate change governance in South Africa (Albertus Schoeman)
PART IV FISCAL INSTRUMENTS AND FINANCING MECHANISMS FOR CLIMATE ACTION
14 Local solutions: Financing climate action through land value capture (Patrick Welch, Enrique R. Silva, Martim O. Smolka and Amy Cotter)
15 Market-based climate financing instruments for subnational governments (Farah Imrana Hussain)
16 Fiscal tools for subnational ecosystem and climate action (Serdar Yilmaz and Farah Zahir)
17 Climate change and intergovernmental fiscal relations: Policy reform options (Luiz de Mello and Teresa Ter-Minassian)
PART V CONCLUSION
18 Looking forward: Strategically advancing subnational government climate action (Paul Smoke, Jorge Martinez-Vazquez and Serdar Yilmaz)
