The evolving role of cities as non-state actors in the international climate regime

While nations talk, cities act.” This quote from Mike Bloomberg, the former New York mayor, reflects the frequent portrayal of the role of cities and local governments in global climate governance: in light of concerns about the inability of national governments to agree on and achieve sufficient emissions reductions, cities and transnational city networks are often seen as actors that could fill that gap (Johnson, 2018). The readiness of cities to take ambitious climate action in the face of inaction at national level was perhaps never more visible than when President Trump decided to withdraw the United States from the Paris Agreement. In response, mayors, governors and business leaders formed “We Are Still In”, a coalition of non-state actors reaffirming their commitment to the global climate pact, joined to date by 247 cities across the US.

Authors: 

Linda Mederake, Junior Researcher, Ecologic Institute: Science and Policy for a Sustainable World
Ewa Iwaszuk, Researcher, Ecologic Institute: Science and Policy for a Sustainable World
Doris Knoblauch, Senior Fellow and Coordinator for Urban and Spatial Governance, Ecologic Institute: Science and Policy for a Sustainable World