From Governance Experiments to Low-Carbon Transformations: The Political Institutionalization of Climate Change Mitigation in Emerging Economies

This project aims to analyze the processes and conditions of political institutionalization of climate change mitigation in the high-carbon intensive sectors of agriculture and energy in emerging economies. We depart from two findings that stand out in the literature: First, we witness the emergence of numerous governance experiments that are aimed at reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions (eg Bulkeley & Castán Broto 2013; Hildén et al. 2017; Hoffmann 2011; Turnheim et al. 2018). These experiments are undertaken by a variety of state and non-state actors as an “approach to governing”( Huitema et al. 2018, 144) with the objective of learning and policy adaptation ( Fuhr & Lederer 2009; Fuhr et al. 2018; Hickmann 2013, 2017; Hildén et al. 2017; Hoffmann 2011; Huitema et al. 2018). Second, various authors describe the need for ambitious, intersectoral and all-encompassing, societal low-carbon transformations to maintain the economic and social development within planetary boundaries (Jackson 2011; Lederer et al. 2019; Leggewie & Welzer 2010; Scoones et al. 2015; WBGU 2011). From these literatures, we know who does what and why and, to some extent, how successful governance experiments have been. We also have a clear understanding of what is needed to reach low-carbon transformation. However, what we do not know is under which conditions we can close the gap between governance experiments and low-carbon transformations.