ABSTRACT

Studies that focus on different urban governance structures, especially unitary states and semi-authoritarian regimes, are still lacking in the urban climate governance literature. This research aims to explain how climate change is governed under a unitary state structure, particularly focusing on how urban climate governance incorporates higher-level government policy and external stakeholders to set a climate agenda and actions. Four main themes are framed from the urban climate governance literature, including agenda setting, the divergence between the existing policies and urban climate agendas, policy entrepreneurs’ roles, and civil society organizations. By focusing on the four themes, we aim to understand how climate change is governed in Istanbul, the biggest and the richest city of Turkey, under a unitary system of government. Based on semi-structured interviews, field notes based on participant-observations, and review of existing official documents, we find that swings in political leadership, the divergence between the existing laws and newly adopted urban climate agendas, and conflicting priorities between policy entrepreneurs generate barriers to long-run and tangible climate change actions in Istanbul. Nevertheless, we argue there is an opportunity space for local governments to co-create new governance mechanisms, as the national government does not have the capacity to lead climate change action, nor is there a political will and focus at the highest levels of government to engage deeply in this policy space.

摘要

城市气候治理文献中仍然缺乏针对不同城市治理结构，特别是单一制国家和半独裁政权的研究。本研究旨在解释单一国家结构下如何治理气候变化，特别关注城市气候治理如何结合高层政府政策和外部利益相关者来制定气候议程和行动。城市气候治理文献提出了四个主题，包括议程设置、现有政策与城市气候议程之间的分歧、政策企业家的角色以及民间社会组织。通过关注这四个主题，我们旨在了解土耳其最大、最富有的城市伊斯坦布尔在统一政府体制下如何治理气候变化。根据半结构化访谈、基于参与者观察的现场记录以及对现有官方文件的审查，我们发现政治领导力的波动、现有法律与新通过的城市气候议程之间的分歧以及政策企业家之间优先事项的冲突会产生伊斯坦布尔长期和切实的气候变化行动的障碍。尽管如此，我们认为地方政府仍有共同创建新治理机制的机会空间，因为中央政府没有能力领导气候变化行动，政府最高层也没有政治意愿和重点关注气候变化行动。深入参与这一政策空间。我们发现，政治领导层的摇摆、现行法律与新通过的城市气候议程之间的分歧，以及政策企业家之间优先事项的冲突，都为伊斯坦布尔的长期和切实的气候变化行动带来了障碍。尽管如此，我们认为地方政府仍有共同创建新治理机制的机会空间，因为中央政府没有能力领导气候变化行动，政府最高层也没有政治意愿和重点关注气候变化行动。深入参与这一政策空间。我们发现，政治领导层的摇摆、现行法律与新通过的城市气候议程之间的分歧，以及政策企业家之间优先事项的冲突，都为伊斯坦布尔的长期和切实的气候变化行动带来了障碍。尽管如此，我们认为地方政府仍有共同创建新治理机制的机会空间，因为中央政府没有能力领导气候变化行动，政府最高层也没有政治意愿和重点关注气候变化行动。深入参与这一政策空间。