Advancing Local Climate Action: Insights from the Piedmont Region, Italy

Abstract

While the impacts of climate change are increasingly apparent and expected to worsen in the near future, effective mitigation and adaptation strategies, plan and actions are becoming compelling. Despite the need for an integrated approach among governance levels, local authorities lie at the forefront of climate action, due to their proximity to the affected communities. However, the potential of this local climate governance is under discussion, as its efficacy is still unclear. This study focuses on the municipalities in the Piedmont region (Italy). It investigates how these municipalities tackle climate change within the consolidated framework of the Covenant of Mayors, the global-level initiative sponsored by the European Commission that since 2008 promotes and supports climate action at the local level. The assessment is based on a quali-quantitative analysis, owing to official documents and expert surveys. The results show that mitigation is rather consolidated, but it often relies on the willingness of private actors to act, hence pushing the achievement of climate targets beyond the direct control of the municipal authority. Furthermore, the study reveals a significant underdevelopment in terms of adaptation; though a certain attention for ecosystem services and wellbeing emerges, the ability to effectively act appears limited. Overall, the results hint at the inherent complexity of governing local climate-related planning, especially for municipalities, that suffer from limited funds and resources, as well as internal political instability. Although difficulties will persist, being structured in the socio-political context, we argue that local partnerships connecting different levels of governance and incorporating private actors and communities in the planning and implementation system can strengthen local resilience against global climate challenges, enhancing climate action and fostering the sustainability of local communities.