Cities and governance: Coming to terms with climate challenges

Abstract

If cities are to meet the challenges of climate change, effective solutions must be anchored in an empowered city governance approach. Empowered city governance depends on building effective decision-making in this volatile policy field, in developing evidence-based policy-making, and in building strong city governments capable of performing as new sites of governance in global negotiations on climate change. The objectives of this paper are twofold: first, to map the core risks for cities associated with climate change; second, as a governance response, to build a more informed set of planning norms and practices, more effective infrastructure investment and urban management, and a more inclusive urban governance.