Cross Cutting Themes
The former RL Climate Policy during the SP 2014-17 emerged during the conceptualization of the strategic objectives for the SP 2018-21 as a cross-cutting issue or theme instead of a RL as such. Also, the topic of governance emerged as a cross-cutting theme across several RLs. In order to address these topics in a consistent way and to support their integration, two cross-cutting issues/themes are proposed to be led by one Senior Researcher. Why have Governance and Climate Policy as distinct themes? governance is about long-term social interactions, while policy relates to specific guidelines and objectives in a shorter period of time. Both governance and climate policy are relevant for all objectives, in particular for objectives 2, 3 (Activities 3,4,5 and 6), 4 and 5. As well as in the context of the development of the SIPs under Objective 6. Under CCTs joint activities, discussion and publications are foreseen with the contribution of several RLs in the context of the different objectives indicated above.
Governance
Governance refers to ways (systems and institutions) in which society (any given group, community, etc.) organizes itself to make decisions. In this sense, it is a key social driver of environmental change across scales (from local to global) and lays behind the problems of, and solutions to, climate change and other environmental problems. Examples of key elements within IGS are systems of property rights for land, economic policies, informal cultural norms and behavioral rules in society, societal perceptions, values (shared principles) etc. The aim is to include the notion of how transparent and inclusive governance processes are more likely to be regarded as equitable and legitimate as they reduce compliance costs over time and enhance the ease of implementation, even in the absence of consensus, or where decisions are controversial throughout BC3 specific research projects when relevant. (Lead: U. Pascual)
Climate Policy
Policies are a shorthand for short-term guidelines for action, found in the realm of governments across scales (local, regional, national and transnational). Given the important connection between policy and broader (longer term) governance options, a specific policy focus is also necessary. For example, since the Paris agreement, the discussion at the UNFCCC shaped climate policy worldwide, and specifically the efforts made by the European Union and its Member States. Understanding the implications of such policy decisions, as well as generating knowledge that contributes to the design of future policy initiatives is part of the core research work at BC3 through its objectives, in particular objectives 2,3 and 4. Policy design and policy evaluation at different scales (local, national, regional and global) across sectors (energy, biodiversity, water, health etc.), including focus on efficiency and equity/distributional aspects of policies (including issues of power relations, gender aspects, political ecology, etc.). (Leads: I. Galarraga and M.J. Sanz)
