Climate change, transport and land use: local challenges of governance

The purpose of this paper is to outline and discuss some of these local governance challenges within the context of an Australian metropolis. Whilst the Australian setting imposes certain specific contextual parameters, there are also generic lessons to be drawn about issues of governance for mitigation and adaptation. The paper first sets out a hypothetical set of targets that constitutes a 'climate stabilization wedge' for urban transport. The potential for achieving these targets in the context of Melbourne is then discussed. The paper then considers the question of policy change, and in particular three challenges of governance which will need to be addressed: the intergovernmental challenge, the challenge of path dependence, and the community engagement challenge. In the first case a climate change strategy for transport would need to be realized at all three levels of government (in the Australian federal system), local, state and national. Coordinated policy shifts at each level would be required. In the second case, the inertia and path dependence of existing policy needs to be acknowledged and steps taken to move the underlying institutional structure on to a new path adjusted for climate change. Finally the question arises of how the long term interests of a metropolitan community can best find expression in such a way as to influence government.

• Supplemental Notes:
  • Draft: not for citation
• Authors:
  • Low, N
• Conference:
  • (paper to) International Sustainable Development Research Conference, 13th, 2007, Vaesteraas, Sweden
• Publication Date: 2007-6

Language

• English

Media Info

• Pagination: 20p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Climate; Environment; Federal government; Land use planning; Local government; Policy; State government; Transportation planning; Urban transportation
• Uncontrolled Terms: Planning and Environment
• Geographic Terms: Australia
• ATRI Terms: Change; Climate; Environment; Land use; Local government; National government; Policy; State government; Transport planning; Urban transport
• Subject Areas: Policy;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01386861
• Record Type: Publication
• Source Agency: ARRB
• Files: ATRI
• Created Date: Aug 22 2012 9:53PM