Multi-Level-Governance in the Context of Climate Change
The flood disaster of July 2021 marked a turning point in the development of the Ahr Valley. It not only caused immense material damage, but also fundamentally called into question existing infrastructure, supply systems and political routines. At the same time, the reconstruction was seen from the outset as an opportunity to rebuild in a sustainable and climate-resilient manner – by local stakeholders as well as by state and federal policymakers. This work package is led by the Wuppertal Institute.
The Wuppertal Institute
The Wuppertal Institute is a practice-oriented research institute operating at national and international level, with its roots in North Rhine-Westphalia and a global outlook. Its researchers develop scientifically sound solutions to environmental, social and economic challenges. In doing so, the Institute works closely with stakeholders to actively help shape the transition towards a sustainable world.
Profile
Academic disciplines
Urban and Regional Development, Political Science
Head of Sub-Project
Dr. Steven März
Objective
Policy and practical recommendations for climate-resilient and transformative reconstruction (in selected areas of action)
To what extent has reconstruction paved the way for new socio-ecological development pathways? Which transformative capacities, path dependencies and political frameworks at different levels of governance promote or hinder this transformation?
- The interplay between climate protection and climate adaptation in reconstruction
- Multi-level governance and policy framework
- Factors that promote and hinder climate-resilient reconstruction
- Document and stakeholder analysis
- Interviews with representatives from the political sphere (ministries), local government and the field
- Participatory approaches to futures and transformation research
Research Objectives
About five years after the floods, the question therefore arises as to what extent this promise of ‘Build Back Better’ has been fulfilled: where does the reconstruction stand today? Has the pre-flood status quo simply been restored, or have new socio-ecological development pathways actually been set in motion? How can these developments be explained?
These questions are the focus of the Wuppertal Institute’s sub-project ‘Multi-level Governance in Climate Change’ within the SOZIAHR collaborative project. It examines two selected areas of action in the reconstruction process in greater detail – including the reconstruction of the heating supply, with a particular focus on the development of district heating networks. The second area of action will be determined as the project progresses. The analysis examines which of the region’s transformative capacities have driven the reconstruction, which path dependencies have constrained it, and which state and federal policy regulations have acted as enablers or obstacles within a multi-level governance framework.
Particular focus is placed on the question of whether climate protection and climate adaptation were considered jointly in the reconstruction process. Taking climate-neutral heating supply as an example, the study examines whether climate protection measures also help to establish structures that are resilient to flooding and heavy rainfall, ensure security of supply and are socially sustainable, or whether there are conflicting objectives in this regard. In doing so, the sub-project asks not only whether transformation is taking place, but also what the quality of this transformation is.
The aim of the sub-project is to analyse the reconstruction efforts to date in these two areas of action in greater detail with regard to facilitating and hindering factors, in order to provide, on this basis, well-founded policy and practical recommendations for dealing with the consequences of climate change. The findings are intended to demonstrate how climate resilience can be more firmly embedded in political and administrative structures, and which governance approaches support local authorities and regions in responding to future crises flexibly and effectively.
The insights gained from the Ahr Valley are intended not only to contribute to regional development, but also to provide impetus for other regions affected by climate change.
Methodology
This sub-project adopts a transdisciplinary research approach that focuses on mutual learning between academia and practice. To generate practice-oriented knowledge, we combine traditional analytical methods with those of transformation research:
- Document and stakeholder analyses to examine planning documents, feasibility studies and funding concepts for selected reconstruction projects.
- Interviews with representatives from public administration, government departments and the field to identify factors that hinder or facilitate cooperation.
- Participatory formats in futures and transformation research to develop, together with practitioners, ideas for more adaptable and learning-oriented policy-making.
Sub-Project Lead
The sub-project is led by Dr Steven März. He is a senior researcher in the Urban Transformation research division and an expert in sustainable urban and regional development, with a particular research focus on policy analyses relating to the transformation of residential buildings, energy poverty and cooperative heat supply. The project team is complemented by Constanze Schmidt and Lynn Verheyen. Constanze works as a research officer for the strategic development of the climate adaptation thematic area and coordinates the NRW Climate Adaptation Expert Forum; she brings extensive knowledge on linking climate adaptation to climate protection measures to the project work. Lynn is a research assistant in the Urban Transformation research division. Her work focuses on analysing municipal transformation processes in the context of socio-ecological challenges. She also brings extensive experience in qualitative social research to the project.
