Multi-level governance and institutional processes for climate change adaption in cities

Abstract

This article describes the institutional processes for climate change in cities, focusing on different levels of governance. The research investigated the activities of the European Union (EU), national and municipal governments and citizen networks in Spain. It utilises Barcelona and Madrid as two Spanish cities that have developed and implemented responses to climate change. The article covers a relevant research gap, since there are relatively few city case studies in Spain that investigate the governance connections at different institutional levels in terms of climate change. We show how different levels of government in adaptation planning and the strength of community networks of stakeholders can do both: reduce costs and improve the efficacy of climate initiatives. The article demonstrated the need for our societies to adapt in the short and long term to address the impacts of global warming and reduce our vulnerability tothis global but also very local problem.