Climate policy integration, coherence and governance

Abstract

It is becoming evident that if societies are going to tackle climate change, significant changes in production processes as well as consumption patterns will be required. These changes cannot be achieved unless climate change is taken into account in the general and sector-specific policies essential for economic activities and general social development. In this report the degree of climate policy integration in different European countries, policy sectors and, in some cases, regions and municipalities is assessed. In addition, measures and means to enhance climate policy integration and improve policy coherence are analysed. This report shows that the inclusion of climate change mitigation and adaptation in general governmental programmes and strategies has substantially increased in recent years. Much more will be needed than hitherto, however, in terms of integrating climate into specific measures. Annual budgets, impact assessments and spatial planning are three examples of existing measures with significant potential to be climate policy instruments. In order to be efficient, the integration of both mitigation and adaptation aims would in the future need to recognize the interconnections between multiple governance levels, from the local to the international.