Transformative governance cultures? Explaining variation in regional climate change responses with culture

Abstract

The need for transformative adaptation is beyond question, but its regional implementation remains a pressing issue. While heterogenous climate impacts obviously demand tailored approaches, we argue that varying governance cultures are an equally important, yet understudied variable to explain and develop region-specific climate change responses. Using the concept of policy arrangements, we investigate the three European mountain regions Lapland, Tyrol, and Râu Sadului/Sibiu to analyse how region-specific governance idiosyncrasies influence adaptation. We find that entrenched routines, established coalitions and dominant framings play into regional climate governance just as much as region-specific climate change impacts, material dependencies, and economic pressures. We hence call for greater awareness of these aspects in researching and designing governance approaches for transformative change.