This workshop examines how decentralised environmental governance can strengthen climate mitigation and adaptation by addressing the tensions between national objectives and the practical realities of local implementation.
Bringing together scholars and practitioners working on the economics, geography, development studies, politics, law and policy design of decentralised environmental governance, the workshop will consider theoretical and empirical evidence to develop actionable policy recommendations across key themes – technological innovation, climate-risk adaptation, biodiversity resilience and financing mechanisms – ultimately enhancing evidence-based policy design and implementation
One of the most urgent challenges facing humanity today is how to confront and mitigate the worsening environmental crisis. Effective environmental governance is central to this effort, as it shapes how societies respond to ecological threats, balance competing priorities, and build long-term resilience. While national and international frameworks set the broad policy agenda, the actual success of climate action depends largely on implementation at the subnational level. Local and regional governments play a pivotal role in both climate mitigation and adaptation, managing land use, public utilities, waste, transport, and disaster response, and often pioneering innovative solutions where national governments fall short.
However, significant tensions persist between national objectives—such as meeting international climate commitments—and local imperatives, including economic growth and employment. Understanding this complex interplay between central and local governance is crucial to improving coordination, accountability, and policy equity. Despite their critical role, subnational actors remain underrepresented in climate policy design. Strengthening vertical coordination between national and local authorities, alongside horizontal collaboration among regions, can enhance both policy effectiveness and implementation. This workshop seeks to address this gap by advancing interdisciplinary and evidence-based discussions on decentralised environmental governance.
KEYNOTE SPEAKER
Luiz de Mello, OECD
ORGANISERS
Sarmistha Pal, University of Surrey
Jean-Paul Faguet, LSE
Photo by Justus Menke on Unsplash
Registration closes on 7th June 2026.
Deadline for Abstracts: 28th February 2026
Notification of Outcome: 16th March 2026
Environmental governance is a cornerstone of how societies confront crises, navigate trade-offs, and safeguard long-term ecological and human resilience. While national and international frameworks establish broad climate agendas, their effectiveness ultimately depends on implementation at the local level. Subnational governments are, therefore, at the forefront of climate action—responsible for land-use planning, utilities, waste management, transportation, and disaster response—while also investing in adaptation and driving just transitions.
Nevertheless, the relationship between central and subnational governments in climate policy remains rather underexplored. Central governments often emphasize international commitments and uniform standards, while local authorities prioritize economic growth and immediate community needs. Examining this little explored interplay exposes tensions, accountability gaps, and opportunities for innovation. Stronger vertical coordination across levels of government and horizontal collaboration across regions can deliver more effective, equitable, and context-sensitive outcomes.
This workshop seeks to bring together scholars and practitioners working on the economics, development studies, politics, law and policy design of decentralised environmental governance. We invite contributions that offer theoretical insights, empirical analyses, and/or policy recommendations addressing the challenges and opportunities of decentralisation in the climate era.
Luiz de Mello, Director of the Country Studies Branch at the Economics Department of OECD has agreed to act as the keynote speaker for the workshop. With extensive expertise in fiscal federalism, subnational governance, and public sector reform, Luiz de Mello has been at the forefront of OECD work on how local and regional governments can effectively design and implement policies to address global challenges, including climate change and environmental sustainability.
Key themes include (but are not limited to):
Expected Outcomes:
We particularly welcome submissions from early-career researchers and perspectives from the Global South.