BIROn - Birkbeck Institutional Research Online

Spatial determinants of local government action on climate change: an analysis of local authorities in England

Mann, Sarah and Briant, Rebecca M. and Gibin, Maurizio (2014) Spatial determinants of local government action on climate change: an analysis of local authorities in England. Local Environment 19 (8), pp. 837-867. ISSN 1354-9839.

[img]
Preview
Text
5942.pdf - Author's Accepted Manuscript

Download (3MB) | Preview

Abstract

The engagement of UK local authorities is vital if national government is to meet its climate change commitments. However, with no mandatory targets at local government level, other drivers must explain engagement. Using a Geographic Information System, this study compares the spatial distribution of action on climate change based on past actions and stated intentions to a suite of relevant independent variables. The Action Index created is among the first to quantify climate change engagement beyond a simple binary measure and provides a useful comparative study to recent work in the US. The Index enables investigation of both mitigation and adaptation, which show different trends in relation to some variables. The study shows that action is strongest where the voting habits of the local population suggest environmental concern and where neighbouring local authorities are also engaging in action on climate change. Physical vulnerability to the effects of climate change is a motivator for action only where the dangers are obvious. Action is less likely where other resource intensive issues such as crime and housing exist within a local authority area.

Metadata

Item Type: Article
Keyword(s) / Subject(s): local government, mitigation, adaptation, climate change
School: Birkbeck Faculties and Schools > Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences > School of Social Sciences
Research Centres and Institutes: Research in Environment and Sustainability, Centre for
Depositing User: Administrator
Date Deposited: 10 Jan 2013 14:49
Last Modified: 16 Apr 2025 15:46
URI: https://eprints.bbk.ac.uk/id/eprint/5942

Statistics

6 month trend
674Downloads
6 month trend
369Hits

Additional statistics are available via IRStats2.

Archive Staff Only (login required)

Edit/View Item
Edit/View Item