Understanding How and Why Cities Engage with Climate Policy: an Analysis of Local Climate Action in Spain and Italy

Cities significantly contribute to climate change and at the same time have governance capacity to act efficiently in the fields of mitigation and adaptation. Their capacity is being increasingly recognized by international institutions and has been pointed out as crucial in the multi-level government scenario of the European Union (EU). Addressing the challenges of climate change at urban level is a complex issue which requires a holistic approach to strategic urban planning. Understanding why and how cities start action can help to identify the barriers they face when addressing climate change, and how national governments, regions and international bodies can support local authorities in their climate fight. This work aims to contribute to the provision of the knowledge needed to gain a better and deeper insight into urban climate action. The study investigates the state-of-the-art of urban climate plans in Spain and Italy, two countries which share similarities on many levels (i.e. cultural, geographical, climate vulnerabilities, urban configurations and institutional framework). The research analyses cities that are included in the Eurostat Urban Audit (UA), 26 in Spain and 32 in Italy, focusing on the actions taken by large and medium municipalities in reducing their contribution to climate change and becoming more resilient to changing weather patterns. The results of the analysis show a trend towards increasing awareness of climate mitigation (highly focused on energy efficiency and the promotion of cleaner energy sources), while adaptation remains a local policy area in its infancy in both countries. The study also identifies the beneficial influence of national and international climate city networks.