Governing the Climate-Energy Nexus
Institutional Complexity and Its Challenges to Effectiveness and Legitimacy

Analysing the interactions between institutions in the climate change and energy nexus, including the consequences for their legitimacy and effectiveness.

Fariborz Zelli (Edited by), Karin Bäckstrand (Edited by), Naghmeh Nasiritousi (Edited by), Jakob Skovgaard (Edited by), Oscar Widerberg (Edited by)

9781108484817, Cambridge University Press

Hardback, published 16 July 2020

300 pages
24.9 x 17.5 x 2.3 cm, 0.67 kg

'Governing the Climate-Energy Nexus offers a novel approach to understanding the vexing challenge of decarbonizing the global energy system and moving towards a more sustainable future. Drawing on diverse theoretical debates in political science and international relations, the authors present rich empirical analyses that help academics and practitioners navigate the complex institutional landscape of global climate and energy governance and evaluate the trade-offs and synergies between different policy options. Moreover, this book advances the growing field of 'nexus' research by breaking new theoretical and methodological ground that will facilitate more effective and legitimate governance systems in an increasingly interconnected global system.' Michele M. Betsill, Colorado State University

Combating climate change and transitioning to fossil-free energy are two central and interdependent challenges facing humanity today. Governing the nexus of these challenges is complex, and includes multiple intergovernmental and transnational institutions. This book analyses the governance interactions between such institutions, and explores their consequences for legitimacy and effectiveness. Using a novel analytical framework, the contributors examine three policy fields: renewable energy, fossil fuel subsidy reform, and carbon pricing. These fields are compared in terms of their institutional memberships, governance functions and overarching norms. Bringing together prominent researchers from political science and international relations, the book offers an essential resource for future research and provides policy recommendations for effective and legitimate governance of the climate-energy nexus. Rooted in the most recent research, it is an invaluable reference for researchers, policymakers and other stakeholders in climate change and energy politics. This title is also available as Open Access on Cambridge Core.

1. Introduction – governing the climate-energy nexus Fariborz Zelli, Karin Backstrand, Naghmeh Nasiritousi, Jakob Skovgaard, and Oscar Widerberg
Part I. Maping the Climate-Energy Nexus: 2. Analytical framework – assessing coherence, management, legitimacy, and effectiveness Fariborz Zelli, Naghmeh Nasiritousi, Karin Backstrand, Philipp Pattberg, Lisa Sanderink, Jakob Skovgaard, Harro van Asselt, and Oscar Widerberg
3. Mapping the institutional complex of the climate-energy nexus Lisa Sanderink, Philipp Pattberg, Oscar Widerberg
Part II. Coherence and Management in the Climate-Energy Nexus: 4. Renewable energy – a loosely coupled system or a well-connected web of institutions? Lisa Sanderink
5. Fossil fuel subsidy reform – interactions between international cooperative institutions Cleo Verkuijl and Harro van Asselt
6. Carbon pricing – overlaps and formal collaboration Jakob Skovgaard and Jana Canavan
Part III. Legitimacy and Effectiveness in the Climate-Energy Nexus: 7. Disentangling legitimacy – comparing stakeholder assessments of five key climate and energy governance institutions Naghmeh Nasiritousi and Soetkin Verhaegen
8. The performance of the climate-energy nexus – assessing the effectiveness of the institutional complexes on renewable energy, fossil fuel subsidy reform, and carbon pricing Naghmeh Nasiritousi, Lisa Sanderink, Jakob Skovgaard, Harro van Asselt, Cleo Verkuijl, and Oscar Widerberg
9. Conclusions – coherence, management, legitimacy, and effectiveness in the climate-energy nexus Fariborz Zelli, Karin Backstrand, Naghmeh Nasiritousi, Jakob Skovgaard, and Oscar Widerberg.

Subject Areas: Alternative & renewable energy sources & technology [THX], Fossil fuel technologies [THF], Climate change [RNPG], Environmental factors [MBNH2], International environmental law [LBBP], Alternative & renewable energy industries [KNBT], International relations [JPS]