Climate Governance, Subnational Actors, and the Future of Global Environmental Cooperation: The Case of the U.S. Climate Alliance
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.5433/1679-0383.2025.v46.53401Keywords:
Climate governance, Subnational actors, U.S. Climate AllianceAbstract
This research aims to analyze the role of subnational actors in international climate governance, starting from the observation of a transition from a hierarchical model centered on nation-states to a more horizontal and heterogeneous framework, involving new actors and more decentralized agendas. The central question is: does this transition represent progress toward the sustainable development goals of the 21st century? To address this, the study draws on governance theories based on the pluralist approach presented by Hari M. Osofsky and the concept of "glocal action" developed by Gupta et al. A case study was also conducted, focusing on the actions of the U.S. Climate Alliance (USCA) between 2017 and 2020. In this context, multilevel climate governance emerges both as a response to the increasing complexity of the global environmental regime and its diverse actors, and as an opportunity to reshape power dynamics and cooperation in the face of the climate crisis. Methodologically, the research employs bibliographic and document review, following a systematic review approach.
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