Abstract
Successful sustainability transition and climate action require a coherent policy and cooperative environment between different levels of government. Multi-level governance (MLG) represents a functional approach to revealing and overcoming the barriers that might impede effective, efficient, and timely implementations. This chapter seeks to present the main challenges and related actions for MLG with respect to the sustainability transition in Europe. MLG mechanisms between the European Commission (EC) and national, regional, and local governments/municipalities were discussed on the basis of five MLG aspects defined in the chapter. The main focus has been put on the Commission and the subnational governmental bodies, considered as the two ends of the vertical axis of multi-level governance. Nature-based solutions (NBS) were included in the discussion because of their role in achieving UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as well as being a distinct concept related to sustainability transition. While the Commission’s fundamental tool to mainstream SDGs is incorporating them into economic and social policies, the interplay between the EC and the member states mainly occurs in the platforms in which these policies are shaped. The EU acts substantially stimulate sustainability transition at the local level. On the other hand, the subnational governmental actors form networks to influence the supranational bodies to obtain further roles and resources concerning SDG policies and implementations. The examination concludes that certain gaps in MLG persist to varying extents.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Bache I, Flinders M (2004) Themes and issues in multi-level governance. In: Bache I, Flinders M (eds) Multi-level governance, pp 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1093/0199259259.003.0001
Bandov G, Kolman NH (2019) Different scenarios for implementation of the European Union’s Agenda 2030. J Lib Int Aff 2:75–85. https://www.ceeol.com/search/article-detail?id=800011
Bauer A, Feichtinger J, Steurer R (2012) The governance of climate change adaptation in 10 OECD countries: challenges and approaches. J Environ Policy Plan 14(3):279–304. https://doi.org/10.1080/1523908X.2012.707406
Bulkeley H, Betsill M (2005) Rethinking sustainable cities: multilevel governance and the ‘urban’ politics of climate change. Environ Polit 14(1):42–63. https://doi.org/10.1080/0964401042000310178
Cairney P (2012) Understanding public policy: theories and issues. Palgrave Macmillan, Houndmills/Basingstoke/Hampshire
Cohen-Shacham E, Andrade A, Dalton J, Dudley N, Jones M, Kumar C, Maginnis S, Maynard S, Nelson CR, Renaud FG, Welling R (2019) Core principles for successfully implementing and upscaling Nature-based Solutions. Environ Sci Pol 98:20–29. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2019.04.014
CoM (2016) Global covenant of Mayors for Climate & Energy. EU covenant of Mayors and compact of Mayors launch largest global coalition of cities committed to fighting climate change. European Commission – Press release, Brussels
Coopenergy (2015) A guide to multi-level governance for local and regional public authorities. https://fedarene.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/12/151202-FINAL-Coopenergy-Guidebook.pdf
Corfee-Morlot J, Kamal-Chaoui L, Donovan MG, Cochran I, Robert A, Teasdale P-J (2009) Cities, climate change and multilevel governance, OECD environmental working papers N°14. OECD Publishing. http://www.oecd.org/governance/regional-policy/44232263.pdf
Davies C, Chen WY, Sanesi G, Lafortezza R (2021) The European Union roadmap for implementing nature-based solutions: a review. Environ Sci Pol 121:49–67. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2021.03.018
De Gregorio Hurtado S, Olazabal M, Salvia M, Pietrapertosa F, Olazabal E, Geneletti D, D’Alonzo V, Feliú E, Di Leo S, Reckien D (2014) Implications of governance structures in urban climate action: evidence from Italy and Spain, BC3 Working Paper Series 2014-02. Basque Centre for Climate Change (BC3), Bilbao
de Vries S, Verheij RA, Groenewegen PP, Spreeuwenberg P (2003) Natural environments—healthy environments? An exploratory analysis of the relationship between greenspace and health. Environ Plan A 35(10):1717–1731. https://doi.org/10.1068/a35111
Dewulf A, Meijerink S, Runhaar H (2015) Editorial: the governance of adaptation to climate change as a multi-level, multi-sector and multi-actor challenge: a European comparative perspective. J Water Clim Change 6(1):1–8. https://doi.org/10.2166/wcc.2014.000
Dick J, Carruthers-Jones J, Carver S, Dobel AJ, Miller JD (2020) How are nature-based solutions contributing to priority societal challenges surrounding human well-being in the United Kingdom: a systematic map. Environ Evid 9(1):25. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13750-020-00208-6
Diepstraten F (2020) Dynamizing the multi-level governance of SDG finance in Europe. MA dissertation, University Utrecht and University Konstanz
Droste N, Schröter-Schlaack C, Hansjürgens B, Zimmermann H (2017) Implementing nature-based solutions in urban areas: financing and governance aspects. In: Kabisch N, Korn H, Stadler J, Bonn A (eds) Nature-based solutions to climate change adaptation in urban areas, theory and practice of urban sustainability transitions, p 307-322. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-56091-5_18
EC (2007) Green Paper from The Commission to The Council, The European Parliament, The European Economic and Social Committee and The Committee of The Regions – Adapting to climate change in Europe – options for EU action
EC (2013) Green Infrastructure (GI) – Enhancing Europe’s Natural Capital. COM 249 Final. http://ec.europa.eu/environment/nature/ecosystems/docs/green_infrastructures/1_EN_autre_document_travail_service_part1_v2.pdf
EC (2015) Towards an EU Research and Innovation policy agenda for nature-based solutions & re-naturing cities: final report of the Horizon 2020 Expert Group on Nature-Based Solutions and Re-Naturing Cities. Brussels. https://ec.europa.eu/research/environment/pdf/renaturing/nbs.pdf
EC (2016) Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the Council, the European Economic and Social Committee and the Committee of The Regions Next Steps for a Sustainable European future – European Action for Sustainability. COM/2016/0739. https://ec.europa.eu/transparency/regdoc/rep/1/2016/EN/COM-2016-739-F1-EN-MAIN.PDF
EC (2019a) The reflection paper towards a sustainable Europe by 2030
EC (2019b) Communication from the Commission to The European Parliament, The Council, The European Central Bank, The European Economic and Social Committee, The Committee of The Regions and The European Investment Bank – Annual Sustainable Growth Strategy 2020
EC (2020) The European Green Deal Investment Plan and Just Transition Mechanism explained. Webpage. https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/qanda_20_24
EC (n.d.) EU Mission: Climate-Neutral and Smart Cities. Webpage. https://ec.europa.eu/info/research-and-innovation/funding/funding-opportunities/funding-programmes-and-open-calls/horizon-europe/eu-missions-horizon-europe/climate-neutral-and-smart-cities_en
EEA (2020) Urban sustainability in Europe – what is driving cities’ environmental change?. EEA Report 16/2020
EEA and EIONET (2016) Sustainability transitions: Now for the long term, Eionet Report No 1/2016. European Environment Agency
Ehnert F, Kern F, Borgström S, Gorissen L, Maschmeyer S, Egermann M (2018) Urban sustainability transitions in a context of multi-level governance: a comparison of four European states. Environ Innov Societal Trans 26:101–116. ISSN 2210-4224. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eist.2017.05.002
EU CoR (2009a) Contributions of the regional and local authorities to sustainable development strategies. Vienna University of Economics and Business Administration – the Research Institute for Managing Sustainability (RIMAS)
EU CoR (2009b) The Committee of The Regions’ White Paper on Multilevel Governance
EU CoR (2020) European local and regional leaders call for EU support to deliver Local Green Deals. Press release. https://cor.europa.eu/en/news/Pages/European-local-and-regional-leaders-call-for-EU-support-to-deliver-Local-Green-Deals-.aspx
EU CoR (n.d.) Protocol Service. Webpage. https://cor.europa.eu/en/about/protocol/Pages/Protocol.aspx
European Council (2022) European Semester. Webpage. https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/policies/european-semester/
Fairbrass J, Jordan A (2004) Multi-level governance and environmental policy. In: Bache I, Flinders M (eds) Multi-level Governance, p 147–164. https://doi.org/10.1093/0199259259.003.0009
Faivre N, Fritz M, Freitas T, de Boissezon B, Vandewoestijne S (2017) Nature-based Solutions in the EU: innovating with nature to address social, economic and environmental challenges. Environ Res 159:509–518. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2017.08.032
Fleurbaey M, Kartha S, Bolwig S, Chee YL, Chen Y, Corbera E, Lecocq F, Lutz W, Muylaert MS, Norgaard RB, Okereke C, Sagar AD (2014) Sustainable development and equity in climate change 2014: mitigation of climate change. In: Edenhofer O, Pichs-Madruga R, Sokona Y, Farahani E, Kadner S, Seyboth K et al (eds) Contribution of working group III to the fifth assessment report of the intergovernmental panel on climate change. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, pp 283–350
FR MCT (Ministère de la Cohésion des territoires et des Relations avec les collectivités territoriales) (2021) Contrats de Plan État-Région. Webpage. https://www.cohesion-territoires.gouv.fr/contrats-de-plan-etat-region
FR MCT (Ministère de la Cohésion des territoires et des Relations avec les collectivités territoriales) (2022) Le SCoT : un projet stratégique partagé pour l’aménagement d’un territoire. Webpage. https://www.ecologie.gouv.fr/scot-projet-strategique-partage-lamenagement-dun-territoire
Frantzeskaki N, Bush J (2021) Governance of nature-based solutions through intermediaries for urban transitions – a case study from Melbourne, Australia. Urban For Urban Green 64:127262. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ufug.2021.127262
Gómez-Martín E, Giordano R, Pagano A, van der Keur P, Máñez Costa M (2020) Using a system thinking approach to assess the contribution of nature based solutions to sustainable development goals. Sci Total Environ 738:139693. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.139693
Gualtieri C, López-Jiménez P (2012) Sustainability indicators for river water quality management in urban areas. Paper presented at the iEMSs Sixth Biennial Meeting: International Congress on Environmental Modelling and Software
Gupta J (2007) The multi-level governance challenge of climate change. Environ Sci 4(3):131–137. https://doi.org/10.1080/15693430701742669
Happaerts S (2015) Climate governance in Federal Belgium: modest subnational policies in a complex multi-level setting. J Integr Environ Sci 12(4):285–301. https://doi.org/10.1080/1943815X.2015.1093508
Hooghe L, Marks G (2002) Types of multi-level governance. Les Cahiers européens de Sciences Po n° 03. Centre d’études européennes at Sciences Po, Paris
IUCN (2020) Global standard for nature-based solutions. A user-friendly framework for the verification, design and scaling up of NbS, 5th edn. IUCN, Gland
Jogesh A, Dubash NK (2015) State-Led experimentation or centrally-motivated replication? A study of state action plans on climate change in India. J Integr Environ Sci 12(4):247–266. https://doi.org/10.1080/1943815X.2015.1077869
Kabisch N, Frantzeskaki N, Pauleit S, Naumann S, Davis M, Artmann M, Haase D, Knapp S, Korn H, Stadler J, Zaunberger K, Bonn A (2016) Nature-based solutions to climate change mitigation and adaptation in urban areas: perspectives on indicators, knowledge gaps, barriers, and opportunities for action. Ecol Soc 21(2). JSTOR. https://www.jstor.org/stable/26270403
Klein R, Adams K, Davis M, Kehler Siebert C (2017) Advancing climate adaptation practices and solutions: emerging research priorities. Stockholm Environment Institute
Krauze K, Wagner I (2019) From classical water-ecosystem theories to nature-based solutions—contextualizing nature-based solutions for sustainable city. Sci Total Environ 655:697–706. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.11.187
Kronenberg J, Bergier T, Maliszewska K (2017) The challenge of innovation diffusion: nature-based solutions in Poland. In: Kabisch N, Korn H, Stadler J, Bonn A (eds) Nature-based solutions to climate change adaptation in urban areas, theory and practice of urban sustainability transitions, pp 291–306. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-56091-5_17
Kurczewska U (2021) The lobbying of cities in the European Union. Sprawy Międzynarodowe 1:175–194. https://www.ceeol.com/search/article-detail?id=1005064
Lafortezza R, Giovanni S (2019) Nature-based solutions: settling the issue of sustainable urbanization. Environ Res 172:394–398. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2018.12.063
Lasuen A (2017) The legislative influence of the Committee of the Regions in EU decision-making. PhD dissertation. University of Limerick
Leone M, Gutiérrez Miranda M, Knoblauch D, Melo I, Maestre Andrés S, Jakubowska-Lorenz E, Bergier T, Yepez G, Salmon N (2021) Governance analysis for planning and implementation of urban NBS: governance practices, challenges and needs of INTERLACE Cities. Deliverable 2.2. INTERLACE project
Liquete C, Udias A, Conte G, Grizzetti B, Masi F (2016) Integrated valuation of a nature-based solution for water pollution control. Ecosyst Serv 22:392–401. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecoser.2016.09.011
Mathy S (2007) Urban and rural policies and the climate change issue: the French experience of governance. Environ Sci 4(3):159–169. https://doi.org/10.1080/15693430701742701
Michel-Guillou E (2014) Water resources and climate change: water managers’ perceptions of these related environmental issues. J Water Clim Change 6(1):111–123. https://doi.org/10.2166/wcc.2014.098
Mitić-Radulović A, Lalović K (2021) Multi-level perspective on sustainability transition towards nature-based solutions and co-creation in urban planning of Belgrade, Serbia. Sustainability 13(14):7576. https://doi.org/10.3390/su13147576
Nesshöver C, Assmuth T, Irvine KN, Rusch GM, Waylen KA, Delbaere B, Haase D et al (2017) The science, policy and practice of nature-based solutions: an interdisciplinary perspective. Sci Total Environ 579:1215–1227. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.11.106
NetworkNature (n.d.) Nature-based Solutions and Standards – Concept. https://networknature.eu/sites/default/files/uploads/nn-s3-concept-report.pdf
Nevens F, Frantzeskaki N, Gorissen L, Loorbach D (2013) Urban transition labs: cocreating transformative action for sustainable cities. J Clean Prod 50:111–122. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jclepro.2012.12.001
Newig J, Koontz TM (2014) Multi-level governance, policy implementation and participation: the EU’s mandated participatory planning approach to implementing environmental policy. J Eur Publ Poli 21(2):248–267. https://doi.org/10.1080/13501763.2013.834070
O’Sullivan F, Mell I, Clement S (2020) Novel solutions or rebranded approaches: evaluating the use of nature-based solutions (NBS) in Europe. Front Sustain Cities 2. https://www.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/frsc.2020.572527
OECD (2019) Applying the OECD principles on water governance to floods a checklist for action, OECD Studies on Water. OECD, Paris
Oen AM (2019) Nature-based solutions are gaining momentum from international initiatives promoting environmental, social, and economic benefits. Integr Environ Assess Manag 15(6):830–831. https://doi.org/10.1002/ieam.4203
Palomo I, Locatelli B, Otero I, Colloff M, Crouzat E, Cuni-Sánchez A, Gómez-Baggethun E, González-García A, Grêt-Regamey A, Jimenez-Aceituno A, Martín-López B, Pascual U, Zafra-Calvo N, Bruley E, Fischborn M, Metz R, Lavorel S (2021) Assessing nature-based solutions for transformative change. In Press in One Earth. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oneear.2021.04.013
Raje S, Kertesz R, Maccarone K, Seltzer K, Siminari M, Simms P, Wood B, Sansalone J (2013) Green infrastructure design for pavement systems subject to rainfall-runoff loadings. Transp Res Rec 2358:79–87. https://doi.org/10.3141/2358-09
Ramírez-Agudelo NA, Porcar Anento R, Villares M, Roca E (2020) Nature-based solutions for water management in peri-urban areas: barriers and lessons learned from implementation experiences. Sustainability 12(23):9799. https://doi.org/10.3390/su12239799
Raymond CM, Frantzeskaki N, Kabisch N, Berry P, Breil M, Nita MR, Geneletti D, Calfapietra C (2017a) A framework for assessing and implementing the co-benefits of nature-based solutions in urban areas. Environ Sci Pol 77:15–24. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envsci.2017.07.008
Raymond CM, Berry P, Breil M, Nita MR, Kabisch N, de Bel M, Enzi V, Frantzeskaki N, Geneletti D, Cardinaletti M, Lovinger L, Basnou C, Monteiro A, Robrecht H, Sgrigna G, Munari L, Calfapietra C (2017b) An impact evaluation framework to support planning and evaluation of nature-based solutions projects. In: Report prepared by the EKLIPSE Expert Working Group on nature-based solutions to promote climate resilience in urban areas. Centre for Ecology & Hydrology, Wallingford
Sabato S, Mandelli M (2021) Integrating the sustainable development goals into the European semester: a governance conundrum for the von der Leyen Commission? In: Social policy in the European Union: state of play 2020. European Trade Union Institute & European Social Observatory, pp 113–132
Scharpf FW (2001) Notes toward a theory of multilevel governing in Europe. Scand Polit Stud 24:1–26. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-9477.00044
Schout A (2009) Organizational learning in the EU’s multi-level governance system. J Eur Publ Poli 16(8):1124–1144. https://doi.org/10.1080/13501760903332613
Scott J (2011) Multi-level governance of climate change. Carbon Clim Law Rev 2011(1):25–33
Stefanakis A (2019) The role of constructed wetlands as green infrastructure for sustainable urban water management. Sustainability 11(24):69–81. https://doi.org/10.3390/su11246981
Termeer CJAM, Dewulf A (2014) Scale-sensitivity as a governance capability: observing, acting and enabling. In: Padt F, Opdam PFM, Termeer CJAM, Polman N (eds) Scale-sensitive governance of the environment. Wiley, Oxford, pp 1–19
Tomasso LP, Yin J, Cedeño Laurent JG, Chen JT, Catalano PJ, Spengler JD (2021) The relationship between nature deprivation and individual wellbeing across urban gradients under COVID-19. Int J Environ Res Public Health 18(4):1511. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph18041511
UICN France (2016) Nature-based solutions to address climate change. UICN, Paris
van der Jagt ANP, Raven R, Dorst H, Hens Runhaar H (2020) Nature-based innovation systems. Environ Innov Societal Trans 35:202–216. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.eist.2019.09.005
Wamsler C, Pauleit S, Zölch T, Schetke S, Mascarenhas A (2017) Mainstreaming nature-based solutions for climate change adaptation in urban governance and planning. In: Kabisch N, Korn H, Stadler J, Bonn A (eds) Nature-based solutions to climate change adaptation in urban areas, theory and practice of urban sustainability transitions, p 257-274. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-56091-5_15
WWAP (United Nations World Water Assessment Programme)/Un-Water (2018) The United Nations World Water Development Report 2018: nature-based solutions for water. UNESCO, Paris
**e L, Bulkeley B, van der Jagt A, Toxopeus H, Tozer L, Pearl-Martinez R, Dorst H, Runhaar H (2020) Steps for systemic integration of nature-based solutions. NATURVATION. Deliverable 5.10
Acknowledgments
This chapter was supported by the János Bolyai Research Scholarship of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences and supported by the ÚNKP-22-5 new national excellence program of the Ministry for Innovation and Technology from the source of the National Research, Development and Innovation Fund. The research reported in this paper and carried out at BME has been supported by the NRDI Fund TKP2021 based on the charter of bolster issued by the NRDI Office under the auspices of the Ministry for Innovation and Technology (project id: BME-NVA-02). We would like to thank Kaya Schwemmlein, Antonio Moretti, Damien Pasquet, and Marcell Mészáros for their recommendations and support during the writing and reviewing of the manuscript.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Editor information
Editors and Affiliations
Section Editor information
Rights and permissions
Copyright information
© 2023 Springer Nature Switzerland AG
About this entry
Cite this entry
Poyraz, A.Y., Szalmáné Csete, M. (2023). Multi-level Governance of Sustainability Transition in the European Union. In: Leal Filho, W., Dinis, M.A.P., Moggi, S., Price, E., Hope, A. (eds) SDGs in the European Region . Implementing the UN Sustainable Development Goals – Regional Perspectives. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-17461-2_88
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-17461-2_88
Published:
Publisher Name: Springer, Cham
Print ISBN: 978-3-031-17460-5
Online ISBN: 978-3-031-17461-2
eBook Packages: Earth and Environmental ScienceReference Module Physical and Materials ScienceReference Module Earth and Environmental Sciences