Merle Frederike Rautenberg - 2nd year PhD presentation

Supervisors: Christa Thomsen & Anne Ellerup Nielsen
Discussants: Sascha Steinmann & Ingo Kleindienst

Abstract
The establishment of climate advisory bodies to convene expertise and derive policy recommendations on sustainable development governance has become prevalent since the late 2010s in national and regional practice. However, empirical research on these bodies, particularly at the local level, remains scarce, limiting our understanding of their role and effectiveness in fostering local sustainable development governance (Crowley et al., 2017; Reinecke et al., 2013; Van Damme et al., 2011). This study explores how multistakeholder partnerships, acting as local climate advisory bodies, can be effectively managed to fulfil their potential in strengthening local sustainable development governance (Clarke & Crane, 2018; Gray & Purdy, 2018). Applying a paradox approach, it examines the emergence of tensions as these bodies address sustainable development challenges and identifies strategies for managing these tensions (Hahn et al., 2015; Smith & Lewis, 2011). The research is a case study which draws on interviews with members of a local climate advisory body, observations of council meetings, meeting minutes and strategy notes (Eisenhardt, 1989; Gioia et al., 2013; Yin, 2014). In the paper, I propose a framework for designing local climate advisory bodies that can fulfil their mandate of fostering local sustainable development governance by addressing legitimacy tensions in their establishment, operation, and cooperation with the local city council.

Everyone is welcome!