Empowering Local Climate Actions: Insights on Environmental Devolution from Global North and Global South

Abstract

The global climate crisis has necessitated an adaptive governance framework to prioritize sustainable development. Environmental devolution is one of the adaptation-cum-mitigation strategies that transfer decision-making power over climate governance from central governments to local institutions and offers a potential roadmap to navigate climate challenges effectively. This study aims to explore the dynamics of environmental devolution by analyzing the dominant case studies from the Global North (Canada, UK, and Australia) and the Global South (India, Brazil, and South Africa), comprehending their innovative approaches towards sustainable governance. The case study approach helps to do an in-depth analysis of various devolution models across the globe and finds that the patterns of environmental devolution in the Global North often derive from constitutional and institutional frameworks, whereas in the Global South, community-based initiatives and indigenous knowledge systems (re-)shape this. The study concludes by comparing diverse cases and urges for an effective environmental devolution model to address the challenges of climate justice and contribute to sustainable governance. The findings suggest policymakers and practitioners to foster an adaptive governance framework to address the complexities of the climate crisis.