Governance sets the stage for citizen action (or inaction) on climate change (FF #116)

Welcome back to this 116th Facty Friday from your Evidence and Learning team in the DRG Bureau! This edition of Facty Friday continues October’s focus on DRG and climate change, as we look at the connection between governance and citizens’ agency to act on climate change.

Strong environmental policies and low corruption translate into citizen action

People who are concerned about the environment and believe their actions can make a difference are more likely than others to participate in collective climate action, such as signing petitions, protesting, or campaigning for a political candidate who supports climate action. A recent study finds that the distribution of these personal characteristics varies across twelve countries in relation to each country’s environmental policies and levels of corruption. In countries with more environmental policies and less corruption, citizens are more likely to engage in collective climate action. Additionally, in countries known to use force to suppress protests, citizens are far less likely to engage in collective action related to the environment. These results suggest that even if citizens are concerned about the environment, they are less willing to engage in collective action if they believe either corruption or suppressive tactics will limit the efficacy of their efforts.

Institutionalized power imbalances and government stereotyping of beneficiaries inhibit community participation in climate change adaptation

Another recent study in Vietnam examines how power imbalances arising from a hierarchical political structure can systematically influence the inclusion and participation of local communities in climate change adaptation. From government documents, stakeholder interviews, and focus groups, the study concludes that stakeholders—policymakers, practitioners, local authorities, and communities—view the general population as victims of climate change who lack the knowledge and capacity to adapt. The authors concluded that local communities “are considered passive dependents requiring support rather than active agents who can implement adaptive measures effectively.” Consequently, the government’s approach to formulating and implementing adaptation interventions excluded local communities, omitting local knowledge and forgoing the opportunity to earn community buy-in. “[U]nder an authoritarian regime,” the authors say, “local capacity is undermined not only by powerholders but also by community members as they consent to government decisions.”

Together, these studies demonstrate that governance plays a key role in empowering or undermining citizens’ agency to act on climate change. USAID’s localization agenda offers a partial antidote by encouraging local leadership and capacity building. The underlying goal of the DRG Bureau’s Democratic Climate Action Guide is to empower local voices and foster public sector responsiveness at local to national levels.

Got a study we should share for Facty Friday? Email drg.el@usaid.gov!