Journal of Science Policy & Governance | Volume 18, Issue 02 | June 21, 2021

Policy Analysis: Climate Emergency—Climate Action Planning and Delivery Recommendations​

Anna-Mariya Kandzhova, Iris Šömen, Jorge Jiménez Solomon, Rodon Miraj
Postgraduate alumni of University College London, Department of Science, Technology, Engineering and Public Policy, London, UK

​All authors contributed equally to this work.

Corresponding author: [email protected]​
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https://doi.org/10.38126/JSPG180205
Keywords: climate emergency; climate action plan; UK local authorities; securing finance; social inclusiveness; co-benefits; recommendations
Executive Summary: In 2019, the United Kingdom (UK) became one of the first countries to declare a climate emergency. In this regard, many local governments in the country (which encompass districts, unitary counties, boroughs, and councils) have taken the lead to declare a climate emergency. Only a few local authorities developed and issued plans with specific actions on achieving the targets of their declared emergencies. The following policy memo sheds light upon the most pressing challenges in climate emergency action planning. A preceding comparative analysis (Kandzhova et. al., 2020) revealed that the currently published action plans differ considerably in structure, detailedness and overall approaches. The lack of standardisation of climate action planning from either the national government or other responsible institutions leads to varying local policy responses. The preceding analysis identified the most pertinent challenges to be in the areas of 1) securing finance; 2) social inclusiveness and equality; and 3) realisation of co-benefits of action plans. We present recommendations for each of the aforementioned areas. 

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Anna-Mariya Kandzhova is an energy specialist and has a master's degree in Public Administration in Energy, Technology and Climate Policy (MPA) from University College London. She has experience in the energy sector, and her work focuses on energy infrastructure, as well as energy consultancy. Anna believes that scientific knowledge and evidence-based solutions are essential for the development of sound recommendations to address the climate emergency.

Iris Šömen is a climate-oriented policy officer, holding experience from the Secretariat of the Committee for Industry, Research and Energy, at the Directorate General for Internal Policies of the Union, UNESCO as well as sustainable development NGOs. She is a graduate of International Relations and holds a Masters of Energy, Technology and Climate Policy from University College London. Her main interests span across the pathways of achieving sustainable development by incorporating the concepts from international political economy and behavioural economics.

Jorge Jiménez Solomon is a public policy specialist with a master's degree in Energy, Technology and Climate Policy from University College London. He has extensive experience in International Organizations, particularly the UN and OECD. His research focuses on renewable energy and the social impacts of climate change. Jorge sees the local policy responses as essential to tackle the current climate emergency.

Rodon Miraj works in public policy in the fields of Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency and Climate Change. He has experience in the central government of Albania as an advisor to the minister and a civil servant. He also works in an international context with the Energy Community Secretariat and various consultancies. He has a technical background being a graduate of Environmental Engineering with a Master of Science in Energy and holds a Masters of Energy, Technology and Climate Policy from University College London. He believes that collective effort in research based technological and behavioural solutions is the way to tackle climate change.

Acknowledgements
We would like to thank the Department of Science, Technology, Engineering and Public Policy (STEaPP) at University College London (UCL) and particularly the dissertation project’s supervisor Arthur Petersen for their advice and guidance throughout the project that this memo stems from. We would also like to thank Okky Oktaviani and Lorena Cordero Maldonado who participated in the development of the dissertation project.
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