The Local Governance Of Climate Change In France

Climate change is one of the biggest challenges for global governance in the 21st century, and the most important one at local level as well. Globalization is accompanied by the emergence of international organizations acting as "supranational bodies" in global governance, elaborating climate change policies and norms, directing national and local actions to some extent. Also, regional integration allows regional organizations to engage directly with local governments, leading to a multi-level governing structure. Besides, as the old single-center governing mode characterized by centralized bureaucratic government being the only center of power was criticized of not being able to meet the requirements of modernization and to provide local goods in an effective way, it is gradually replaced by the polycentric governance mode in which government, market and civil society together form an interactive network to manage public affairs. The decentralization reform and civil society development that went on in western countries during the past few decades also made the governance structure transformation possible. Meanwhile, the global governance system of climate change used to be dominated by static actors is now being challenged by global network of local organizations and their "bottom-up" movements. The local governance of climate change, as part of the multi-level governance, is playing an increasing important role in combating global warming.We should also be aware that the governance mode varies much in different countries due to their differences in political system, history and culture. Because of the similarities between France and China, for instance they are both unitary republics inherited from a centralized state in history, exploring the local governance mode of climate change in France may give some messages to our country. As a member of the European Union, France also gets itself involved in a typical multi-level environment for climate change governance. Moreover, having held the Paris Climate Conference of COP21 in 2015, France attracted once again global attention to this country that had influenced the world with the Enlightenment. For these reasons, it is meaningful to look into the manifestations of local governance on the issue of climate change under the political and social contexts of France, to analyze the relationship between the central and local governments, as well as that between government, market and society in addressing climate change, which will enrich the concept of local governance. Surprisingly, there have been few research findings on this topic. Though this research paper, we will not only seek effective mechanism to better face the challenge of climate change, but also help China overcome the obstacles in reforming central-local relations and improving the relationship between the state and the society, therefore to enhance the efficiency and sustainability of public management. In that sense, this research has both theoretical and practical meanings.The thesis is divided into four parts.The first chapter establishes the theoretical framework of local governance of climate change. There will be definitions of the related concepts including governance, local governance, climate change etc., followed by theoretical basis of local governance practices that explains their rationality and necessity, then the context and driving force of the emergence of contemporary local governance.After laying the theoretical foundation, this paper will focus on the climate change governance in France. Chapter ? will present the background and influencing factors of climate change governance in France including the central-local relations after the decentralization reform of 1982, the impact of European integration on the governance structure in France, and the current legal and institutional frameworks on climate, energy and environment.In Chapter ?, emphasis will then be put on the interactions between actors of different levels under the climate change governance framework in France. These include the coordination and cooperation between the central and local governments, the political support and economic incentives to local organizations by European Union. Apart from vertical interactions, there are also horizontal relations such as the deliberation and concertation between government, society and market and the decentralized international cooperation. Furthermore, it is interesting to see how local organizations in France influence the national and global policy-making processes. In the end, a case study of climate change governance in Paris will concretize and confirm the arguments analyzed above.Finally, conclusions will be drawn on the characteristics of local governance mode of climate change in France, which turns out to be a polycentric decision-making system with a multi-level local governance structure composed of central government, local governments, civil society groups, companies, the European Union and international NGOs of local governments. In order to achieve local sustainable development, local governments need to refer to the standards of "good governance" and continue to build their capacities in local public management.