Local governments are in unique position to tackle climate change

Local governments are in a unique position to tackle the cause and effects of climate change, according to Andrea Deri, from the international non-governmental organisation Leadership for Environment and Development (LEAD International), and Dr Munawwar Alam, the Commonwealth Secretariat's Adviser for Sub-National Government and Administration.

In Commonwealth Secretariat Discussion Paper No. 2, titled ‘Local Governments and Climate Change’, they argue that being closest to the action, local governments can provide effective leadership for their citizens.

"Local governments are the most accessible governing authority when disaster strikes," they write. "Given their proximity to the community, local governments have the advantage of responding faster and more effectively to local climate events than institutions and organisations at higher levels of the governance structure."

With their up-to-date knowledge of the local natural or man-made environment as well as the changing needs of the local community, the authors believe that local governments are "a vital and influential source of information to the central government on large scale climate change interventions."

In the last 30 years, the number of climate-related natural disasters worldwide has increased fivefold. Countering the argument that this global problem can only be addressed effectively through national or international policies and investments, the discussion paper stresses that sustained local actions, both initiated and co-ordinated by local governments, are necessary for successfully addressing climate concerns.

The paper also includes examples from Commonwealth countries, where preventative initiatives by governments have helped to better prepare their communities. For instance, in Trinidad and Tobago, the Ministry of Education, supported by the Red Cross and the Red Crescent, developed a wide range of information materials on climate change to reach all ages as well as introducing special school projects for children.

Ms Deri and Dr Alam write that with decentralisation taking place all over the world, including the Commonwealth, "central governments have an important role in providing a favourable environment for local governments and in building their capacity, including adequate finances."

They conclude: "Effective mitigation of the causes of climate change and adaptation to the predicted challenges enhance progress towards the attainment of the Millennium Development Goals."

The series of Discussion Papers aims to contribute to ongoing debates on various topics and stimulate debate among experts.

Free copies of the papers can be downloaded at http://publications.thecommonwealth.org/.

Readers are invited to take part in the discussions by emailing their comments on the issues raised to publications@commonwealth.int. A selection of comments received will be posted to the Secretariat's website.

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