文章基本信息

标题：Citizen Driven Environmental Action, Guest Editorial
本地全文：下载
作者：Quentin Gausset ; Jens Hoff
期刊名称：The Journal of Transdisciplinary Environmental Studies
印刷版ISSN：1602-2297
出版年度：2013
卷号：12
期号：1
页码：2-3
出版社：Roskilde Univ
摘要：This special issue of Transdisciplinary Environmental Studies focuses on local initiatives that address climate change. Action must be taken right now in order to meet the challenges of global warming. First, new legislation and investments must be made at international and national levels. Second, individuals must change their behaviour and reduce the use of private cars, insolate their homes, and become responsible consumers. Between these two levels, municipalities occupy a key position in addressing climate change, in influencing behaviour and initiating or supporting local environmental initiatives. On the one hand, municipalities are at the forefront when implementing national environmental goals. They enjoy some autonomy in managing energy supplies in their constituencies, and can choose to invest in renewable energies or to improve the efficiency of existing systems. Municipalities are also in a position to influence individual behaviour change through encouraging public transport, providing recycling facilities, energy saving measures, or supporting the insulation of buildings, to name but a few. On the other hand, due to the shorter political distance between citizens and local authorities, it is easier for citizens to engage with and influence municipal environmental policies and therefore make a real difference on the ground. Citizens who take environmental initiatives may also need help from the municipality, for example in the form of financial subsidies, administrative support to fulfil legal obligations, or to facilitate communication with various institutions. Municipalities and citizen thus develop a symbiotic relationship in which each partner constantly needs the other to support their environmental actions