Co-benefits as a rationale and co-benefits as a factor for urban climate action: linking air quality and emission reductions in Moscow, Paris, and Montreal

Matteo Roggero (), Anastasiia Gotgelf and Klaus Eisenack
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Matteo Roggero: Humboldt University of Berlin
Anastasiia Gotgelf: Humboldt University of Berlin

Climatic Change, 2023, vol. 176, issue 12, No 21, 23 pages

Abstract: Abstract If local governments reduce greenhouse gas emissions, they will not see effects unless a very large number of other actors do the same. However, reducing greenhouse gas emissions can have multiple local “co-benefits” (improved air quality, energy savings, even energy security), creating incentives for local governments to reduce emissions—if just for the local side-effects of doing so. Available empirical research yet shows a large gap between co-benefits as a rationale and an explanatory factor for climate mitigation by local governments: co-benefits are seemingly very large, but do not seem to drive local mitigation efforts. Relying on policy documents, available research, and other written sources, the present paper consists of a multiple case study addressing the link between co-benefits and climate mitigation in Moscow, Paris, and Montreal. Air quality plays a very different role in each case, ranging from a key driver of mitigation to a liability for local climate action. This heterogeneity of mechanisms in place emerges as a likely explanation for the lack of a clear empirical link between co-benefits and local mitigation in the literature. We finally discuss implications for urban climate action policy and research.

Keywords: Urban climate governance; Climate mitigation; Climate adaptation; Cities (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
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DOI: 10.1007/s10584-023-03662-6

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