Local preferences for the adoption and modification of climate policy instruments under a radical left government: unveiling the impact and legacy of Barcelona in Common

Joan Enguer and Simon Schaub

Local Government Studies, 2025, vol. 51, issue 6, 1113-1140

Abstract: This study aims to uncover how shifting towards a radical left ideology affects a city’s climate policy. Using semi-structured interviews with stakeholders and an analysis of local action plans and laws enacted in Barcelona between 1984 and May 2023, we find that the period of local government led by the radical left, embodied by Barcelona in Common, saw a significant increase in the adoption of climate-related policy instruments, with a preference for ‘soft’ over ‘hard’ measures. Likewise, this administration more actively raised the ambition of pre-existing policy instruments, though evidence suggests that this trend is driven by other, non-ideological factors. The results further show that ‘hard’ policy instruments especially were more prone to changes, both in terms of raising or reducing policy ambition. Overall, these findings enhance our understanding of local climate policymaking and how it is affected by partisan politics.

Date: 2025
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DOI: 10.1080/03003930.2024.2400284

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