Abstract

There has been a growing amount of writing on the role of cities and climate change for quite some time now. Starting from a shared acknowledgment that cities are championing climate action in different domestic contexts around the world, often in contrast with their country’s policy, the scholarly views oscillate between optimistic, cautious, and skeptical views of cities’ role in climate change. Some scholars advocate for the empowerment of cities in the international or global climate change law and policy framework, while others admonish against the risks of romanticizing them, and localism more broadly. One issue at the core of scholarly and policy discussion of cities and climate law and policy is whether and how cities can substantially contribute to climate mitigation efforts, whose nature is inherently global. Another set of concerns relates to whether and how cities pursue adaptation strategies. Leveraging on this body of knowledge, a diffused scholarly preoccupation concerns how cities are addressing the equity and justice concerns connected to climate policy at the local level.