Decoupling climate-policy objectives and mechanisms to reduce fragmentation

ABSTRACT

The efficacy of climate-change mitigation policy within the building sector is examined in terms of how fragmentation can limit the extent of mitigation actions that can be achieved in a timely manner. The policy and regulatory context for the building industry is examined in relation to the policy context for solutions and recommendations that will work for all parties. Based on this analysis, two substantive recommendations are made for improved policy design. Firstly, a decoupling of policy objectives and policy mechanisms is needed so that the policy-taking stakeholders (in design, development and construction) can reduce energy use in buildings more effectively. Secondly, policy-taking stakeholders need an explicit and diverse system in order to advocate for policy objectives. The major aspect of this work is the development of a new conceptual framework that ties together these recommendations into a continuous process of policy-making and policy-taking. This framework demonstrates an idealized system that operates simultaneously top down and bottom up, and the development of policy objectives is influenced by stakeholders of all kinds to further the goals of an energy-efficient, low-carbon built environment.

KEYWORDS:

• advocacy
• climate change
• energy efficiency
• governance
• mitigation
• policy formation
• policy instruments
• public policy
• stakeholders

Acknowledgements

The authors thank BC Hydro and the BC Climate Action Secretariat for valuable and ongoing feedback on the framework.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This work was made possible by funding from the Pacific Institute for Climate Solutions Energy Efficiency in the Built Environment research project.