This paper identifies the impact governance types can have on the transfer of city-scale climate change policy. We develop a new adaptation of the policy transfer heuristic (based on the work of Dolowitz, D., and D. Marsh. 1996. Who Learns What from Whom: A Review of the Policy Transfer Literature. Political Studies; Evans, Mark. 2009a. New Directions in the Study of Policy Transfer. Policy Studies 30 (3): 237-241. doi:10.1080/01442870902863810) which draws attention to different types of multilevel governance systems (Hooghe, Liesbet, and Gary Marks. 2003. Unraveling the Central State, but How? Types of Multi-Level Governance. American Political Science Review 97: 02. doi:10.1017/S0003055403000649). This new adaption, Policy Transfer Across Governance Systems (PTAGS) heuristic helps to anticipate challenges and opportunities for potential transfer (Manwaring, Rob. 2016. The Big Society in Australia: A Case of 'Non'-Policy Transfer? Australian Journal of Public Administration 75 (2): 191-201. doi:10.1111/1467-8500.12164). To demonstrate this, we present three hypothetical scenarios of policy transfer from the European Union Green Capital Awards (EUGCA) to Australia. Using PTAGS reveals three main complexities that policy actors' may face when developing city-scale climate change policy. These are: problem identification; the type of transfer networks used; and what aspects of policy contents and goals can be transferred. We argue that the adapted PTAGS heuristic enables a more nuanced understanding of the dynamics of transfer across different governance systems. This can better equip policy actors and relevant stakeholders to develop more holistic city-scale climate change adaptation policy that draws on the strengths of governance systems rather than amplifying their weaknesses.
Hulicka, A; Lucas, P; Carson, L
Policy transfer across governance systems: an adapted approach
Policy Studies