Questions remain about the extent to which polycentrism can result in either greater climate justice or exacerbate existing inequalities due, for example, to existing power inequalities which may affect the performance and effectiveness of a polycentric system . For instance, historical inequities and injustices due to settler colonialism and top-down water policies, governance and laws  have resulted in long-term water insecurity in many indigenous communities in North America   . Additionally, studies highlight that power dynamics can undermine the success of those initiatives. For example, in the Sao Paulo water crisis, polycentric governance did not fully realise its potential when it was guided by authoritarian governance favouring political interests over social, territorial and environmental justice . Likewise, in the Thau basin , the most important and influential actors shaped policy measures in response to climate change, thus limiting the potential for radical changes in water use .
IPCC
Climate Change 2022: Impacts, Adaptation and Vulnerability
IPCC Report