Democratic Reliance on Non-State Actors for Climate Change: How Promotion of Subnational and Non-State Actors Mend the Gap to National Mitigation Outcomes.

Authors

Yezen Nael Said

Document Type

Research Project

Publication Date

9-30-2025

Abstract

Representative democracies face structural and political challenges that hinder the implementation of robust climate action. Short electoral cycles discourage long-term investments in mitigation, while institutional inertia and political polarization stall responsive policymaking. Interest group influence further weakens reform efforts. These limitations are compounded by the public's tendency to prioritize immediate, tangible benefits over long-term environmental gains, as illustrated by voter resistance to proactive climate taxation in Norway and Germany’s sluggish implementation of Paris Agreement targets. National climate strategies must therefore be reinforced by subnational and non-state actors. Cities, in particular, can serve as engines of innovation and implementation, leveraging localized attachment and efficacy to drive progress. Financially empowering municipalities and integrating climate policy at the local level can bridge national implementation gaps. Moreover, private actors and NGOs, often more nimble and less constrained, can influence policy, shape public discourse, and facilitate person-to-person engagement in international climate forums. Democracies, originally designed to slow rapid change, must now find ways to accelerate collective climate action. By distributing responsibility and creating vertical integration between cities and non-governmental organizations, democracies can better meet their climate goals and contribute meaningfully to global mitigation targets.

Recommended Citation

Said, Yezen Nael, "Democratic Reliance on Non-State Actors for Climate Change: How Promotion of Subnational and Non-State Actors Mend the Gap to National Mitigation Outcomes." (2025). COP30. 105.
https://buescholar.bue.edu.eg/cop30/105