In this project an overview was made of the options for the reductionof greenhouse gas emissions for different target groups: utility buildings,
households, traffic, waste, energy sector, industry and glass-house
horticulture businesses. In addition, the instruments are described
that the local governments have at their disposal within the various
task areas: spatial planning, construction and housing, traffic, environment
and local government task management. The options and policy instruments
are set out against each other in a matrix, with the target groups along
one axis and the task areas along the other. The matrix with combinations
of options and instruments forms the overview of the playing field of
local climate policy.
The use of options and instruments from the playing field is examined
on the basis of literature and interviews with local governments. In
the process, barriers for the implementation of options are illustrated.
The evaluation of the playing field in practise shows that local governments
often utilise only a part of their playing field. The importance of
climate is not made explicit enough in many task areas.
The options in climate policy for local governments are influenced by
social developments. In the study three trends are examined with respect
to their influence: developments in the area of liberalisation of the
energy market, the position of local governments in national environmental
policy and changes in local democracy. This trends result in a complication
of the role of local governments.
In order to reinforce contributions from local governments to climate
policy, a systematic integrative approach is needed. The ideal model
focuses on formulating a so-called climate management system. Similar
to quality and environment management systems, a systematic introduction
of a (climate) interest in a broad field of activities and decisions
are involved. We distinguish some necessary basic steps and elements.
The model of a climate management system was tested by practise. For
the municipalities of Haren, Hengelo and Alkmaar, the use of the playing
field of local climate policy was linked to passing through the steps
of a climate management system and mechanisms of external integration.