Multi-Level Governance, Transport Policy and Carbon Emissions Management

The Climate Change Act (2008) places a legally binding requirement on the UK Government to set targets and report on progress on climate change emission reductions. The transport sector contributes one-third of total UK emissions and is the most difficult sector in which to cut emissions.

The research project examines whether and how governance structures make a difference to policy effectiveness (design and delivery) and accountability within the field of carbon emissions management and the transport sector. The research is theoretically-informed and considers the extent to which Multi-Level Governance and related tools can shed light on structures and processes that are not understood and which are crucial in the delivery chain. It is particularly appropriate due to the complex interplay of policies in carbon management for transport across six spatial levels and the many non-governmental public bodies and private sector delivery agencies involved in transport.

Recent developments underline the growing importance of the study in both empirical and theoretical terms. The Government is seeking to achieve more for less and this research focuses on how to deliver more efficient outputs and outcomes. The abolition of regional government in England and the establishment of Local Economic Partnerships predicated on economic growth provides an exciting case study of governance reform at a time of greater local freedoms.

The project will produce knowledge and policy understanding on the impacts of governance arrangements on the development and delivery of transport policy including but not limited to:
(i) The impacts of devolution of competencies to sub-central government and the impacts of delegation to non/quasi-state bodies (e.g. under what conditions do such changes add value to either accountability or efficacy in policy-making?)
(ii) Power dependencies in government-supplier structures (e.g. the degree to which reforms of public transport management are fundamental to implementation)
(iii) Power dependencies and networks across adjacent sectors (e.g. do any structures effectively break down policy silos between adjacent policy sectors such as transport and energy?).
(iv) The importance of accountability in supporting carbon reducing policies; and
(v) The types of governance structures and processes that are likely to lead to more effective and acceptable policies

The project has identified several complementary pathways to impact. First, the project design is predicated around the involvement of practitioners, policy makers and the public in a series of deliberative events using the skills of a specialist deliberative democracy facilitator. This will ensure that the key individuals are involved in the design and conduct of aspects of the research as well as receiving the outcomes. This is a highly effective way of embedding impact.

The primary impacts relate to public policy and governance reform. The project team members are directly connected to the Institute for Government and a range of cognate projects. In addition, members of the project team have joined a consortium bid that is led by 'Westminster Explained' to offer training and skills development courses to the civil service in the wake of the abolition of the National School of Government. The project team regularly gives evidence to user-groups or advises Select Committees and would use this outlet to broaden awareness of the issues.

We will deliver presentations and workshops to the established annual transport practitioner conferences in England and Scotland and through networks of the University of Sheffield Public Services Academy as well as practice oriented end of project workshops (e.g. on engagement)
We have already committed to a wide range of outputs including 4 policy briefings, 7 conference papers, 5 journal articles and a book. The project has recently launched a blog to broaden the public and practitioner engagement (http://transportcarbon.blogspot.com/) with the project as it develops. Professor Flinders has been commissioned to write and present for BBC Radio 4 on the challenges of modern governance (due for broadcast July 2011) and will draw on the project for this.