Air Quality as a Common Resource
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1 4 7
Other aspects of addressing climate change and air quality may be
more amenable to a polycentric approach (Paavola, 2012). This would, for
example, focus on beneficial actions that are independent of one another
and can be adjusted when needed as implemented to achieve environmental progress. Actions such as replacing electricity from coal- burning
power plants with electricity generated with wind energy are beneficial to
both improving air quality and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. When
co- benefits are considered, the justification for moving forward with new
installations is accepted better by decision makers (Scovronick et al, 2019).
Polycentricity allows for diversity and has benefits for many organizations.
Local governments, communities, non- governmental organizations, and
businesses can go forward with voluntary projects that are beneficial, such
as adding solar panels and charging infrastructure to parking lots. Some of
these projects save money for those who participate. An example is a community group that puts solar panels on homes and reduces the cost of their
electricity because of free labor.
The polycentric approach to global climate governance has been
addressed, and the important features have been examined (Dorsch and
Flachsland, 2017). Dosch and Flachsland (2017) address the mechanisms
and features through which a polycentric approach may contribute
to greater effectiveness for mitigation. Important features are: 1) selforganization, 2) an emphasis on site- specific conditions, 3) an emphasis
on enabling experimentation and learning, and 4) efforts to build mutual
trust to enhance cooperation (Dorsch and Flachsland, 2017). With selforganization, a group can set up its own rules and structure, making use
of the Ostrom principles. There are opportunities for cost- effective actions
that are site specific, and there are more of these when both local air quality
and global climate change are included in the economic considerations.
The site- specific considerations may be associated with the talents of the
group and what they are able to do together that is beneficial. Additionally,
the group may have to work effectively with the public utility, as well as
the rules and regulations that exist in the community. Finally, experimentation and learning are especially important for a research group that is
working to improve batteries or solar panels, but they are also important
for groups that are working to improve air quality in their community.
Building trust is very important in efforts to move forward with new ideas
that are beneficial for a community. The implementation of a polycentric
approach should be considered complementary to other approaches. One
aspect of a polycentric approach is that it takes a bottom- up approach with
diverse actors to address these two challenges.
Finally, topics such as voluntary green consumer behavior, such as driving
electric vehicles and adopting policies such as a transition to electric buses
for public transportation, are examples of actions that work well with both
challenges. Carattini et al. (2017) review local social norms in addressing climate change mitigation, and they report cases and situations that appear
147
1 4 7
Other aspects of addressing climate change and air quality may be
more amenable to a polycentric approach (Paavola, 2012). This would, for
example, focus on beneficial actions that are independent of one another
and can be adjusted when needed as implemented to achieve environmental progress. Actions such as replacing electricity from coal- burning
power plants with electricity generated with wind energy are beneficial to
both improving air quality and reducing greenhouse gas emissions. When
co- benefits are considered, the justification for moving forward with new
installations is accepted better by decision makers (Scovronick et al, 2019).
Polycentricity allows for diversity and has benefits for many organizations.
Local governments, communities, non- governmental organizations, and
businesses can go forward with voluntary projects that are beneficial, such
as adding solar panels and charging infrastructure to parking lots. Some of
these projects save money for those who participate. An example is a community group that puts solar panels on homes and reduces the cost of their
electricity because of free labor.
The polycentric approach to global climate governance has been
addressed, and the important features have been examined (Dorsch and
Flachsland, 2017). Dosch and Flachsland (2017) address the mechanisms
and features through which a polycentric approach may contribute
to greater effectiveness for mitigation. Important features are: 1) selforganization, 2) an emphasis on site- specific conditions, 3) an emphasis
on enabling experimentation and learning, and 4) efforts to build mutual
trust to enhance cooperation (Dorsch and Flachsland, 2017). With selforganization, a group can set up its own rules and structure, making use
of the Ostrom principles. There are opportunities for cost- effective actions
that are site specific, and there are more of these when both local air quality
and global climate change are included in the economic considerations.
The site- specific considerations may be associated with the talents of the
group and what they are able to do together that is beneficial. Additionally,
the group may have to work effectively with the public utility, as well as
the rules and regulations that exist in the community. Finally, experimentation and learning are especially important for a research group that is
working to improve batteries or solar panels, but they are also important
for groups that are working to improve air quality in their community.
Building trust is very important in efforts to move forward with new ideas
that are beneficial for a community. The implementation of a polycentric
approach should be considered complementary to other approaches. One
aspect of a polycentric approach is that it takes a bottom- up approach with
diverse actors to address these two challenges.
Finally, topics such as voluntary green consumer behavior, such as driving
electric vehicles and adopting policies such as a transition to electric buses
for public transportation, are examples of actions that work well with both
challenges. Carattini et al. (2017) review local social norms in addressing climate change mitigation, and they report cases and situations that appear