71
effectiveness of the target transcends this simple calculus. It has become a
standard reference point for ambitions in the climate field, and percolated
into the urban policy discourse at many levels. Trends in actual traffic patterns are following suit—all cities mentioned above underwent a reduction in private car traffic in 2018 (Miljødirektoratet). Arguably, the target
has contributed to normalising and routinising a way of thinking about
transitions in cities that was considered highly ambitious only a few
years ago.
6.5 leGItImatInG sustaInable transItIons
Are climate-related targets representative of a crisis of accountability, as
pillars in a bureaucratic apparatus of governance that gives the appearance
of climate action while little substantive change happens? Or are there
mechanisms at work that translate abstract and arbitrary targets into concrete policy implementation? Most likely, a mix of these outcomes is at
play. But the case of Norway’s Zero Growth Objective illustrates some of
the processes that legitimate and normalise an ambitious climate-related
target. This involved soft mechanisms—inserting itself in the discourse on
urban policy and moving its goal posts—and hard mechanisms—the conditioning of funding flows from national to local levels. To enable a sustainable energy transition, we need practices to legitimate the interventions
that advance this transition. Under certain conditions, metrics and targets
can play a constructive role in this.
reFerences
Bulkeley, H. (2006). Urban sustainability: Learning from best practice?
Environment and Planning A, 38, 1029–1044.
Foucault, M. (1991). Governmentality. In G. Burchell, C. Gordon, & P. Miller
(Eds.), The Foucault effect: Studies in governmentality (pp. 87–104). London:
Harvester Wheatsheaf.
Grandin, J., & Sareen, S. (forthcoming). What sticks? Ephemerality, permanence
and urban transformation pathways. In review.
Jasanoff, S. (2010). A new climate for society. Theory, Culture & Society,
27, 233–253.
Jonas, A. E. G., Gibbs, D., & While, A. (2011). The new urban politics as a politics of carbon control. Urban Studies, 48, 2537–2554.
Kramers, A., Wangel, J., Johansson, S., Höjer, M., Finnveden, G., & Brandt, N.
(2013). Towards a comprehensive system of methodological considerations for
cities’ climate targets. Energy Policy, 62, 1276–1287.
6 DO CLIMATE TARGETS MATTER? THE ACCOUNTABILITY…
effectiveness of the target transcends this simple calculus. It has become a
standard reference point for ambitions in the climate field, and percolated
into the urban policy discourse at many levels. Trends in actual traffic patterns are following suit—all cities mentioned above underwent a reduction in private car traffic in 2018 (Miljødirektoratet). Arguably, the target
has contributed to normalising and routinising a way of thinking about
transitions in cities that was considered highly ambitious only a few
years ago.
6.5 leGItImatInG sustaInable transItIons
Are climate-related targets representative of a crisis of accountability, as
pillars in a bureaucratic apparatus of governance that gives the appearance
of climate action while little substantive change happens? Or are there
mechanisms at work that translate abstract and arbitrary targets into concrete policy implementation? Most likely, a mix of these outcomes is at
play. But the case of Norway’s Zero Growth Objective illustrates some of
the processes that legitimate and normalise an ambitious climate-related
target. This involved soft mechanisms—inserting itself in the discourse on
urban policy and moving its goal posts—and hard mechanisms—the conditioning of funding flows from national to local levels. To enable a sustainable energy transition, we need practices to legitimate the interventions
that advance this transition. Under certain conditions, metrics and targets
can play a constructive role in this.
reFerences
Bulkeley, H. (2006). Urban sustainability: Learning from best practice?
Environment and Planning A, 38, 1029–1044.
Foucault, M. (1991). Governmentality. In G. Burchell, C. Gordon, & P. Miller
(Eds.), The Foucault effect: Studies in governmentality (pp. 87–104). London:
Harvester Wheatsheaf.
Grandin, J., & Sareen, S. (forthcoming). What sticks? Ephemerality, permanence
and urban transformation pathways. In review.
Jasanoff, S. (2010). A new climate for society. Theory, Culture & Society,
27, 233–253.
Jonas, A. E. G., Gibbs, D., & While, A. (2011). The new urban politics as a politics of carbon control. Urban Studies, 48, 2537–2554.
Kramers, A., Wangel, J., Johansson, S., Höjer, M., Finnveden, G., & Brandt, N.
(2013). Towards a comprehensive system of methodological considerations for
cities’ climate targets. Energy Policy, 62, 1276–1287.
6 DO CLIMATE TARGETS MATTER? THE ACCOUNTABILITY…