Multilevel and alternative governance arrangements

The transboundary nature of climate change poses cross-jurisdictional and cross-sector governance challenges. Greenhouse gas emissions defy straightforward traditional regulatory approaches because the costs and benefits of limiting them are long-lasting, diffuse, and, thus, not easily assigned to the offending polluters [2]. The implication for policy and governance is that while there is a need for responses and solutions across jurisdictions and sectors, there is a potential for an institutional gap or fragmentation. The PLOS Climate Policy and Governance editors encourage researchers to submit manuscripts that examine the interactions between governance levels, including how local and urban governance complements national and global efforts. Research and investigation are needed to understand how local and urban governance can provide mitigation and adaptation opportunities for communities and how these efforts interact with and are supported by subnational and national policies [3]. The latter is particularly crucial as geopolitical tensions and national protectionism are on the rise.

Alternative forms of governance, for example, at the urban level, or involving civil society or the private sector, can provide new entry points for action, such as enabling participatory decision-making structures or novel private-public partnerships and environmental, social, and governance (ESG) initiatives [4]. New frameworks could also better account for biophysical systems, from locally and globally [5]. There is also a pressing need for governance approaches that can account for intergenerational equity in planning to guard against short-sighted policymaking.

Trust, transparency, and accountability

The increased scientific evidence of climate change, as well as greater frequency and intensity of severe weather events, has been accompanied by an increase in stakeholder and market pressures for individuals, communities, firms, and governments to bear more of the cost of the harms associated with climate change. There are also concerns that these actions need to be verifiable to counter the attendant risk of greenwashing and to show effectiveness of investments [6–8]. With climate actions under growing scrutiny, trust and accountability are essential. We invite manuscripts on approaches for identifying misleading practices and ensuring the integrity and effectiveness of climate policies and solutions.

Further investigation is also encouraged about the ways in which a variety of stakeholders may have conflicting interests and priorities. More research is needed on the interactions between public and private actors and interests, the influence of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and advocacy groups in shaping public opinion, and the roles of youth, civil society, labor unions, and religious organizations in holding corporations and governments accountable for their actions and policies [9,10]. Similarly, electoral and stakeholder politics, vested interests, and feedback effects, both positive and negative, have been shown to delay or accelerate climate action [11,12]. However, we currently know much less about the circumstances under which such feedback effects play out. Papers on how political feedback loops affect climate policy over time are also welcomed.

Technology and innovation governance

As novel technologies emerge to mitigate and adapt to climate change, policies must evolve to govern their deployment responsibly. While many technologies have been proven at a reasonable scale, key questions remain as to what kind of policies and incentives need to be in place to encourage government or private investments and to protect people and communities from potential harm and unintended consequences [13,14]. Research has demonstrated that there are synergies between climate-smart technologies and biodiversity and sustainability goals in agriculture, land use, and beyond, but there may also be trade-offs [15–17]. We invite contributions that evaluate the effectiveness of existing policies, explore the ethical implications and public perceptions of emerging technologies, and propose new policy designs and governance mechanisms for technology management and implementation.

Justice, equity, and power dynamics

Climate change disproportionately affects vulnerable communities—those least responsible often suffer the most. Climate justice engages the ways in which society recognizes, addresses, and redresses inequitable distributional impacts. Power imbalances affect the policymaking process, particularly in decisions that involve marginalized peoples and communities and Indigenous Peoples, developing countries, small island nations, and other disadvantaged populations [18–20]. In developing countries, climate shocks and stressors such as extreme heat and their impact on agricultural production have led governments to take measures such as restricting agricultural exports to protect domestic consumers [21]. However, these policies could inadvertently exacerbate global losses, whether to domestic producers or foreign consumers [22].

We welcome research that proposes new or refined existing frameworks and methods for inclusive governance, such as mapping stakeholder interests and identifying potential alignments between disparate interests and values to foster effective cooperative efforts. There is also an interest in scholarship that showcases where justice and equity have been successfully integrated into climate governance and how governance and decision-making structures could be transformed to improve equity, including the use of rights-based approaches, access to finance, and involvement of marginalized groups in policy processes.

Climate adaptation and resilience

Improved human and ecosystem adaptation is another frontier in climate policy. Research is needed to systematically document and better evaluate the effectiveness of adaptation responses [23–25]. We welcome quantitative and qualitative research that accounts for and details adaptation policy responses by local, state, provincial or national governments and their differential and aggregate impacts across communities, regions, or countries. Empirical contributions in the form of global datasets and case studies are as important as conceptual frameworks. Contributions that propose new or improved indicators and metrics, for example, those that integrate socio-ecological variables and capture local priorities, are especially valuable. These tools can help assess adaptation effectiveness and integrate feedback mechanisms into policy frameworks for real-time learning and adjustment.

Human and planetary health

The intersection of climate change and health presents both urgent challenges and opportunities. Unsustainable food systems, natural hazards, pollution, and biodiversity loss associated with climate change impact human health from the individual to society [26–28]. Business-as-usual activities exacerbate ecological degradation and the ecology of disease pathways, which could cause the spread of new infectious diseases. Moreover, the psychological effects of climate anxiety and the need for policies that provide mental health support must not be overlooked. Integrated research that connects health outcomes to environmental change and examines policy interventions that protect both human and planetary health is critical. Interdisciplinary approaches and research that bridge public health and ecological governance are especially encouraged.

Finance and investments

Finance can be both a tool and a barrier for climate solutions. Research is needed on novel financing models, public-private partnerships, and governance frameworks that can scale investment in climate-resilient infrastructure. We welcome work on novel financing models and instruments, their effectiveness, and equity implications, especially in developing countries facing high costs of capital [29,30]. This should include financing models that ensure that the benefits of technological transitions accrue to impacted communities.

The high cost of debt in many developing countries, due to capital market bias or not, suggests that research is needed on system-level levers and new investment logics [31]. This research should focus on the specific mechanisms that drive high debt costs and the creation of equitable and accessible capital markets [32,33]. Moreover, we welcome papers on how the availability of new data can open opportunities and present new risks. For example, new data can make climate solutions economically viable, such as low-cost precision farming due to advances in satellite data resolution or parametric climate risk insurance. At the same time, people and assets strongly exposed to climate hazards may face challenges obtaining insurance, a phenomenon already under way. Research needs to keep up with these data developments to ensure responsible governance of novel climate financing and investments.

Looking ahead for climate policy and governance

As the speed and complexity of climate change increase, so must our ability to govern. Building trust among stakeholders for open dialogue, facilitating transparent and evidence-based decision-making, and ensuring accountability and responsible governance is more important than ever. Future work must meaningfully engage Indigenous Knowledge and local knowledge and explore diverse decision-making approaches. Researchers can help policymakers develop a deep understanding of technology and the ability to test and scale novel financing models. Moreover, there is a need for scenario planning to enhance preparedness for uncertain climatic outcomes across policy areas and sectors. Future work should investigate the role of technology platforms in facilitating partnerships across disciplines and industries and among public and private sectors to determine which technologies offer viable solutions to real-world climate governance challenges.

The need for new global governance frameworks is critically important to guide nations in collectively addressing climate challenges. At the same time, local communities are where the consequences of climate change are most felt and experienced and where self-determined, local priorities, with support from different levels of government and private and public partnerships, can be key to building resilience. This work can draw insights from economics, sociology, political science, anthropology, psychology, public policy, or management, among other social sciences and natural sciences. The Policy and Governance section of PLOS Climate aims to support the publication of transparent, equitable, and impactful research and supports open-access publishing to ensure that scholars from all regions can contribute to and benefit from climate research.