Reaching net-zero emissions is one of the defining challenges of our time. More than 140 countries, covering 90% of global emissions, have pledged to achieve net zero by mid-century. These commitments are ambitious, necessary, and urgent. But ambition alone is not enough.
The real challenge lies in turning national strategies into practical, measurable, and equitable local action. Net zero is not achieved by targets written in climate plans — it is achieved through concrete policies implemented in cities, provinces, communities, and neighborhoods.
Why Net Zero Matters
The science is unequivocal: to limit global warming to 1.5°C and avoid the worst impacts of climate change, the world must reach net-zero emissions by mid-century. This means balancing greenhouse gas emissions with removals, ensuring any remaining emissions are offset by carbon sinks such as forests, soils, or technological solutions.
Net zero is not only an environmental imperative; it is also an economic and social opportunity. The transition promises:
- Cleaner air and healthier communities.
- New industries and green jobs in renewable energy, retrofitting, and clean tech.
- Greater energy security and resilience.
- More sustainable urban growth.
However, the transition also comes with costs and risks. If poorly managed, it could leave vulnerable workers and communities behind. Policymakers must ensure the path to net zero is not only fast but also fair.
The Role of National Strategies
National governments set the overarching direction for net zero through strategies such as climate action plans, energy roadmaps, and emissions reduction targets. These strategies provide:
Legislative Frameworks: Laws and regulations that establish binding targets and hold governments accountable.
Financial Mechanisms: Investments, subsidies, and carbon pricing systems that shape economic incentives.
International Alignment: Commitments under agreements like the Paris Accord that ensure global coordination.
Sectoral Strategies: National plans for decarbonizing power, transportation, buildings, and industry.
National strategies are essential for setting ambition and mobilizing resources. But they often lack the granularity needed to translate into actionable policies at the local level.
The Role of Local Action
Cities, municipalities, and local authorities are where climate policy becomes real. Local action determines whether national strategies succeed or fail.
Urban Planning: Local governments shape land use, transport, and housing, all of which affect emissions.
Infrastructure Delivery: Cities build the roads, public transit, and energy systems that enable low-carbon living.
Community Engagement: Local authorities are closest to citizens, making them vital for building trust and encouraging behavioral change.
Tailored Solutions: Climate challenges vary by geography. Coastal towns face flooding, prairie communities face drought, and northern regions face permafrost thaw. Local policies must reflect these realities.
Local governments are uniquely positioned to implement solutions, but they often lack the resources, capacity, and coordination needed to match national ambition.
Bridging the Gap: Aligning National and Local Action
Aligning national strategies with local action requires more than coordination; it requires integration. The following pathways can help bridge the gap.
Clear Policy Mandates
National governments must establish frameworks that clearly define the role of local authorities in achieving net-zero goals. This includes setting sectoral targets for municipalities, mandating climate action plans, and embedding climate considerations into all levels of governance.
For example, the UK requires local councils to produce climate strategies aligned with the national target of net zero by 2050. This creates consistency and accountability across jurisdictions.
Shared Financing Mechanisms
Net zero requires significant investment in infrastructure, retrofitting, renewable energy, and climate adaptation. Local governments cannot fund these transitions alone.
National strategies must include financing mechanisms — such as green bonds, climate funds, and revenue from carbon pricing — that flow directly to municipalities. Matching funds and co-investment models can ensure local projects align with national priorities while giving communities ownership.
Capacity Building for Local Authorities
Even with funding, local governments often lack the technical expertise to design and implement complex climate projects. National governments must invest in capacity-building programs, technical assistance, and knowledge-sharing platforms.
This could mean training programs for municipal staff, toolkits for climate budgeting, or partnerships with universities to provide data and modeling support.
Integrated Data and Measurement
Achieving net zero requires robust monitoring of emissions and progress. National governments should create standardized metrics and open data systems that allow local authorities to measure their contributions.
When local data feeds into national inventories, governments can track progress more accurately and identify gaps. This alignment also ensures transparency for citizens.
Policy Co-Design with Communities
Policies designed in national capitals risk missing the lived realities of communities. Engaging local governments and citizens in co-design ensures that strategies reflect real needs and build public support.
Participatory models, such as citizens’ assemblies on climate, provide a structured way to incorporate diverse voices into policy development.
The Importance of Equity in the Net-Zero Transition
Aligning national and local action is not only about effectiveness; it is also about fairness. The net-zero transition will affect communities differently. Policymakers must ensure that the costs and benefits are distributed equitably.
Just Transition Policies:
Supporting workers in carbon-intensive industries with retraining, income support, and pathways into green jobs.
Addressing Energy Poverty:
Ensuring low-income households benefit from efficiency programs and are not burdened by rising energy costs.
Indigenous and Rural Communities:
Recognizing unique challenges and involving these communities in decision-making processes.
Without equity, the transition risks eroding public support and exacerbating inequalities.
Overcoming Barriers to Alignment
Despite progress, several barriers remain:
- Fragmentation: Overlapping mandates and responsibilities can create confusion between national and local authorities.
- Short-Termism: Political cycles prioritize quick wins, but net-zero strategies require long-term commitment.
- Resource Gaps: Smaller municipalities may lack the staff or expertise to deliver ambitious climate plans.
- Resistance to Change: Local communities may resist projects like wind farms or transit expansions without effective engagement.
Addressing these barriers requires clear communication, consistent policy frameworks, and a focus on building trust across all levels of government.
The Future of Multi-Level Climate Governance
As climate challenges intensify, the future of climate governance will depend on stronger alignment between national ambition and local delivery. Several trends are emerging:
- Vertical Integration: Climate strategies will increasingly be designed as shared roadmaps, connecting national, provincial, and municipal plans.
- Decentralized Innovation: Local governments will serve as testbeds for climate solutions, which can then be scaled nationally.
- Digital Climate Governance: Real-time data from cities, regions, and infrastructure will allow governments to monitor emissions and progress continuously.
- Global Networks of Cities: Initiatives like C40 Cities will continue to connect municipalities internationally, complementing national strategies with peer learning.
The next decade will define whether governments can align strategies and action fast enough to meet net-zero deadlines.
Final Thoughts
The path to net zero is both a national and local journey. National governments set the ambition, but local governments deliver the action. Without alignment, strategies risk becoming empty promises; without local ownership, transitions risk being resisted or delayed.
Policymakers must focus on creating frameworks that connect ambition with delivery: clear mandates, shared financing, capacity building, integrated data, and co-design with citizens. Equity must be at the center of every policy, ensuring that no community is left behind.
Achieving net zero is not just about cutting emissions — it is about rethinking governance itself. By aligning national strategies with local action, governments can create a policy pathway that is ambitious, achievable, and just. The decisions made in this decade will determine whether net zero remains a pledge — or becomes reality.
