Chain Reaction: Is There an Influence of National Policies on Local Emission Outcomes? : A quantitative study of the effect of national and local governance on municipal greenhouse gas emissions

Sammanfattning

This study examined the possible interaction effect of national governments and municipal governments on greenhouse gas emissions within the municipals of Sweden between the years 1994-2022. It was found that governance has an impact on all three greenhouse gas emissions included, though differing between the emission types. For CH4 emissions, a relationship was found between left-wing municipal governance and whether there was a left-wing, right-wing or green party government on the national level. If there was a left-wing national government, the CH4 emissions would increase compared to a right-wing government, and also decrease if the green party is part of government, with only a small difference when using lagged variables. For CO2 emissions, left-wing municipal governance would increase CO2emissions together with a left-wing national government but decrease with green-party governance. Green party municipal governance would instead be helped when having a left-wing national government. For N2O emissions, no interaction effect is found between national and local levels. A relationship is found between green party governance on the national level and an increase in N2O emissions, both as a direct effect and when using lagged variables. Analysing the results through the theory of multilevel governance and vertical integration, arguments can be made that national governance sometimes helps the local level in reducing emissions, when it comes to CO2 or CH4 emissions, but not with N2O as no interacting connection was made. Still, relationships were found between all emission types and at least one type of governance in Sweden.