The commitment of the European Union (EU) and its member countries to achieving climate neutrality by 2050 requires profound transformations across economy and society. While much attention has been directed toward EU-wide and national policies, it is essential to recognize the importance of bottom-up approaches, as energy transition impacts vary among citizens, regions, and sectors (OECD, 2020). Local and regional governments play thus an important role in advancing climate and energy policies.
The COVID-19 pandemic underscored the crucial role of regions, cities and municipalities in implementing effective solutions—not just in health crises but also in other policy domains (Dvorak, 2021). Similarly, the recent energy crisis highlighted the readiness of regional energy agencies to replicate energy transition initiatives, demonstrating their ability to contribute to a sustainable energy system (FEDARENE, 2023). With their proximity to citizens and collaboration with the private sector, regions and cities are uniquely positioned to implement green transition measures, promote innovation, and encourage changes in daily habits.
The EU's "shared leadership" approach emphasizes multi-level governance, engaging institutions from the local to the EU level in sharing best practices and implementing climate actions (European Parliament, 2020). Local and regional governments contribute significantly to both structural and operational climate adaptation measures, showcasing their central role in achieving net-zero emissions. Indeed, the success of energy transitions heavily depends on effective action at the local level (Brugger and Henry, 2021).
The proposed paper aims to investigate how local governments and regions in Central European countries (Austria, Czechia, Hungary, Poland, and Slovakia) have engaged in the energy transition and progressed toward climate neutrality. First, it assesses the level of planning by examining whether and how regions (NUTS 2 in case of Austria and Poland / NUTS3 in case of Czechia, Hungary and Slovakia) cooperate with local governments in preparation of climate and energy policies strategies, and second, it looks at the level of implementation by examining the international (cross-border) cooperation of local governments and regions in climate and energy policies.
To achieve this, the paper addresses two key questions:
1. How do regions cooperate with local governments in their climate and energy strategies? (level of planning)
2. What is the role of local governments in international cooperation on climate and energy policies? (level of implementation)
The first question examines the level of policy planning by analyzing how existing local governments strategies in energy and climate policies incorporate cooperation with regions / regional governments. The second focuses on international cooperation by studying the cross-border activities and partnerships of local governments and actors in energy and climate topics. This includes assessing the role of EU grants and programs (Interreg) in fostering effective collaboration. Additionally, the paper seeks to identify best practices to support further development and innovation in regional climate and energy policies.