A Place-based Approach to Climate Action and Resilience

Cover of the OECD Net Zero+ Policy Paper No. 8 titled “A place-based approach to climate action and resilience.” The cover features images of green skyscrapers covered in plants, a woman riding a bicycle next to a tram, and wind turbines in a field. The OECD and Net Zero+ logos are also included.

© OECD, 2025

A Place-based Approach to Climate Action and Resilience

OECD Net Zero+ Policy Papers No.8

Publication
Citation

OECD (2025), "A place-based approach to climate action and resilience", OECD Net Zero+ Policy Papers, No. 8, OECD Publishing, Paris, https://doi.org/10.1787/fafbf518-en.

Read the policy paper online!

Current climate action is falling short of meeting global climate goals. To get back on track, action is needed at all levels. Place-based climate action – i.e. policies targeted or tailored to the circumstances of different places – can work with the grain of local markets, leverage the funding and powers of sub-national governments and mobilise local communities to deliver meaningful change. This paper, prepared by Anthony Cox (Senior Policy Advisor at Ecologic Institute), reviews the case for place-based climate policies and actions and outlines challenges and opportunities in four key policy areas:

  • supporting the transition of businesses and workforces to net zero;
  • investing in climate-resilient infrastructure;
  • stimulating climate innovation; and
  • enhancing financing for place-based climate action.

Additionally, it outlines a framework for place-based climate action by sub-national governments.

Place-based climate action offers a powerful, context-sensitive approach to closing the global climate action gap by aligning local policies, resources, and communities with overarching climate goals.

Contact

Language
English
Authorship
Credits

Supervised by Andrew Paterson (OECD Centre for Entrepreneurship, SMEs, Regions and Cities), with contributions and review from a number of OECD experts including: Nadim Ahmad, Alexandre Banquet, Isabelle Chatry, David Halabisky, Andrés Fuentes Hutfilter, Marija Kuzmanovic, Juliette Lassman, Connaught Lee, Karen Maguire, Marco Marchese, Tadashi Matsumoto, Takeshi Miyamori, Oriana Romano, Pablo Shah and Ji-Soo Yoon (Centre for Entrepreneurship, SMEs, Regions and Cities); Enrico Botta, Kristina Feiková, Sophie Lavaud, Michael Mullan and Kilian Raiser (Environment Directorate); Andrea Garnero and Michele Tuccio (Directorate for Employment, Labour and Social Affairs); and Jehan Sauvage (Trade and Agriculture Directorate)

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Year
Dimension
35 pp.
DOI
Table of contents
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Keywords
climate action, climate policy, place-based climate action, local climate policies, climate goals, tailored climate strategies, sub-national governments, local climate change solutions, climate governance, climate action gaps, community-based climate action, multi-level climate governance, effective climate policies, local communities, sub-national governments, regional climate policy, national climate policy, local markets, international climate goals, global climate targets
place-based approach, policy review, multi-level governance, contextual policy analysis, stakeholder mobilisation, decentralised climate governance, tailored policy instruments, comparative policy assessment
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