Make a U-turn if possible : the GPS voice and its three advisory comrades in climate policymaking

Abstract

Climate Advisory Bodies have been established in more than 40 countries as an instrument to help policymakers reduce greenhouse gas emissions. This thesis investigates the influence of climate advisory bodies on policymaking by looking at key stakeholder perceptions. Nine semi-structured interviews were conducted with stakeholders with insight into the climate policymaking process. By doing a structured focused comparison, this study compares empirical findings of climate advisory bodies in two Nordic countries; Norway and Denmark. Applying the Climate Policy Integration Framework, this study adds novel insight into the policy process by applying four lenses to study the influence of advisory bodies, namely the legitimiser, knowledge broker, policy entrepreneur, and GPS voice. The results indicate that the Danish Council on Climate Change (DCCC) is perceived to be a pronounced GPS voice both through publicly guiding the government and in providing independent advice to a broad range of actors who use this to push climate politics. The DCCC also functions as a broker of knowledge, as well as an entrepreneur on the policy ambitiousness level. The Norwegian advisory structure seems suited to providing specific innovative advice to the policy process, but it lacks the structure to function as a GPS voice or a knowledge broker, limiting its potential to contribute to decarbonisation.