LA21 research activities

Focus one: Implementation of local climate action plans

Studies focused on:

  1. The relationship between the governance structure and outcomes (plan and partner outcomes) for community climate action plans (Wong, 2017; Clarke & Ordonez-Ponce, 2017; Wong, Clarke & Ordonez-Ponce, 2020);
  2. The relationship between the governance structure and progress on climate goals from a sustainability plan (Sun, 2018; Sun, Clarke & MacDonald, 2020); and
  3. Deep decarbonization pathways, strategies and governance arrangements (Linton, 2020; Linton, Clarke & Tozer, 2021; Linton, Clarke & Tozer, 2022).

Focus two: Implementation of sustainable community plans

Studies focused on:

  1. Topics in sustainable community plans (Taylor, 2012; Chen, 2012; MacDonald, Clarke, Huang, Roseland & Seitanidi, 2018; Clarke, Huang, Roseland & Chen, working paper);
  2. Indicators to measure progress on sustainability goals (i.e., plan outcomes) (Taylor, 2012; Clarke, 2012; Spiliotopoulou, 2021);
  3. The governance structures used to implement collaborative community sustainability plans (Clarke, 2011; 2012; 2014);
  4. The use of market-based instruments for implementing sustainable community plans (Cairns, Clarke, Zhou & Thivierge, 2015; DeBoer, 2015; Zhou, 2015; Zhou, Clarke & Cairns, 2020);
  5. The results partners experience by being involved in implementing a collaborative community sustainability plan (i.e., partner outcomes) (MacDonald, 2012; Clarke & MacDonald, 2012; Yan, 2015; Wong, 2017; Yan, Lin & Clarke, 2018; Ordonez-Ponce, 2018; Clarke, MacDonald & Ordonez-Ponce, 2019; Clarke & MacDonald, 2019; Castillo Cifuentes, 2020; Ordonez-Ponce & Clarke, 2020; Ordonez-Ponce, Clarke & Colbert, 2020; Wong, Clarke & Ordonez-Ponce, 2020); and
  6. Job roles and competencies for implementing sustainable community plans (Chai, 2018; MacDonald, Clarke, Ordonez-Ponce, Chai & Andreasen, 2020).

Focus three: Cross-sector social partnerships/ Relationships between governance structures and outcomes

Studies focused on:

  1. The relationships between partnership structural features and sustainability progress (i.e., plan outcomes) (Chen, 2013; Clarke & Ordonez-Ponce, 2017; Sun, 2018; Cai, 2018; Sun, Clarke & MacDonald, 2020);
  2. The relationships between partnership structural features and partnership capacity (i.e., process outcomes) (MacDonald, 2016; MacDonald, Clarke & Huang, 2018);
  3. The relationships between partnership structural features and partner outcomes (Castillo Cifuentes, 2020; Clarke, Ordonez-Ponce & Castillo, working paper);
  4. The relationships between partner implementation structures and partner outcomes (Ordonez-Ponce, 2018; MacDonald, Clarke, Huang & Seitanidi, 2019; Ordonez-Ponce & Clarke, 2020; Ordonez-Ponce, Clarke & Colbert, 2020); and
  5. Interdisciplinary literature review of cross-sector partnerships for systemic change (Clarke & Crane, 2018).

Focus four: Local green economy

Studies focused on:

  1. The implementation of municipal eco-procurement policies as a means of promoting the greening of the local economy (Kemp & Clarke, 2012);
  2. Green jobs discourse (Kouri & Clarke, 2014);
  3. The definitions and economic indicators for a local green economy (Basan, Chan, Crockford, Pham & Polda, 2013);
  4. The role of multi-nationals enterprises in furthering SDG 11 (Eang, 2018; Eang, Clarke & Ordonez-Ponce, working paper); and
  5. Sustainable tourism (Darwazeh, Clarke & Wilson, 2021; Lara-Morales & Clarke, working paper)

Focus five: Research dissemination

Using the content from this research project, two studies were conducted to examine which communication channels (e.g. conferences, Twitter, or LinkedIn) and which styles of information presentation (e.g. academic, public, or infographic) are best for disseminating research (Heldsinger, 2015; Tian, 2016; Huang, Clarke, Heldsinger & Tan, 2019).