Strategies and implications for network participation in regional climate and energy planning

Regional climate and energy planning in Sweden has long been fairly weak. Starting in 2008, however, the regional administrative level was strengthened, when the County Administrative Boards (CABs) were commissioned to develop regional climate and energy strategies. Coordinating and involving various stakeholders in the strategy work was essential to the assignment. The process of developing these strategies is the present focus. The paper analyzes CAB use of various participation approaches when establishing networks, in order to examine how these strategies have influenced the implementation of regional climate and energy strategies and, consequently, the realization of their goals. From case studies of four Swedish counties, we conclude that different network participation approaches result in different implementation outcomes. A meta-governor using a policy participation strategy when establishing networks facilitates implementation, while a meta-governor using deliberative or learning strategies for network participation has few opportunities for implementation.