Building policy synergies

A case of community resilience, climate change and community empowerment policies in Scotland

Bibliographic Data

ID12666752
AuthorsEsther Carmen (0000-0002-6553-3786, University of York, corresponding author), I Fazey (0000-0002-1539-9179, University of York), Anne Marte Bergseng (Committee on Climate Change), E S Om (University of York)
Year2023
Volume150
Pages103579-103579
Publication date2023-09-13
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueEnvironmental Science & Policy (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1462-9011 • E-ISSN: 1873-6416
PublisherElsevier BV (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1016/j.envsci.2023.103579
OpenAlexW4386712952
LanguageEN
Citations received6
References cited71

To tackle complex societal challenges, such as climate change and social justice, there is a need to understand how to work with existing policy interconnections to build policy synergies across policy domains. Policy synergy is understood from a process-perspective as combined effects of interactions between different policy elements that shape outcomes and impact that could not otherwise be achieved from policy working in isolation. This shifts the focus beyond a complementary approach to synergy (e.g. alignment) to also encompass an embedded approach (interaction and co-construction shaped by policy practice). Drawing on interviews with senior government actors and formal policy documents across three policy areas (community resilience, climate change and community empowerment) in Scotland, three broad entry points identified in this study for building policy synergies are: 1) building on existing policy architecture supporting integrated approaches; 2) capitalising on decision-making and collective action spaces; and 3) strengthening integrative capacity of policy actors. Each entry point involves opportunities that relate to existing interconnections across policy domains (e.g. shared ideas and frameworks, social relationships and a focus on skills development) and potential challenges that relate to less tangible normative dimensions of policy (e.g. assumptions and expectations) that could hinder how policy actors come together to build synergies and what emerges. These findings can inform strategies to help enhance and more centrally embed synergistic practice and outcomes within policy for engaging with complex sustainability challenges within and through policy

Business · Economics · Empowerment · Environmental resource management · Government (linguistics · Normative · Policy analysis · Policy studies · Political science · Psychological resilience · Public policy · Public relations · Sociology · Sustainability · Disaster Management and Resilience · Psychology · Public Administration · Smart Cities and Technologies · Sustainability and Climate Change Governance

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Open DOIOpen Access