Local energy agencies and cities’ participation in translocal climate governance

When and under what conditions do cities commit to participating in translocal climate networks? This study examines the initial driving factors behind city participation in the Covenant of Mayors in Europe. Studying cities’ adherence or non-adherence to transnational climate governance enhances our understanding of the links between local and national institutions, socioeconomic conditions, and transnational climate activities. Event history analyses of 261 cities in 27 European countries examine associations between when cities signed the Covenant and local and national political–economic factors. My analysis suggests that the existence of local energy agencies, other translocal climate network memberships, a high level of employment and the national adoption of renewable energy are factors that facilitate cities’ participation in the Covenant. However, country-level drivers such as years of European Union accession, climate change awareness and gross domestic product growth are not as significant as cities’ individual attributes. The results of the analysis testify to the growing significance of local institutional capacities—knowledge, relational resources and mobilization—in expediting cities’ participation in transnational climate governance.