PhD candidate: Gerlandio Thadeu Lima dos Santos

Research proposal: The International Projection of Latin American

Global Cities: An Analysis of Systemic Sustainable Changes

1. Introduction

The Paris Agreement summons signatories to take measures to keep global warming up to 2°C
above pre-industrial levels this century (UNFCCC, 2015). Considering that fossil fuels are
responsible for 78% of greenhouse gas emissions (IPCC, 2014), any climate change solution must
include transitioning from fossil fuels to green energy sources. Cities are home to the most
polluting human activities: industrial processes, transportation, and electricity generation. Each
activity involves a sociotechnical system of institutions and technologies (Bergek et al., 2008).
Therefore, transforming those sociotechnical systems to be eco-friendly is one of the keys to the
climate change reversal process. Having said that, the goal of this research proposal is to examine
the cooperation between Latin America's (LATAM) global cities1 and the European Union (EU)
to understand how the European bloc can interact with those subnational actors to promote the
systemic changes needed to achieve the climate goal.

Furthermore, we will evaluate LATAM’s cities' involvement in global governance using the
multi-level perspective (MLP) analytical framework to understand how their international
initiatives are affecting their capacity to generate a sustainable transition, particularly in terms of
actions to confront the climate change crisis.

2. Background and Rationale

2.1. Socio-technical changes framework: Multi-level Perspective (MLP)

Our society is made up of socio-technical systems, that are formed by the interaction between
people and technology in our daily activities (Andersson et al., 2024; Geels, 2011; Hekkert &
Negro, 2009). Socio-technical systems are intricate interconnections between humans and
ecological, social, and economic systems. (Gebler et al., 2022).

Similarly, socio-technical systems within cities refer to the complex relationship between urban
environments and the combination of technology, infrastructure, institutions, and social dynamics
that influence them (Geels, 2020). These systems encompass a wide range of areas, including

1
It is considered here the cities affiliated to C40: Bogotá, Buenos Aires, Curitiba, Fortaleza, Guadalajara, Lima,
Medellín, Mexico City, Quito, Rio de Janeiro, Salvador, Santiago, and São Paulo.
transportation networks, communication technology, energy grids, water and waste management,
government frameworks, economic activity, and cultural practices inside cities. For instance, in
figure 1, the elements of the transportation socio-technical system are exemplified; therefore, to
achieve the Paris Agreement's climate change goals, significant changes in socio-technical systems
are needed.

Figure 1 Socio-technical system for the Transportation Scheme

Source: Geels, 2020.

Researchers use the MLP because it can explain the systemic interactions of actors at three
analytical levels and generate sustainable changes (Andersson et al., 2024; El Bilali, 2019; Gebler et
al., 2022; Geels, 2011; Hekkert & Negro, 2009; Morone et al., 2015). Likewise, this research
proposal situates the actions of LATAM’s global cities and the EU within the MLP framework,
striving to explain how those actors generate changes in the city's socio-technical system, aiming to
tackle climate change.

Notwithstanding, the MLP approach consists of the interaction of three analytical levels:
socio-technical regimes, niches, and landscapes (El Bilali, 2019; Geels, 2002, 2010, 2011, 2020).

Socio-technical regimes are the main focus of MLP analysis (Markard & Truffer, 2008).
Geels (2011, p. 1260) defines regimes as a "semi-coherent set of rules upheld by various
social groups." The regime rules serve as both the means and the result of activity,
indicating that actors utilise and generate rules through their actions. Regime norms
 encompass several aspects such as cognitive processes, common ideas, capacities, lifestyles,
user habits, institutional arrangements, legislation, and contracts (Geels, 2011). At a certain
level, regimes exhibit technology lock-in, which perpetuates a specific production model.
This lock-in demonstrates path dependency and resistance to change (Geels, 2020).

Niches are “protected spaces” where firms, universities, and other research institutes engage
in research and development (R&D) operations to identify new technologies that can
address sustainable problems and meet specific market needs (Geels, 2011, p. 27).
Entrepreneurs operate at a niche level by creating innovations that can either enhance the
current system or completely replace it with disruptive innovation (Geels, 2010; Hekkert &
Negro, 2009). According to El Bilali (2019), a shift occurs when a new technology becomes
sufficiently robust and mature to threaten the existing socio-technical system.

The landscape is the broadest level at which socio-technical transformation occurs and
influences the dynamics of both niche and regime (Geels, 2010). It is at the macro level
(Morone et al., 2015). Therefore, international cooperation, institutions, regulations, and
policies are part of the landscape.

During a transition phase, there are interactions occurring among the dynamics at the landscape,
regime, and niche levels. The emergence of changes in the landscape exerts significant strain on the
governing system, resulting in substantial challenges. Regime actors respond to the transformation
process by making adjustments to the system; however, they are unable to effectively resolve the
difficulties. This presents a favourable circumstance for novel advancements, cultivated within
specific areas of expertise and propelled by a fresh network of social collectives. After a transition
occurs, a subsequent phase of dynamic stability and reproduction begins (Geels et al., 2017;
Morone et al., 2015).

2.2. The European Green Deal and the LAC global cities within the landscape

Since 2019, the European Commission has pointed to the Green Deal as its strategy to become the
first climate-neutral continent (European Commission, 2021b). The targets of the Green Deal
include: (1) achieving zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050; (2) guaranteeing sustainable
economic growth that is not dependent on natural resources; and (3) upholding the global
principle of involving everyone (European Commission, 2021b).

One of the European Green Deal’s actions is to promote replacing fossil fuels with greener
solutions (European Commission, 2021a). During the EU-CELAC summit in 2023, the European
bloc announced 45 billion euros in investments in different sectors, including the production of
green hydrogen (CAF, 2023). In fact, the REPowerEU strategy suggests that hydrogen has the
potential to supplant fossil fuels, enabling economic development decoupled from greenhouse gas
emissions (European Commission, 2022). This fact evidences how energy transition is part of the
EU's agenda for its solutions to sustainable development and climate change combat. Thus, the
European Green Deal and its strategy to mitigate climate change through energy transition are part
of the landscape exerting pressure on the current fossil fuel-based socio-technical regime.

Furthermore, the European Commission’s Global Gateway strategy calls for local-level
partnerships as a way to improve the relationship with international subnational governments
(European Commission, 2023).

2.3. Cities as an actor in global governance

State governments alone cannot effectively address the global concerns we face today, such as
climate change, sustainability, migration, and pandemics, as the future unfolds (Barber, 2013a). To
effectively address these issues, it is crucial to have the support and active participation of a diverse
group of stakeholders, including cities (Creutz, 2023). The fact that city administration is closer to
urban issues, when compared to a centralised country administration in the capital city, can make
their response more effective. In this sense, cities are claimed to have a faster response to climate
issues when compared to nation-state governments (Barber, 2013b; Creutz, 2023). Cities are also
important global actors. Organised in networks focused on the discussion and diffusion of policies
to solve common problems, they can also influence the global governance system (Barber, 2013b).

The Latin American global cities associated with the C40 Organisation have a population of 76.7
million people and a GDP of $1.9 trillion (C40, 2024); these figures make those cities relevant
stakeholders in guiding and promoting systemic transitions in an organised international
projection through their network. For instance, by banning the procurement of diesel buses and
prioritising electric buses, cities also play a role as landscape stakeholders. As an example, figure 2
shows that switching to electric buses is an ongoing phenomenon in Latin America. According to
C40 (2023), this is happening due to the adoption of political frameworks that promote
sustainable urban mobility.
 Figure 2: Demand for electric buses in 32 Latin American cities

Source: C40, 2023.

2.4. LATAM cities’ global governance, European Union and transition: A MLP approach

Assuming that both the EU and LATAM cities want to promote sustainable transitions, or
transformations, in order to meet the goals of the Paris Agreement, this research proposal aims to:

(1) use the MLP method to look at how the paradiplomacy and the initiatives of LATAM’s
cities work with the EU's different international climate change mechanisms to create
landscape-level actions that can put pressure on the current urban sociotechnical system to
change (see figure 3, arrow 1); additionally,

(2) because city governments are close to the effects of climate change in the urban
environment, they can first assess those effects, then ask for international cooperation via
global governance, finally put pressure back on the landscape, or reinforce an inner
iteration of political pressure within the landscape. This second mechanism is not part of
the original MLP framework (see arrow 2 in figure 3); therefore, understanding how this
mechanism works within the transition theory is the main contribution of this work.
3. Objectives

In addition to the project LAC's involvement in transnational and global cities’ network objectives,
this research proposal also aims to contribute to the theoretical discussion of the subnational
government's role in sustainable transitions from a multilevel perspective.

4. Research Questions

1. What actions are the LATAM cities and the EU taking together to combat climate change?
2. What are the primary governance challenges faced by LATAM global cities in the context
of climate change?
 3. What are the global governance channels used by LATAM global cities and the EU, and
what are the consequences at the city level?
4. How do LATAM global city networks create coalitions demanding solutions to urban
climate change problems?
5. What strategies and interventions can be implemented to enhance the cooperation between
LAC global cities and the EU?

5. Methodology

5.1. Research Design

This research will adopt a mixed-method approach, combining qualitative and quantitative
methods, to examine the dynamics of global governance in LATAM global cities and their
engagement with the EU. With a mixed-methods approach, it is expected to empirically capture the
political debate related to climate change in which cities are involved and also quantify the
consequences of those discussions for each city's sustainable development strategies.

The approach consists of two streams of pressures or influences: one from the international to the
city level, and another from the city level to the international level. To capture both flows of
influences, qualitative and quantitative data will be collected.

Qualitative Data: This approach will carry (1) interviews with city officials, policymakers,
and representatives from international organisations, which will provide insights into the
role and challenges of LATAM global cities in global governance; (2) analyse official
documents on which strategies to mitigate climate change are presented. The aim is to
identify positions, actions, and projects in the cities, as well as the debates and demands
raised by the cities in the international networks. A thematic analysis of the qualitative
material will be conducted to identify debate patterns.

Quantitative Data: Surveys and statistical analysis can be conducted to assess the
economic and financial impact of the opportunities created by the pressures exerted.

The sample will include city officials, policymakers, and documents from cities part of the C40
organisation. This network was chosen because of its nature of fighting change; however, as of now,
13 Latin American cities are part of this organisation this number can be adjusted according to the
main project needs and amount of data.
6. Expected Outcomes
- A comprehensive analysis of the role and significance of Latin American global cities in global
governance.
- Identification of key governance challenges hindering the participation of Latin American global
cities in global governance structures.
- Verify improvement areas for EU international cooperation.
- Insights into innovative approaches and strategies for enhancing the role of Latin American global
cities and EU.
- Recommendations for policymakers, city officials, and stakeholders to strengthen the
participation of Latin American global cities in global governance.

7. Timeline

This timeline provides an overview of the different steps; it can be adjusted to meet the main
project criteria and fit within the PhD programme time frame.

Phase 1: Literature review and research design development.

Phase 2: Data collection through interviews, surveys, and analysis.
Phase 3: Data analysis and synthesis of findings.
Phase 4: Report writing, dissemination of results, and policy recommendations.

8. Significance and implication

This research will contribute to the understanding of global governance dynamics in Latin
American cities, shedding light on their role, challenges, and opportunities in the context of
sustainable transitions. The findings can have the following impacts:

1. Inform policymakers, city officials, and stakeholders, facilitating the development of

strategies to enhance the participation of Latin American global cities in global governance
structures and networks.
2. Academically speaking, the significance of this research lies in its potential to provide a
broader understanding of LATAM cities' international relations than conventional field
theories. Furthermore, by capturing the motivations and consequences of sustainable
transitions, it is expected that institutions can reproduce this phenomenon more often.
3. The findings are relevant to policymaking in LATAM cities and the EU, which can indicate
which sustainable transitions are on the horizon and how policymakers and institutions
can influence the implementation of these transitions, either on the subnational, national,
or international levels.
 4. By addressing governance challenges, cities can improve their urban development and their
strategy plans, contributing to more inclusive, resilient, and sustainable urban development
outcomes that benefit locals and the global community.
5. The participation of LAC cities in global governance can be enhanced and foster regional
and global cooperation.
6. Latin America is still an unequal region. By improving sustainable development through
global governance, cities can work to reduce disparities, improve access to opportunities,
and promote greater social cohesion within and beyond the cities.

9. Conclusion

In conclusion, this proposed research aims to make significant contributions to the field by
addressing how LATAM cities and the European Union have been cooperating and how they can
cooperate in the future. Through rigorous investigation and analysis, this study seeks to provide
valuable insights into the multi-level perspective approach of analysis using LATAM´s role in global
governance for sustainable transition. By bridging existing gaps in knowledge on how cities can,
due to their proximity to urban climate change problems, generate international demands to be
advocated by their networks, this research endeavours to pave the way for future advancements in
the International Relations field. Ultimately, it is hoped that this work will not only enrich
academic discourse but also offer practical implications for policymakers in Latin America and the
European Union to achieve sustainable development.

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