Mobilizing institutional capacities to adapt to climate change: local government collaboration networks for risk management in Mexico City

Abstract State-centered and hierarchical government strategies based on technocratic top-down approaches have proved inadequate to address multiple interacting and cross-scale risks. In contrast, multilevel governance (MLG) provides a form of governance by networks that operate both in a horizontal arena with neighboring local governments, civil society organizations, and local communities, and in vertical settings, with higher-level governmental authorities and international organizations. In this paper, we examined the role and experience of local governments in a multilevel governance system for risk management in Mexico City. We sought to understand what collaborative resources local governments have to address multiple risks in Mexico City? How do they mobilize these resources in specific actions to address a risk, and how do they interact with different levels on diverse organizational scales? Our results show that resources for vertical and horizontal collaboration were key for local governments for coordination to address multiple risks. We found that collaboration was more common between local governments and with the subnational government. Also, the most common actions focused on forecasting and prevention, as well as preparedness and relief of multiple risks. We found evidence of successful elements of multilevel governance and identified the need for further research on the engagement and representation for non-governmental organizations and private actors in networks of risk management. The results from this study provide a better understanding of the arrangement of collaborative resources underlying local government actions under a state of urgency and scarcity, where action cannot wait for institutional change.