New journal article - An analytical framework to examine power in sustainable energy decision-making in cities

Sumedha Basu, PDRA for Urban Heat Systems presents a compelling new paper. As cities rise as key players in global sustainable energy transitions, this new study highlights why their political influence remains limited. While urban governments are increasingly expected to lead clean energy efforts, they often face barriers rooted not just in resources or expertise—but in deeper power dynamics. The research introduces a new analytical framework that explores how decision-making in city governments is shaped by contestation, control, and negotiation across multiple levels of governance. Drawing on case studies from three Indian cities, the study reveals how indirect and direct forms of power influence both action and inaction in the push for urban energy reform.

Front. Sustain. Energy Policy, October 2024

An analytical framework to examine power in sustainable energy decision-making in cities