Beyond coordination: An actor-network account of the roles of metropolitan institutions in regional climate adaptation

The article investigates the different roles played by metropolitan regional institutions in the governance of climate change adaptation. It addresses a gap in the research whereby metropolitan institutions are found to have an important role, often leading and coordinating regional adaptation efforts, but this is left unspecified. The article therefore offers a more in-depth investigation of their roles and the strategies they use to shape them, ranging from regulatory to softer approaches. To this end, it applies an analytical approach based on actornetwork theory (ANT), using the process of translation to trace the heterogeneous actor-networks, including both human and non-human elements, that arise for the promotion of regional climate adaptation in three cases (the metropolitan regions of Milan, Stockholm, and Amsterdam). The results show that metropolitan institutions promote adaptation through three main strategies: agenda-setting, fostering connections, and brokering resources. These results reinforce growing calls for greater consideration of the role of regional institutions in climate adaptation governance, especially in supporting smaller municipalities.