Development of evaluation indicators to assess policy coherence between municipal and metropolitan carbon neutrality plans: A case study of Chungcheongnam-do

This study develops evaluation indicators for assessing policy coherence between municipal carbon neutrality master plans and metropolitan plans, focusing on 15 municipalities in Chungcheongnam-do, South Korea. As local governments play a crucial role in achieving national carbon neutrality goals, ensuring policy coherence between different government levels has become increasingly important. A three-dimensional evaluation framework was designed comprising vertical coherence, horizontal connectivity, and implementation completeness to assess formal coherence of plan documents. Through literature review of 138 sources, 32 preliminary indicators were identified. A two-round Delphi survey with 15 experts validated these indicators, achieving Kendall’s coefficient of 0.742 for importance and 0.698 for measurability. Following a five-stage screening process, 11 final indicators were selected: 5 for vertical coherence, 2 for horizontal connectivity, and 4 for implementation completeness. Specific measurement methods and 5-point evaluation criteria were established for each indicator. The framework was pilot-tested on all 15 municipalities. A two-round AHP analysis determined weights, with connectivity dimensions (vertical and horizontal) receiving 0.600 combined and implementation completeness receiving 0.400, reflecting the balanced consideration of coherence and implementation feasibility. Evaluation results demonstrated appropriate discriminability with coefficient of variation values of 18.63% for network coherence and 20.87% for implementation completeness. Municipalities were classified into four types based on quadrant analysis, enabling tailored policy support strategies for each type rather than ranking. The developed evaluation framework provides a diagnostic tool for assessing formal policy coherence in municipal carbon neutrality plans, contributing to more effective climate governance at the local level.