Moving beyond implementation gaps in climate policy: Exploring the transformative innovation potential of municipal sustainability actors

Urban municipalities are commonly viewed as critical actors in net zero transitions due to their unique positionality between vertical levels of government and the communities they represent. Despite a swathe of ambitious climate policy stances at the municipal level, we are yet to witness the level of change required to achieve net zero transitions. Whilst the disconnect between policy rhetoric and implementation is well-documented, this study seeks to investigate the everyday experiences of municipal staff responsible for implementing ambitious net zero targets, to understand how they pursue transformative change and navigate these tensions. Adopting a Transformative Innovation Policy (TIP) lens, this study examines how Municipal Sustainability Actors (MSAs) engage with TIP processes in their efforts to pursue net zero outcomes in their communities. This study thus expands the emerging TIP literature beyond national policy discourse to examine the applicability of this theory at the individual municipal actor scale. Despite unfavourable multilevel governance systems in Australia that routinely constrain capacities for innovation, this study reveals municipal actors creatively navigate these constraints by engaging in transformative processes such as networking, learning and replicating successful approaches. Whilst this may not lead to a net zero transition overnight, in the absence of any far-reaching changes in existing governance systems, these insights suggest MSAs can – and do – innovatively move forward with implementing net zero transitions. We argue innovation policy to support sustainability transitions should recognise and support the critical role of MSAs in creating and delivering tailored, place-based innovations for decarbonisation.