Institutionalizing Advisory Bodies in Climate Governance: Between Transparency, Accountability and Efficiency

Abstract

The implementation of effective climate governance increasingly relies on advisory bodies that monitor the effectiveness of policies and management mechanisms. Despite their strategic importance to institutionalizing climate governance, limited attention has been paid to the roles, trajectories, and effectiveness of these advisory bodies within evolving governance systems. This study aims to better understand the challenges of institutionalizing advisory boards in climate governance and examines the factors that may influence the evolution of the governance model. This article examines the institutionalization of climate advisory bodies within Quebec's climate governance between 2012 and 2023. This in-depth case study is based on analyses of interviews (N = 31), briefs submitted during public hearings (N = 90), and press articles (N = 122). The study identified three main phases in the evolution of the governance structure and highlighted recurring and evolving issues related to the transparency and effectiveness of management processes. Drawing on the literature on institutional entrepreneurship and the life cycles of public organizations, the study shows how recurring tensions over mandates, resources, legitimacy, and performance monitoring have constrained advisory bodies' ability to support effective climate decision-making. Despite repeated reforms, problems of transparency, accountability, and organizational effectiveness have persisted in various forms. This article contributes to research on climate governance by offering a process-oriented analysis of advisory bodies as organizational actors embedded in complex institutional environments. This study highlights the limitations of frequent reforms aimed at integrating advisory organizations into climate governance systems.