Multilevel Environmental Governance of Local Energy Transitions

¹ Universitas Teknologi Yogyakarta, International Relations Department, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
² Universitas Gadjah Mada, Doctoral Program in Political Science, Yogyakarta, Indonesia

^* Corresponding author: hidayat.chotimah@staff.uty.ac.id

Abstract

Local energy transitions increasingly require multilevel environmental governance arrangements that integrate community initiatives, regional authority, and national policy frameworks. This study conducts a systematic bibliometric review to examine how governance systems shape local-level energy transition processes. Using the Scopus database, 244 publications published between 2015 and 2025 were identified and screened using PRISMA guidelines. Co-authorship networks, keyword co-occurrence patterns, and citation clusters were analyzed using VOSviewer to map thematic trends and intellectual linkages within the field. The results reveal three dominant thematic clusters: Community Energy, Hybrid and Multilevel Governance, and Market-Oriented Transition Instruments. Findings indicate that successful local energy transitions depend on the alignment of governance mechanisms across multiple institutional levels, including coordination among state, market, and community stakeholders. This study contributes to the literature by clarifying how institutional complexity and policy coherence influence the environmental outcomes of local energy initiatives. It further demonstrates the relevance of International Relations and political governance theory in understanding energy transition dynamics.