Publications
2026
Scholarly publications
Patterson, J., Kaiser, C., Logg-Scarvell, J., & Anisimova, K. (2026). Climate policy backlash: taming an unruly concept? Journal of Environmental Policy and Planning. Advance online publication. [DOI]
2025
Scholarly publications
2024
Scholarly publications
Patterson, J. J., Feola, G., & Kim, R. E. (2024). Reply to Majer et al. Negotiating policy action for transformation requires both sociopolitical and behavioral perspectives. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 121(47), Article e2417592121. [DOI] [Portal]
Patterson, J. J., Feola, G., & Kim, R. E. (2024). Negotiating discord in sustainability transformations. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 121(21), Article e2310186121. [DOI] [Repository]
2023
Scholarly publications
Patterson, J. (2023). Backlash to Climate Policy. Global Environmental Politics, 23(1), 68-90. [DOI] [Repository]
Pickering, J., Patterson, J., Biermann, F., Burch, S., Gupta, A., Inoue, C. Y. A., Ishii, A., Kalfagianni, A., Meadowcroft, J., Okereke, C., & Persson, Å. (2023). Pluralizing Debates on the Anthropocene Requires Engaging with the Diversity of Existing Scholarship. Annals of the American Association of Geographers, 113(2), e-i-e-vi . [DOI] [Repository]
2022
Scholarly publications
Patterson, J. (2022). Contested Legitimacy of Public Authority in Climate Action. Abstract from European Consortium of Political Research (ECPR) Joint Sessions workshop, United Kingdom.
Patterson, J. (2022). Backlash to climate policy. Abstract from 2022 European Consortium of Political Research Annual Conference, Austria.
Patterson, J. (2022). Backlash to climate policy. Abstract from 2022 Toronto Conference on Earth System Governance, Toronto, Canada.
Patterson, J. (2022). Transformation disrupted? The contested legitimacy of change and stability in climate governance. Abstract from 2022 Toronto Conference on Earth System Governance, Toronto, Canada.
Patterson, J. (2022). Culture and identity in climate policy. Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Climate Change, 13(3), Article e765. [DOI] [Repository]
van der Loos, A., Hekkert, M., & Patterson, J. (2022). The polycentric governance of innovation systems. Abstract from EU-SPRI Conference 2022, Utrecht, Netherlands.
Westman, L., Patterson, J., Macrorie, R., Orr, C., Ashcraft, C., Castan Broto, V., Dolan, D., Gupta, M., van der Heijden, J., Hickmann, T., Hobbins, R., Papin, M., Robin, E., Rosan, C., Colen Ladeia Torrens, J., & Webb, R. (2022). Compound urban crises. Ambio, 51(6), 1402-1415. [DOI] [Repository]
2021
Scholarly publications
Patterson, J. (2021). Climate backlash: Contentious politics of ambitious policy action. Paper presented at European Consortium of Political Research (ECPR) Annual Conference.
Patterson, J. J. (2021). Remaking political institutions in sustainability transitions: Celebrating a decade of EIST: What’s next for transition studies? Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions, 41, 64-66. [DOI] [Repository]
Pahl-Wostl, C., & Patterson, J. (2021). Commentary: Transformative Change in Governance Systems: A conceptual framework for analysing adaptive capacity and multi-level learning processes in resource governance regimes. Global Environmental Change, 71, 1-2. Article 102405. [DOI] [Repository]
Patterson, J., Wyborn, C., Brisbois, M. C., Westman, L., Jayaram, D., & Milkoreit, M. (2021). Helping or hindering? The political effects of emergency frames in sustainability. Abstract from 2021 Bratislava Conference Earth System Governance.
Patterson, J. (2021). Climate Backlash: Contentious Politics of Ambitious Policy Action. Abstract from 2021 Bratislava Conference Earth System Governance.
Patterson, J. (2021). Remaking Political Institutions: Climate Change and Beyond. Abstract from 2021 Bratislava Conference Earth System Governance.
Patterson, J., Wyborn, C., Westman, L., Brisbois, M. C., Milkoreit, M., & Jayaram, D. (2021). The political effects of emergency frames in sustainability. Nature Sustainability, 4, 841-850. [DOI] [Repository]
Patterson, J., Soininen, N., Collier, M., & Raymond, C. M. (2021). Finding feasible action towards urban transformations. npj Urban Sustainability, 1(1), 1-8. Article 28. [DOI] [Repository]
Olazabal, M., Chu, E., Castán Broto, V., & Patterson, J. (2021). Subaltern forms of knowledge are required to boost local adaptation. One Earth, 4(6), 828-838. [DOI] [Repository]
Patterson, J. J. (2021). More than planning: Diversity and drivers of institutional adaptation under climate change in 96 major cities. Global Environmental Change, 68, 1-15. Article 102279. [DOI] [Repository]
Patterson, J. J. (2021). Remaking Political Institutions: Climate Change and Beyond. (Cambridge Elements: Elements in Earth System Governance). Cambridge University Press. [DOI] [Repository]
Professional publications
Patterson, J., & Brisbois, M.-C. (2021). How to make climate action popular. The Conversation. https://theconversation.com/how-to-make-climate-action-popular-169593
2020
Scholarly publications
Fazey, I., Schäpke, N., Caniglia, G., Hodgson, A., Kendrick, I., Lyon, C., Page, G., Patterson, J., Riedy, C., Strasser, T., Verveen, S., Adams, D., Goldstein, B., Klaes, M., Leicester, G., Linyard, A., McCurdy, A., Ryan, P., Sharpe, B., ... Connon, I. L. C. (2020). Transforming knowledge systems for life on Earth: Visions of future systems and how to get there. Energy Research and Social Science, 70, Article 101724. [DOI] [Repository]
Janssen, M., Colen Ladeia Torrens, J., Wesseling, J. H., Wanzenböck, I., & Patterson, J. J. (2020). Position paper ‘Mission-oriented innovation policy observatory’. Utrecht University. https://www.uu.nl/en/research/copernicus-institute-of-sustainable-development/mission-oriented-innovation-policy-observatory [Repository]
Janssen, M. J., Patterson, J. J., & Wesseling, J. H. (2020). Policy makers as institutional entrepreneurs: The opportunities and challenges of using missions for driving sustainability transitions. Paper presented at The 11th International Sustainability Transition conference (IST).
Gerlak, A. K., Betsill, M. M., Patterson, J. J., Chan, S., Benney, T. M., Brisbois, M.-C., Eimer, T. R., & Scobie, M. (2020). Conclusion: Policy Implications of ESG–Agency Research and Reflections on the Road Ahead: Agency in Earth System Governance. In A. K. Gerlak, M. M. Betsill, & T. M. Benney (Eds.), Agency in Earth System Governance (pp. 183-197). Cambridge University Press. [DOI] [Repository]
Patterson, J. J. (2020). Agency and Adaptiveness: Navigating Change and Transformation: Agency in Earth System Governance. In A. K. Gerlak, M. M. Betsill, & T. M. Benney (Eds.), Agency in Earth System Governance (pp. 143-154). Cambridge University Press. [DOI] [Repository]
Patterson, J. J. (2020). Agency and Architecture: Producing Stability and Change: Agency in Earth System Governance. In A. K. Gerlak, M. M. Betsill, & T. M. Benney (Eds.), Agency in Earth System Governance (pp. 97-107). Cambridge University Press. [DOI] [Repository]
Betsill, M. M., Benney, T. M., Gerlak, A. K., Brown, C., Chan, S., Enechi, O., Mitchell, R. B., Möller, I., Patterson, J. J., Scobie, M., van der Hel, S., & Widerberg, O. E. (2020). Introduction: Agency in Earth System Governance: Agency in Earth System Governance. In A. K. Gerlak, M. M. Betsill, & T. M. Benney (Eds.), Agency in Earth System Governance (pp. 3-24). Cambridge University Press. [DOI] [Repository]
2019
Scholarly publications
Betsill, M. M., Benney, T., Gerlak, A., Brown, C., Chan, M., Mitchell, R., Möller, I., Patterson, J. J., Scobie, M., van der Hel, S. C., & Widerberg, O. (2019). Introduction: Agency in Earth System Governance. Paper presented at 2019 Mexico Conference on Earth System Governance, Oaxaca, Mexico.
Gerlak, A., Betsill, M. M., Patterson, J. J., Chan, M., Benney, T., Brisbois, M. C. G., Eimer, T., & Scobie, M. (2019). Policy implications of Earth System Governance-Agency research and reflections on the road ahead. Paper presented at 2019 Mexico Conference on Earth System Governance, Oaxaca, Mexico.
Patterson, J. J. (2019). Institutional development and reconfiguration in governance systems under pressure: Urban climate adaptation in Santiago, Chile. Paper presented at 2019 Mexico Conference on Earth System Governance, Oaxaca, Mexico.
Patterson, J. J. (2019). (Re)conceptualizing institutional dynamics for urgent transformations in Earth System Governance. Paper presented at 2019 Mexico Conference on Earth System Governance, Oaxaca, Mexico.
Huitema, D., Jordan, A., van Asselt, H., & Patterson, J. J. (2019). Polycentric governance and climate change. In V. Galaz (Ed.), Global Challenges, Governance, and Complexity: Applications and Frontiers (pp. 124-146). Edward Elgar Publishing. [DOI] [Repository]
Van Der Heijden, J., Patterson, J., Juhola, S., & Wolfram, M. (2019). Special section: advancing the role of cities in climate governance – promise, limits, politics. Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, 62(3), 365-373. [DOI] [Repository]
Wolfram, M., Van Der Heijden, J., Juhola, S., & Patterson, J. (2019). Learning in urban climate governance: concepts, key issues and challenges. Journal of Environmental Policy and Planning, 21(1), 1-15. [DOI] [Repository]
De Voogt, D. L., & Patterson, J. J. (2019). Exogenous factors in collective policy learning: the case of municipal flood risk governance in the Netherlands. Journal of Environmental Policy and Planning, 21(3), 302-319. [DOI] [Repository]
Patterson, J., Voogt, D. L., & Sapiains, R. (2019). Beyond inputs and outputs: Process‐oriented explanation of institutional change in climate adaptation governance. Environmental Policy and Governance, 29(5), 360-375. [DOI] [Repository]
Patterson, J. J., & van der Grijp, N. (2019). Empowerment and disempowerment of urban climate governance initiatives: An exploratory typology of mechanisms. In J. van der Heijden, H. Bulkeley, & C. Certoma (Eds.), Urban Climate Politics: Agency and Empowerment (pp. 39-58). (Earth system governance). Cambridge University Press. [DOI] [Repository]
Sarah, B., Aarti, G., Cristina Y.A, I., Agni, K., Åsa, P., Andrea K, G., Atsushi, I., James, P., Jonathan, P., Michelle, S., Jeroen, V. D. H., Joost, V., Carolina, A., Michael, B., Riyante, D., John, D., Victor, G., Christopher, G., Renée, H., ... Ruben, Z. (2019). New directions in earth system governance research. Earth System Governance, 1, Article 100006. [DOI] [Repository]
Patterson, J. J., & Beunen, R. (2019). Institutional work in environmental governance. Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, 62(1), 1-11. [DOI] [Repository]
Beunen, R., & Patterson, J. (2019). Analysing institutional change in environmental governance: exploring the concept of ‘institutional work’. Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, 62(1), 12-29. [DOI]
Patterson, J. J., & Huitema, D. (2019). Institutional innovation for adapting to climate change in urban governance. Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, 62(3), 374-398. [DOI] [Repository]
2018
Scholarly publications
Burch, S., Gupta, A., Inoue, C. Y. A., Kalfagianni, A., Persson, Å., Gerlak, A., Ishii, A. K., Patterson, J. J., Pickering, J., Scobie, M., van der Heijden, J., Vervoort, J. M., Adler, C., Bloomfield, M. J., Djalante, R., Dryzek, J. S., Galaz, V., Gordon, C., Harmon, R., ... Zondervan, R. (2018). Earth System Governance: Science and Implementation Plan of the Earth System Governance Project 2018. Earth System Governance Project. https://www.earthsystemgovernance.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Earth-System-Governance-Science-Plan-2018.pdf
Chu, E., Schenk, T., & Patterson, J. (2018). The dilemmas of citizen inclusion in urban planning and governance to enable a 1.5 °C climate change scenario. Urban Planning, 3(2), 128-140. [DOI] [Repository]
Fazey, I., Schäpke, N., Caniglia, G., Patterson, J., Hultman, J., van Mierlo, B., Säwe, F., Wiek, A., Wittmayer, J., Aldunce, P., Al Waer, H., Battacharya, N., Bradbury, H., Carmen, E., Colvin, J., Cvitanovic, C., D'Souza, M., Gopel, M., Goldstein, B., ... Wyborn, C. (2018). Ten essentials for action-oriented and second order energy transitions, transformations and climate change research. Energy Research and Social Science, 40, 54-70. [DOI] [Repository]
Patterson, J. J., Thaler, T., Hoffmann, M., Hughes, S., Oels, A., Chu, E., Mert, A., Huitema, D., Burch, S., & Jordan, A. (2018). Political feasibility of 1.5°C societal transformations: the role of social justice. Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability, 31, 1-9. [DOI] [Repository]
de Loë, R. C., & Patterson, J. J. (2018). Boundary Judgments in Water Governance: Diagnosing Internal and External Factors that Matter in a Complex World. Water Resources Management, 32(2), 565-581. [DOI]
Professional publications
Patterson, J. J. (2018). ¿Ciudades adaptativas? Innovaciones institucionales bajo cambio climático: Una encuesta mundial de 96 ciudades . IVM Institute for Environmental Studies. [Repository]
Patterson, J. J. (2018). Adaptive cities? Institutional innovation under climate change: A global survey of 96 cities: A global survey of 96 cities. April 2018. IVM Institute for Environmental Studies. [Repository]
2017
Scholarly publications
de Loë, R. C., & Patterson, J. J. (2017). Rethinking water governance: moving beyond water-centric perspectives in a connected and changing world. Natural Resources Journal, 57(1), 75-100. https://www.jstor.org/stable/26202188 [Repository]
Bowen, K. J., Cradock-Henry, N. A., Koch, F., Patterson, J., Häyha, T., Vogt, J., & Barbi, F. (2017). Implementing the Sustainable Development Goals: towards addressing three key governance challenges: collective action, trade-offs, and accountability. Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability, 26-27, 90-96. [DOI]
Beunen, R., Patterson, J., & Van Assche, K. (2017). Governing for resilience: the role of institutional work. Current Opinion in Environmental Sustainability, 28, 10-16. [DOI]
Patterson, J. (2017). Purposeful collective action in ambiguous and contested situations: exploring ‘enabling capacities’ and cross-level interplay. International Journal of the Commons, 11(1), 248-274. [DOI] [Repository]
Patterson, J., Schulz, K., Vervoort, J. M., van der Hel, S. C., Widerberg, O. E., Adler, C., Hurlbert, M., Anderton, K., Sethi, M., & Barau, A. (2017). Exploring the governance and politics of transformations towards sustainability. Environmental Innovation and Societal Transitions, 24, 1-16. [DOI] [Repository]
2016
Scholarly publications
Patterson, J. J. (2016). Exploring local responses to a wicked problem: context, collective action, and outcomes in catchments in subtropical Australia. Society & Natural Resources, 29(10), 1198-1213. [DOI]
2015
Scholarly publications
de Loë, R. C., & Patterson, J. (2015). Water resilience for human prosperity. Canadian Water Resources Journal / Revue canadienne des ressources hydriques, 40(4), 224-225. [DOI]
Patterson, J. J., Smith, C., & Bellamy, J. (2015). Enabling and Enacting ‘Practical Action’ in Catchments: Responding to the ‘Wicked Problem’ of Nonpoint Source Pollution in Coastal Subtropical Australia. Environmental Management, 55(2), 479-495. [DOI]
Patterson, J., Schulz, K., Vervoort, J., Adler, C., Hurlbert, M., van der Hel, S., Schmidt, A., Barau, A., Obani, P., Sethi, M., Hissen, N., Tebboth, M., Anderton, K., Borner, S., & Widerberg, O. (2015). ‘Transformations towards sustainability’ Emerging approaches, critical reflections and a research agenda. (Earth System Governance Working Paper; No. 33). Earth System Governance Project. [DOI] [Repository]
2014
Scholarly publications
Patterson, J., Bellamy, J., & Smith, C. (2014). Tackling the ‘how’ question: Enabling and enacting practical action for managing the wicked problem of nonpoint source pollution in catchments. In A. Bhaduri, J. Bogardi, J. Leentvaar , & S. Marx (Eds.), The Global Water System in the Anthropocene: Challenges for Science and Governance (Vol. Springer Edited Volume, pp. 289-302). Springer. https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007%2F978-3-319-07548-8_19.pdf
2013
Scholarly publications
Patterson, J. J., Smith, C., & Bellamy, J. (2013). Understanding enabling capacities for managing the ‘wicked problem’ of nonpoint source water pollution in catchments: a conceptual framework. Journal of Environmental Management, 128, 441-452. [DOI]
Patterson, J. J., Lukasiewicz, A., Wallis, P. J., Rubenstein, N., Coffey, B., Gachenga, E., & Lynch, A. J. J. (2013). Tapping fresh currents: fostering early-career researchers in transdisciplinary water governance research. Water Alternatives, 6(2), 293-312. http://www.water-alternatives.org/index.php/volume6/v6issue2/217-a6-2-14/file