Conclusion: Pioneers, leaders, and followers in multilevel and polycentric climate governance re-assessed

This volume has identified instances of climate leadership, pioneership and followership across the globe. Alongside this focus, authors have highlighted instances of multilevel governance (MLG) and polycentricity. This Conclusion draws together the findings from this nuanced theoretical framework and is structured in five parts. We begin by exploring instances of leadership (across four types), pioneership and followership found within the book, and critique the long-standing prioritisation of leadership originating in the Global North. Next, we show that MLG is crucial to understanding our cases, while polycentricity is a burgeoning and important, albeit difficult to identify, dimension. Third, we summarise three new theoretical contributions made by chapter authors in the volume. Fourth, we compare activities in the Global South and North, before finally concluding the volume. Urgent climate action is imperative, and this volume has identified many instances of high performance that merit replication wherever possible.