Environmental Governance

Home > Public Policy > Global Governance > Environmental Governance

Examination of environmental issues that require global governance, such as climate change, biodiversity, and conservation, and how international agreements help address these issues.

Environmental policies: This involves the development, implementation, and evaluation of policies that address environmental issues.
International environmental agreements and organizations: An understanding of international agreements and organizations that aim to regulate the environment at the global level.
Sustainability: A concept that considers the long-term health of the planet and ecosystems, while also taking into account the economy and social stability.
Climate change: The study of global climate patterns and the impact of human activity on them.
Natural resource management: This involves managing natural resources in a way that maximizes their value while also preserving them for future generations.
Environmental law: The laws and regulations that govern how society interacts with the environment.
Ecosystem services: The benefits that ecosystems provide to humans, such as clean water, air, and food.
Environmental justice: The fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people, regardless of race, color, national origin, or income, when it comes to environmental issues.
Environmental ethics: A set of values and principles that guide ethical decision-making related to the environment.
Environmental economics: The study of the economic factors related to environmental issues.
Corporate social responsibility: The responsibilities of corporations to consider the impact of their actions on the environment and society at large.
Green technology: The development and use of technology that is eco-friendly and sustainable.
Environmental education: This involves educating individuals and communities about environmental issues and how to live sustainably.
Environmental journalism: The reporting and analysis of environmental issues and their impact on society and the planet.
Stakeholder engagement: The process of engaging with stakeholders to understand their interests and concerns related to environmental issues.
International Environmental Agreements: These are formal agreements between countries that are designed to address specific global environmental issues, such as climate change, biodiversity loss, and hazardous waste management. Examples include the Paris Agreement and the Convention on Biological Diversity.
Multilateral Environmental Organizations: These are intergovernmental organizations that facilitate global cooperation on environmental issues, such as the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).
National Environmental Policies and Laws: These are policies and laws enacted by individual countries to address environmental issues within their own borders. Examples include the Clean Air Act in the United States and the National Biodiversity Act in India.
Corporate Social Responsibility: This concept involves businesses being accountable for the social and environmental impacts of their operations. It can include measures such as reducing carbon emissions, minimizing waste, and supporting sustainability initiatives.
Environmental Justice: This concept refers to the fair treatment and meaningful involvement of all people, regardless of race or income level, in environmental decision-making processes. It involves addressing the unequal distribution of environmental benefits and harms.
Public Participation: This involves engaging members of the public in environmental decision-making processes, in order to ensure that policies and decisions are reflective of the needs and concerns of citizens.
Science and Technology: The development and application of science and technology can play a significant role in addressing environmental issues by providing innovative solutions to problems such as climate change and pollution.
"Environmental governance (EG) consist of a system of laws, norms, rules, policies and practices that dictate how the board members of an environment related regulatory body should manage and oversee the affairs of any environment related regulatory body..."
"...which is responsible for ensuring sustainability (sustainable development) and manage all human activities—political, social and economic."
"Environmental governance includes government, business and civil society, and emphasizes whole system management."
"To capture this diverse range of elements, environmental governance often employs alternative systems of governance, for example watershed-based management."
"It views natural resources and the environment as global public goods, belonging to the category of goods that are not diminished when they are shared."
"...breathable atmosphere, stable climate, and stable biodiversity."
"Public goods are non-rivalrous—a natural resource enjoyed by one person can still be enjoyed by others—and non-excludable—it is impossible to prevent someone from consuming the good (such as breathing)."
"Public goods are recognized as beneficial and therefore have value."
"The non-rivalrous character of such goods calls for a management approach that restricts public and private actors from damaging them."
"One approach is to attribute an economic value to the resource."
"Water is an example of this type of good."
"...and manage all human activities—political, social and economic."
"...that everyone benefits from, for example, a breathable atmosphere, stable climate and stable biodiversity."
"Environmental governance includes government, business and civil society, and emphasizes whole system management."
"...a system of laws, norms, rules, policies and practices that dictate how the board members of an environment related regulatory body should manage and oversee the affairs..."
"To capture this diverse range of elements, environmental governance often employs alternative systems of governance, for example watershed-based management."
"Natural resources and the environment are viewed as global public goods."
"Public goods are recognized as beneficial and therefore have value."
"The notion of a global public good thus emerges, with a slight distinction: it covers necessities that must not be destroyed by one person or state."
"The non-rivalrous character of such goods calls for a management approach that restricts public and private actors from damaging them."