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Meeting common environmental challenges: the co-evolution of policies and practices

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  • Arild Underdal

Abstract

This article proposes an analytical framework for exploring policy responses to common challenges of environmental governance. Observing that governance involves multiple processes, I begin by identifying a conceptual platform for studying unilateral learning and adaptation as well as international cooperation as integral and interacting components of a complex governance system. I propose the concept of co-evolution as the cornerstone of this platform and distinguish between two modes of co-evolution: diffusion and cooperation. The article draws findings and propositions from recent literature to identify the mechanisms at work and the conditions under which they foster mutually beneficial solutions. Indicating how important governance challenges differ with respect to these conditions, I build the case for a diagnostic and differential approach that matches capacity-building and policy strategies with the challenge in focus. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2013

Suggested Citation

  • Arild Underdal, 2013. "Meeting common environmental challenges: the co-evolution of policies and practices," International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics, Springer, vol. 13(1), pages 15-30, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:ieaple:v:13:y:2013:i:1:p:15-30
    DOI: 10.1007/s10784-012-9203-0
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    1. Coco Smits & Jan Tatenhove & Judith Leeuwen, 2014. "Authority in Arctic governance: changing spheres of authority in Greenlandic offshore oil and gas developments," International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics, Springer, vol. 14(4), pages 329-348, November.
    2. Stephenson, J.R. & Sovacool, B.K. & Inderberg, T.H.J., 2021. "Energy cultures and national decarbonisation pathways," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 137(C).
    3. Ronald Mitchell, 2013. "Oran Young and international institutions," International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics, Springer, vol. 13(1), pages 1-14, March.
    4. Sarker, Pradip Kumar & Rahman, Md Saifur & Giessen, Lukas, 2018. "Regional governance by the South Asia Cooperative Environment Program (SACEP)? Institutional design and customizable regime policy offering flexible political options," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 77(C), pages 454-470.
    5. Pradip Kumar Sarker & Md Saifur Rahman & Lukas Giessen, 2019. "Regional economic regimes and the environment: stronger institutional design is weakening environmental policy capacity of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation," International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics, Springer, vol. 19(1), pages 19-52, February.

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