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Essay: Evaluating Environmental Governance and Its Role in
Environmental Management
Introduction
Environmental governance refers to the frameworks of decision-
making—comprising laws, policies, institutions, and processes—
through which societies regulate their interactions with the natural
environment. It extends beyond the activities of governments and
includes the roles played by civil society, indigenous communities, the
private sector, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), and
international bodies. As a core pillar of sustainable development,
environmental governance seeks to promote the equitable and efficient
use of natural resources, safeguard ecosystems, and ensure that
environmental benefits are shared across current and future generations.
The growing urgency of environmental issues such as climate change,
deforestation, water scarcity, biodiversity loss, and air and soil pollution
has intensified the need for effective environmental governance
structures at local, national, regional, and global levels. These challenges
are complex and often transboundary in nature, requiring not only
coordinated political will but also inclusive, science-informed, and
participatory approaches to environmental management.
Effective environmental governance is therefore essential not only for
environmental protection but also for social justice, economic resilience,
and public health. In this context, governance does not refer solely to
, government regulations or enforcement, but rather to a multi-stakeholder
process involving norms, values, power dynamics, and decision-making
across different scales.
This essay critically evaluates the concept of environmental governance
by exploring its key dimensions, such as participation, transparency,
accountability, enforcement, decentralisation, and integration. It also
illustrates how these elements underpin sustainable and adaptive
environmental management practices in a world increasingly shaped by
environmental uncertainties and socio-political complexity.
Understanding Environmental Governance
Environmental governance refers to the array of formal and informal
structures, mechanisms, rules, institutions, and processes that shape how
societies make decisions concerning the environment and natural
resource management. It encompasses a wide spectrum of actors,
including state institutions, international organizations, non-
governmental organizations (NGOs), indigenous peoples, the private
sector, and local communities. The interaction of these stakeholders
determines how environmental challenges are identified, addressed, and
monitored.
Unlike traditional environmental management, which may focus
predominantly on regulatory and technical aspects led by government
authorities, environmental governance emphasizes collaboration,
inclusivity, and adaptability. This broader approach recognizes that
environmental issues are often complex, interlinked with socio-
economic systems, and transboundary in nature—necessitating a more
holistic, participatory, and multi-actor approach to decision-making.