Deutsch: Öffentliche Verwaltung / Español: Gobernanza pública / Português: Governança pública / Français: Gouvernance publique / Italiano: Governance pubblica

Public governance in the environmental context refers to the frameworks, processes, and institutions through which public authorities, as well as other stakeholders including the private sector and civil society, interact to manage and protect the environment. This concept encompasses the decision-making processes that affect the environment and the implementation of those decisions, aiming to achieve sustainable and equitable environmental outcomes.

Description

Public governance involves a wide array of activities that include creating and enforcing laws, fostering partnerships, engaging with stakeholders, and managing public resources to address environmental challenges. It is fundamentally about how public institutions conduct environmental affairs and manage public resources. The quality of governance significantly affects the effectiveness of environmental policies and practices.

Effective governance in the environmental sphere promotes transparency, accountability, and inclusiveness, ensuring that environmental management is participatory, consensus-oriented, and responsive to the needs of society. It requires coordination among various levels of government, as well as between governments and non-governmental actors.

Application Areas

Public governance affects several crucial aspects of environmental management:

• Policy making and implementation: Developing and executing policies that aim to protect the environment and ensure sustainable use of resources.
• Regulatory frameworks: Establishing laws and regulations that mitigate environmental impact and promote sustainability.
• Stakeholder engagement: Involving diverse groups including businesses, NGOs, and community members in environmental decision-making processes.
• Resource allocation: Ensuring that environmental resources are managed efficiently and equitably.

Well-Known Examples

Examples of effective public governance in the environmental context include:

• The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC): An international environmental treaty with broad public governance mechanisms that guide global efforts on climate change mitigation and adaptation.
• The management of the Amazon rainforest in Brazil: Involves various governmental and non-governmental entities working together to prevent deforestation and preserve biodiversity.

Treatment and Risks

The challenges associated with public governance in the environment include potential conflicts of interest, corruption, lack of coordination among agencies, and the influence of powerful stakeholders that may lead to policies that do not necessarily serve the wider public interest. Effective governance requires overcoming these challenges by ensuring that environmental strategies are comprehensive, integrated, and implemented in a transparent and accountable manner.

Similar Terms

• Environmental policy: Specific strategies and legislations developed as a part of public governance to address environmental issues.
• Sustainable governance: Governance that focuses on promoting sustainability through balancing environmental, social, and economic considerations.

Weblinks

• finanzen-lexikon.de: 'Öffentliche Verwaltung' in the finanzen-lexikon.de (German)

Summary

Public governance in the environmental context is crucial for managing the natural environment effectively and sustainably. It involves a complex network of policies, institutions, and processes that aim to deliver the best possible environmental outcomes by balancing the needs and interests of various stakeholders.

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