Towards a systematic framework for the analysis of environmental policy Integration

Hens Runhaar*, Peter Driessen, Caroline Uittenbroek

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journalArticleAcademicpeer-review

Abstract

Environmental policy integration (EPI) refers to the incorporation of environmental concerns in non-environmental policy sectors. EPI aims to avoid conflicts between environmental and other policy objectives and to enhance environmental policy by directly targeting the driving forces of environmental degradation. In practice, however, the potential of EPI has not been fully utilized. Scientific knowledge of EPI is found in several, largely isolated, bodies of literature (on EPI, climate policy integration and environmental impact assessment/strategic environmental assessment) and does not provide an adequate answer to the question of what EPI strategies work, where and why. A systematic framework based on comparative empirical research is required to contribute to more effective EPI strategies. In this paper we formulate a research agenda for the development of such a framework on the governance of EPI that is robust, i.e. builds on other theories of environmental governance and policy change and that envisages large-scale, international comparative empirical analysis.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)233-246
Number of pages14
JournalEnvironmental Policy and Governance
Volume24
Issue number4
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Aug 2014

Keywords

  • Climate policy integration
  • Environmental policy integration
  • Governance
  • Mainstreaming

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