Constraints and enablers of regional environmental policy: governance challenges in England and Wales

Newman, Jack, Mukherjee, Ananya and Hoole, Charlotte 2024. Constraints and enablers of regional environmental policy: governance challenges in England and Wales. Journal of Environmental Policy and Planning 26 (1) , pp. 1-13. 10.1080/1523908X.2023.2297793

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Abstract

It is increasingly recognised that regional environmental policy is important not just for implementing national or international targets but also for policy innovation and leadership. However, international progress is limited by significant variation, with many regions failing to deliver effective environmental governance. In this paper, we argue that one important explanation of this variation is the power dynamics within multi-level governance systems. Specifically, using the UK as a case study, we identify the constraints and enablers of regional environmental policy that emanate from power asymmetries in the wider governance system. Through semi-structured interviews and document analysis, we identify the constraints and enablers faced by three UK regions: the West Midlands, the Humber and the Cardiff Capital Region. We find that while enablers tend to be isolated and region-specific, constraints are consistent across regions and form interlocking webs that significantly limit the effectiveness of regional environmental governance in the UK. This implies that attempts to implement holistic, long-term environmental transitions need to look to more fundamental reforms to the structure of political systems, paying particular attention to the constraining effects of asymmetric power dynamics.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Geography and Planning (GEOPL)
Publisher:	Taylor and Francis Group
ISSN:	1523-908X
Date of First Compliant Deposit:	3 January 2024
Date of Acceptance:	15 December 2023
Last Modified:	19 Feb 2024 13:53
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/165177

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