Environmental Policy and Governance最新文献

The attention paid to justice dimensions in societal change toward decarbonization and resilience is growing in sustainability governance and research. “Just transition” is emerging as an emblematic concept in these discussions, yet there has been limited systematic stock-taking of the major strands of research in this area. This paper aims to analyse the evolution of the “just transition” concept in the context of sustainability in empirical and theoretical scholarly literature. The paper provides comprehensive mapping and analysis of key trends and themes in peer-reviewed literature, which could contribute to conceptual clarity around just transitions. We explore the scope of changes, i.e., whether and how the studies engage with narrower sector-wise changes or broader profound societal changes; what justice dimensions are highlighted and in what ways; and what geographies dominate the research field. The analysis builds on a review of 491 peer-reviewed papers published between 1998 and 2023. The literature on just transitions has expanded rapidly since 2020, with growing conceptual breadth and sectoral relevance. While papers frequently emphasize distributive justice in decarbonization processes in industrial regions, later studies also integrate procedural, recognitional, ecological, and emerging justice dimensions like planetary and intergenerational justice. Transitions are increasingly understood as complex, interconnected cultural, social, technological, economic, and political changes. However, most empirical studies focus on high-income countries, with growing—but limited—coverage of middle- and low-income contexts. This geographic imbalance risks reinforcing power asymmetries. Broader case diversity is needed to make the concept of just transitions applicable across varied socio-economic, cultural and environmental settings.

The attention paid to justice dimensions in societal change toward decarbonization and resilience is growing in sustainability governance and research. “Just transition” is emerging as an emblematic concept in these discussions, yet there has been limited systematic stock-taking of the major strands of research in this area. This paper aims to analyse the evolution of the “just transition” concept in the context of sustainability in empirical and theoretical scholarly literature. The paper provides comprehensive mapping and analysis of key trends and themes in peer-reviewed literature, which could contribute to conceptual clarity around just transitions. We explore the scope of changes, i.e., whether and how the studies engage with narrower sector-wise changes or broader profound societal changes; what justice dimensions are highlighted and in what ways; and what geographies dominate the research field. The analysis builds on a review of 491 peer-reviewed papers published between 1998 and 2023. The literature on just transitions has expanded rapidly since 2020, with growing conceptual breadth and sectoral relevance. While papers frequently emphasize distributive justice in decarbonization processes in industrial regions, later studies also integrate procedural, recognitional, ecological, and emerging justice dimensions like planetary and intergenerational justice. Transitions are increasingly understood as complex, interconnected cultural, social, technological, economic, and political changes. However, most empirical studies focus on high-income countries, with growing—but limited—coverage of middle- and low-income contexts. This geographic imbalance risks reinforcing power asymmetries. Broader case diversity is needed to make the concept of just transitions applicable across varied socio-economic, cultural and environmental settings.

Urban areas are increasingly facing climate-related risks that outpace the implementation of adaptation measures, often attributed to a persistent policy-to-implementation gap. Bridging this gap requires a deeper understanding of the underlying governance dynamics. This paper adopts a governance arrangement perspective, drawing on recent insights from urban climate adaptation literature to introduce a Climate Adaptation Governance Arrangement (CAGA) framework. This framework examines institutional conditions that either enable or constrain climate adaptation planning, helping to unravel barriers to effective implementation. It was applied to analyse climate adaptation efforts in the medium-sized city of Groningen (the Netherlands). Medium-sized cities are less prevalent in adaptation research, even though growing evidence suggests that their limited resources and strong interpersonal relationships can foster innovative adaptation strategies. Through a policy analysis and interviews with stakeholders from local and regional governments and society, we found that Groningen has been innovative in linking climate adaptation to spatial quality, which makes climate adaptation a central goal in urban planning. However, the development of a holistic and integrated approach remains hindered by existing path dependencies, leading to an overemphasis and usage of water-related measures and budgets.

Urban areas are increasingly facing climate-related risks that outpace the implementation of adaptation measures, often attributed to a persistent policy-to-implementation gap. Bridging this gap requires a deeper understanding of the underlying governance dynamics. This paper adopts a governance arrangement perspective, drawing on recent insights from urban climate adaptation literature to introduce a Climate Adaptation Governance Arrangement (CAGA) framework. This framework examines institutional conditions that either enable or constrain climate adaptation planning, helping to unravel barriers to effective implementation. It was applied to analyse climate adaptation efforts in the medium-sized city of Groningen (the Netherlands). Medium-sized cities are less prevalent in adaptation research, even though growing evidence suggests that their limited resources and strong interpersonal relationships can foster innovative adaptation strategies. Through a policy analysis and interviews with stakeholders from local and regional governments and society, we found that Groningen has been innovative in linking climate adaptation to spatial quality, which makes climate adaptation a central goal in urban planning. However, the development of a holistic and integrated approach remains hindered by existing path dependencies, leading to an overemphasis and usage of water-related measures and budgets.

As new regulations emerge to address deforestation and unsustainable land use, their interaction with existing national frameworks remains uncertain. This study examines the (in)coherence between the European Union Regulation on deforestation-free products (EUDR) and domestic deforestation and land use regulations in Brazil, Cameroon and Gabon. Using a regulation interaction coherence framework, we analyse policy documents and expert interviews. While overarching goals align in reducing deforestation, specific objectives reveal competitive dynamics based on national interests and whether the regulation is trade-restricting or market-facilitating. Incoherence arises in regulatory scope, deforestation-free requirements, cut-off dates, and the EUDR's partial recognition of existing standards. The legality requirement is largely coherent, offering a potential point for policy alignment. Enforcement mechanisms show mixed coherence, as regulations employ similar tools but differ in their sanction-based versus voluntary compliance nature and third-party monitoring. The EUDR's implementation may generate both synergies (e.g., compliance facilitation, shared monitoring tools) and conflicts (e.g., sovereignty concerns, regulatory costs, delegitimisation). These findings are critical for assessing the EUDR's effectiveness in reducing global deforestation. We argue that transnational regulations should foster synergy with national frameworks to enhance impact and prevent unintended regulatory fragmentation. Empirically, our study provides insights for designing transnationally coordinated socio-environmental policies. Theoretically, it advances research on policy coherence and public-private regulatory interaction. Future research should conduct ex-post impact assessments to evaluate the real-world implications of EUDR implementation.

As new regulations emerge to address deforestation and unsustainable land use, their interaction with existing national frameworks remains uncertain. This study examines the (in)coherence between the European Union Regulation on deforestation-free products (EUDR) and domestic deforestation and land use regulations in Brazil, Cameroon and Gabon. Using a regulation interaction coherence framework, we analyse policy documents and expert interviews. While overarching goals align in reducing deforestation, specific objectives reveal competitive dynamics based on national interests and whether the regulation is trade-restricting or market-facilitating. Incoherence arises in regulatory scope, deforestation-free requirements, cut-off dates, and the EUDR's partial recognition of existing standards. The legality requirement is largely coherent, offering a potential point for policy alignment. Enforcement mechanisms show mixed coherence, as regulations employ similar tools but differ in their sanction-based versus voluntary compliance nature and third-party monitoring. The EUDR's implementation may generate both synergies (e.g., compliance facilitation, shared monitoring tools) and conflicts (e.g., sovereignty concerns, regulatory costs, delegitimisation). These findings are critical for assessing the EUDR's effectiveness in reducing global deforestation. We argue that transnational regulations should foster synergy with national frameworks to enhance impact and prevent unintended regulatory fragmentation. Empirically, our study provides insights for designing transnationally coordinated socio-environmental policies. Theoretically, it advances research on policy coherence and public-private regulatory interaction. Future research should conduct ex-post impact assessments to evaluate the real-world implications of EUDR implementation.

Policy makers can choose among many alternative policy instruments to reduce the impact of EU commodity imports on forests and related biodiversity loss in the world. Changes in the instrument mix affect a wide range of stakeholder groups with varying strategic interests and corresponding policy preferences. Given the significant role of stakeholders in the development and implementation of EU environmental policies, a better understanding of these preferences is needed. We address this knowledge gap by exploring stakeholders' preferences for instruments during the development of the EU Regulation on Deforestation-free Products (EUDR) with a mixed-methods approach. We conduct a principal component analysis (PCA) to identify patterns in stakeholders' evaluations of 14 alternative policy instruments to counteract deforestation induced by EU consumption. The PCA reveals four distinct groups of instruments for which preferences of different stakeholder groups align. These groups separate instruments with predominantly mandatory elements from international policies, voluntary policies, and policies reflecting the current EUDR solution. Regression analyses and supplementary interviews with business associations offer further insights into overlaps as well as inconsistencies and conflicts across stakeholder groups in terms of their preferences for different groups of policy instruments to counteract deforestation.

Policy makers can choose among many alternative policy instruments to reduce the impact of EU commodity imports on forests and related biodiversity loss in the world. Changes in the instrument mix affect a wide range of stakeholder groups with varying strategic interests and corresponding policy preferences. Given the significant role of stakeholders in the development and implementation of EU environmental policies, a better understanding of these preferences is needed. We address this knowledge gap by exploring stakeholders' preferences for instruments during the development of the EU Regulation on Deforestation-free Products (EUDR) with a mixed-methods approach. We conduct a principal component analysis (PCA) to identify patterns in stakeholders' evaluations of 14 alternative policy instruments to counteract deforestation induced by EU consumption. The PCA reveals four distinct groups of instruments for which preferences of different stakeholder groups align. These groups separate instruments with predominantly mandatory elements from international policies, voluntary policies, and policies reflecting the current EUDR solution. Regression analyses and supplementary interviews with business associations offer further insights into overlaps as well as inconsistencies and conflicts across stakeholder groups in terms of their preferences for different groups of policy instruments to counteract deforestation.

This paper investigates how governance structures and policy approaches influence transition pathways in three major oil and gas producing regions: Esbjerg (Denmark), Taranaki (New Zealand), and Aberdeen (Scotland). The methods employ a comparative case study framework and draw on a literature review, document analysis and interviews with key experts in government, industry, civil society, and academia in each country. The results demonstrate significant differences in transition outcomes: Esbjerg presents a durable and adaptive transition, underpinned by broad political consensus, stable policies, and strong public-private partnerships that have enabled economic diversification and cultivated community support, particularly through offshore wind development. Aberdeen exhibits institutional innovation and targeted funding; however, it faces challenges in policy durability due to political cycles and local skepticism. Taranaki's more top-down approach reveals risks associated with abrupt, less inclusive policy shifts, which have fueled resistance and increased the likelihood of policy reversals. The conclusions highlight that successful oil and gas transitions require inclusive governance, stable and credible policy signals, a clear economic rationale for change, and early coalition-building among governments, industry, and communities. These findings emphasize the necessity of robust institutional design and place-based, economically grounded strategies to achieve just and effective decarbonization in oil and gas-dependent regions.