Institutions for the earth: sources of effective international environmental protection

Global environmental problems have gained prominence since the 1972 UN Conference on the Human Environment. Analyses underrepresent the institutional dimensions that shape environmental policy processes. Increased government concern enhanced contracts and increased national capacity have been influenced by international environmental institutions. This volume focuses on specific international environmental issues: protection of the ozone layer European acid rain protection of the Baltic and North Seas oil pollution of the oceans international fisheries management pesticide use in developing countries national population institutions and effective international environmental institutions. The case studies illustrate three distinct functions of international environmental institutions: 1) to enhance the ability to make and keep agreements 2) to promote concern among governments and 3) to build national political and administrative capacity. The obstacles to effective government response to commons and national environmental problems have been low levels of concern about environmental threats lack of the capacity to manage environmental threats and the inability to overcome problems of collective action. Institutions can catalyze government concern and influence environmental policy. International environmental institutions can facilitate contracts by ensuring regular interaction between policy makers on the same set of issues providing monitoring and verification services and monitoring violations. Capacity building can be increased through provision of technical assistance and training programs and of networking between international groups and countries with shared resources. The degree of success of international environmental institutions has varied across issues. Government concern about fisheries issues has not increased and the only key change has been the 200 mile national zone regulations in 1977. Contracts have improved for issues of the ozone layer acid rain and Baltic-North Sea pollution. Building state capacity has improved only for developing countries and not developed ones. Small staffed environment-centered coalitions can be successful.