Institutional interplay in global environmental governance: lessons learned and future research

Abstract

Over the past decades, the growing proliferation of international institutions governing the global environment has impelled institutional interplay as a result of functional and normative overlap across multiple regimes. This article synthesizes primary contributions made in research on institutional interplay over the past twenty years, with particular focus on publications with International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics. Broadening our understanding about the different types, dimensions, pathways, and effects of institutional interplay, scholars have produced key insights into the ways and means by which international institutions cooperate, manage discord, engage in problem solving, and capture synergies across levels and scales. As global environmental governance has become increasingly fragmented and complex, we recognize that recent studies have highlighted the growing interactions between transnationally operating institutions in the wake of polycentric governance and hybrid institutional complexes. However, our findings reveal that there is insufficient empirical and conceptual research to fully understand the relationship, causes, and consequences of interplay between intergovernmental and transnational institutions. Reflecting on the challenges of addressing regulatory gaps and mitigating the crisis of multilateralism, we expound the present research frontier for further advancing research on institutional interplay and provide recommendations to support policy-making.

Strengthening transparency of non-state actors: How national experiences and new digital technologies can strengthen the Transparency efforts of non-state actors

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Interactions within climate policyscapes: a network analysis of the electricity generation space in the United Kingdom, 1956–2022

“…This observation highlights that most high-emitting jurisdictions have sets of policies aiming to mitigate climate change. Thus, scholars contend that policies exist and operate as part of a policy-mix or policyscape (Wurzel et al, 2019;Therville et al, 2020;Zabala, 2021;Elsässer et al, 2022). This argument reflects both theoretical and empirical observations.…”

Evaluating the effectiveness of global governance mechanisms in promoting environmental sustainability and international relations

“…These frameworks not only shape the conduct of states and non-state actors but also define the contours of cooperation and conflict resolution in the environmental domain. Drawing upon the insights provided by Yu (2022), Scicluna (2021), andElsässer et al (2022), this analysis explores the pivotal role of international law and policy frameworks in steering global environmental governance, highlighting their effectiveness, challenges, and the dynamics of institutional interplay. Yu (2022) delves into the effectiveness of international law in global environmental relations, employing the lens of international institutional theory.…”