Environmental policy in the United States and the European Union: Assessing intergovernmental implementation

Caroline Madeleine Orth, Purdue University

Abstract

The purpose of this project is to examine the implementation of federal environmental legislation at the state level in the United States and the European Union. To this end, it proposes an integrated framework that identifies state- and federal-level determinants of policy implementation in an intergovernmental setting in order to provide a comprehensive understanding of the implementation process, and determine what role, if any, the state plays in this process. Do the states matter in the implementation of federal legislation? This is a particularly important question since the role of the states in the federal environmental protection system has increased considerably over the past two decades. Not only has the states' stewardship of the environment gained increased prominence within respective jurisdictional boundaries, but many states have also become laboratories for the creation and implementation of unconventional and innovative environmental protection programs. Taking on a number of the responsibilities for the protection of the environment that previously were the realm of the federal government, and recognizing that collaboration between the two levels of government is essential for attaining satisfying results, however, do not mean that the relationship between the two levels of government is an easy one, nor does it necessarily mean successful implementation of a federal piece of legislation by a state. Testing the integrated framework has brought to light a dynamic and complex set of causal relationships and web of influences and interactions, and has resulted in important practical and theoretical findings regarding the determinants of the implementation of a federal piece of legislation at the state level, the role of the state in the implementation process, and the role of federalism as a system of government in improving environmental policymaking and implementation. Specifically, the analysis suggests that wealthier states with a water pollution problem and the technology to deal with it, a strong presence of environmental interest groups, a liberal public opinion, a liberal legislative body and a sympathetic implementing agency are more likely to implement federal water pollution control legislation than states in which these conditions are not present.

Degree

Ph.D.

Advisors

Bartlett, Purdue University.

Subject Area

Political science|Environmental science

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