The role of the state in voluntary environmental reform: A case study of public land

Abstract

Conventional environmental reform is characterized by the compliance of firms with direct regulatory pressure from the state. Scholars are now turning their attention to alternative modes of reform where firms proactively improve their operations through the implementation of voluntary environmental strategies (VES). While previous research on VES has typically focused on the manufacturing sector, this study explores challenges to corporate greening in the natural resource extractive sector when strategies are undertaken on public land. Findings from two case study regions in the Canadian province of Alberta suggest that VES undertaken on public land are significantly constrained by certain features of the system of environmental governance and the regulatory regime, particularly the reluctance of the state to be involved as a co-regulator of public land. The importance of solid leadership from the state in environmental reform – including cases of voluntary corporate initiatives – is discussed. Copyright Springer Science + Business Media, Inc. 2005

A social-ecological approach to voluntary environmental initiatives: the case of nature-based tourism

“…Such responsibility has gained prominence among business leaders, academics, investors and governments (Andrews 1998;Khanna 2001). The institutional analysis literature demonstrates that, in addition to command-and-control and market incentives, there is a wide range of alternative institutional designs for the governance of natural assets (Darnall and Carmin 2005;Delmas and Keller 2005;Mackendrick 2005;Ostrom 2005;Rivera 2002). …”

“…Previous research has addressed the economic consequences for the business of adopting voluntary environmental initiatives (see reviews in Blanco et al 2009a;Margolis and Walsh 2001) as well as its public policy implications (Darnall and Carmin 2005;Dawson and Segerson 2008;Delmas and Keller 2005;Mackendrick 2005; Rivera and De Leon 2005;Rivera et al 2009). Also, scholarship on natural common-pool resources (CPR) has explored the conditions affecting the likelihood of users of CPR engaging in collective action to selforganize for a more sustainable use of their shared resources.…”

Market-based environmental governance and public resources in Alberta, Canada

“…Of course many have noted that a shift to MBIs necessarily relies on state intervention (MacKendrick, 2005;Mansfield, 2007;Castree, 2008). This is not particularly new.…”

“…The historical context of public lands and resources in the province place the provincial government in the often conflicting role of approving and regulating extractive development, while simultaneously profiting from these activities via resource derived royalties-a scenario that is common in most Canadian provinces (Howlett and Rayner, 2001;Beyers and Sandberg, 1998). Scholars of Canadian resource management have noted that such an arrangement has historically resulted in provincial resource policies that have tended to favour large scale extractive industry and have led to a type of state-industry power nexus in resource sectors (Howlett and Rayner, 2001;MacKendrick, 2005). This focus has not been without ecological cost, but has provided significant revenues for state supported social services from healthcare to education, and has led the province to become an economic powerhouse within the broader Canadian economy.…”

Hybrid Arrangements as a Form of Ecological Modernization: The Case of the US Energy Efficiency Conservation Block Grants

“…However, critics of voluntary conservation measures have argued that the state and its policies play a crucial and protective role by maintaining environmental standards and limiting corporate access to natural resources [50,51]. The success of market-based approaches such as incentives, taxes, voluntary agreements, and certification programs has also been reliant on the ongoing presence of effective governmental leadership [52][53][54][55]. Further, scholars have questioned whether market-based approaches lead to equal benefits for all, or simply increased benefits from those who are already making a profit [56].…”