International NGOs have grown in stature and influence in China, and are widely seen as important contributors to the development of a more dynamic Chinese society. This paper contributes to theoretical frameworks regarding how to understand the way in which INGOs are able to influence certain political outcomes in China; arguing that in both the short and long-term, INGOs have worked to mobilise society in active support of environmental protection in different parts of China. The ability to change the social structure has been important in empowering relevant institutions within the state, such as the Ministry of Environmental Protection, to respond to environmental protection issues. A greater role for such ministries represents a change in political structures around environmental protection. In doing so, this paper provides a thorough analysis of China’s society’s response to environmental protection and the political decision making processes at play when environmental issues are involved. Two case studies collected from field work, of International Rivers contribution to the anti-dam movement in the campaign against the Nujiang Dam; and Pacific Environment’s support for a local NGO opposing river pollution in Anhui province, will be utilised to support the argument that INGOs’ mobilisation of society is an important means of ‘empowering’ the state to respond positively to environmental protection issues. Such developments are taken as signs of growing social pluralisation.

Climate change has been a topic of discussion for quite some time now. International Relations Theory, which is widely used to study the politics of the world also has a subfield of Green Theory in IR which concerns itself with world politics in a combination of the environment.This study has been conducted as part of an investigation to study the effects of green theories on green policymaking, specifically in the case of China. For the study, a qualitative study was conducted where trends of environmental governance related results were examined to draw a conclusion to the research questions.This study is in hope to present the case of China which ranks among the most contaminated nation and is also a major contributor to the global environmental crisis of ecological damage. It presents how China has been able to turn the tables and has become a case exemplar instead for the world to follow in environment protection owing to strong laws and implementation by its government.

The environmental governance sphere in South Africa is fragmented. This fragmentation is exacerbated in the provinces. Fragmentation manifests in various ways, including, inter alia, structural fragmentation between the various spheres and line functions of government, fragmented environmental legislation which is silo-based and issue-specific, jurisdictional overlaps, and duplication of procedures and processes. Fragmentation poses several disadvantages and may ultimately hamper effective and sustainable service-delivery by government. The problem of fragmentation forms the crux of this study. The principal objective of this thesis is accordingly to investigate possible solutions to address fragmentation and to propose a more sustainable strategy to achieve integration of currently fragmented environmental governance efforts in South Africa and the North-West Province (NWP). The NWP has specifically been chosen as a case study in this regard since problems of fragmentation are exacerbated in the provinces. The first step in this thesis is to analyse the theoretical concept of sustainability in order to establish the eventual objective of what integrated environmental governance efforts should achieve. The concept of fragmented governance and possible generic reasons for fragmentation, including unco-operative and unsustainable organisational behaviour, are also investigated to highlight the nature and disadvantages of fragmentation and other factors that may contribute to it. A further component of the theoretical analysis includes an investigation of the concepts of integrated, or holistic governance, and an investigation of the concepts integrated environmental management (IEM), co-operative environmental governance (CEG), and integrated pollution prevention and control (IPPC). These concepts are investigated in order to ascertain the possible solutions for integration that they may pose. Secondly, this thesis investigates the current state of the fragmented environmental governance regime in South Africa and the NWP. The extent and reasons for fragmentation are discussed; and unco-operative organisational behaviour patterns in the national, provincial and local spheres of government are investigated. The concepts of IEM, CEG and IPPC, as they are established in South African law, are also discussed. Thirdly, this study investigates integrated approaches to environmental governance in the international sphere by way of a comparative study. For this purpose, the relevant provisions of the European Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control Directive, 1996 are discussed. The comparative study is concluded with an investigation of the provisions of the Directive as they are applied in national legal frameworks in the EU, with specific reference to Finland and the Netherlands. The main objective of this part of the study is to ascertain whether established solutions for integration of governance efforts are available in practice, and if so, to what extent they are employed to address fragmentation. This study concludes with recommendations on how the fragmented environmental governance sphere in South Africa may be integrated. These include short-, medium-and long-term scenarios, namely: a less radical strategy which must aim to optimise the current environmental governance regime by employing established concepts such as IEM, CEG and IPPC; a more radical strategy, which aims to establish a single act to regulate all procedural aspects relating to environmental governance and authorisations, and a single authority that is responsible for all procedural aspects in terms of the act; and an extremely radical strategy, which aims to establish a one-stop environmental governance shop, with a single act regulating all procedural and substantive aspects, and a single lead agent responsible for regulation in terms of this act. / Thesis (LL.D. (Estate Law))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2006.

The environmental governance sphere in South Africa is fragmented. This fragmentation is exacerbated in the provinces. Fragmentation manifests in various ways, including, inter alia, structural fragmentation between the various spheres and line functions of government, fragmented environmental legislation which is silo-based and issue-specific, jurisdictional overlaps, and duplication of procedures and processes. Fragmentation poses several disadvantages and may ultimately hamper effective and sustainable service-delivery by government. The problem of fragmentation forms the crux of this study. The principal objective of this thesis is accordingly to investigate possible solutions to address fragmentation and to propose a more sustainable strategy to achieve integration of currently fragmented environmental governance efforts in South Africa and the North-West Province (NWP). The NWP has specifically been chosen as a case study in this regard since problems of fragmentation are exacerbated in the provinces. The first step in this thesis is to analyse the theoretical concept of sustainability in order to establish the eventual objective of what integrated environmental governance efforts should achieve. The concept of fragmented governance and possible generic reasons for fragmentation, including unco-operative and unsustainable organisational behaviour, are also investigated to highlight the nature and disadvantages of fragmentation and other factors that may contribute to it. A further component of the theoretical analysis includes an investigation of the concepts of integrated, or holistic governance, and an investigation of the concepts integrated environmental management (IEM), co-operative environmental governance (CEG), and integrated pollution prevention and control (IPPC). These concepts are investigated in order to ascertain the possible solutions for integration that they may pose. Secondly, this thesis investigates the current state of the fragmented environmental governance regime in South Africa and the NWP. The extent and reasons for fragmentation are discussed; and unco-operative organisational behaviour patterns in the national, provincial and local spheres of government are investigated. The concepts of IEM, CEG and IPPC, as they are established in South African law, are also discussed. Thirdly, this study investigates integrated approaches to environmental governance in the international sphere by way of a comparative study. For this purpose, the relevant provisions of the European Integrated Pollution Prevention and Control Directive, 1996 are discussed. The comparative study is concluded with an investigation of the provisions of the Directive as they are applied in national legal frameworks in the EU, with specific reference to Finland and the Netherlands. The main objective of this part of the study is to ascertain whether established solutions for integration of governance efforts are available in practice, and if so, to what extent they are employed to address fragmentation. This study concludes with recommendations on how the fragmented environmental governance sphere in South Africa may be integrated. These include short-, medium-and long-term scenarios, namely: a less radical strategy which must aim to optimise the current environmental governance regime by employing established concepts such as IEM, CEG and IPPC; a more radical strategy, which aims to establish a single act to regulate all procedural aspects relating to environmental governance and authorisations, and a single authority that is responsible for all procedural aspects in terms of the act; and an extremely radical strategy, which aims to establish a one-stop environmental governance shop, with a single act regulating all procedural and substantive aspects, and a single lead agent responsible for regulation in terms of this act. / Thesis (LL.D. (Estate Law))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2006.

An independent industry of Environmental Control Officers (ECOs) is active on various construction sites across South Africa. It forms part of a global network of verifiers, such as Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and EIA follow-up verifiers. This network authenticates statements about and the implementation of sustainability commitments made during the planning phase of major construction projects. International studies show that the construction industry is experiencing many challenges to deliver sustainability commitments, including inadequate collaboration between role players, illdefined roles and responsibilities, and insufficient use of environmental governance approaches. On-site verifiers like ECOs may aid in restraining these challenges by bridging ineffective governance approaches, such as classic EIA with new governance approaches, for instance self-responsibility (e.g. Environmental Management Systems (EMSs)) and involvement of third parties. Moreover, an “independent from all” verification function may be vital in developing countries such as South Africa, where trust between the government, market and public is particularly fragile due to historical injustices. Interestingly, limited learning has been drawn and shared from this function’s real-world experience. There are also differing views on the role, independence and value of ECOs, due to roles, frequent interaction with persons responsible for delivering sustainability commitments, and collaboration with third parties being ill-defined. The overarching purpose of this study is to advance understanding of independent ECOs in major South African construction projects. Three lines of inquiry are followed. The first is to define what the role is, or ideally should be, of an ECO in the South African compliance monitoring and enforcement effort. The second is to identify what factors might influence the independence of verifiers. The third is to appraise how and to what extent independent EIA follow-up verifiers add value in major construction projects in the developing country context of South Africa. This study’s research assumptions are based on the real world of ECOs and uses a mixed method research approach to draw knowledge from the industry. The strategies of inquiry include a survey, interviews, and multiple case study evaluations. The methods for data collection include literature review, a self-administered survey questionnaire, semi-structured interviews, video material, observations of practice at case studies, and the collection of project documentation. The methods used for data analysis are the categorisation and measuring of opinions and statements of survey participants, the analysis of video material and project documentation, and the nominal categorisation and ordinal scaling of case study results. Three journal articles capture the essence of the research results and form part of the thesis report, as prescribed by the North-West University’s rules for doctoral theses in article format. All three articles were peer-reviewed and published in journals aimed at international audiences. Article 1 of the thesis highlights that an industry of ECOs fulfils numerous roles at various construction sites across South Africa. The results identify the importance of ECOs functioning independently of all role-players, but warn that obsessing about independence may compromise the ability of ECOs to fulfil their roles. The results also show that industry is in need of competence and the regulation thereof, as well as support from all role players. By drawing from the research results, the thesis defines an ECO. Article 2 of the thesis reiterates that independence is central to internationally acclaimed verification fields and important to ensure the credibility of EIA. The study identifies 18 factors that might influence the independence of EIA follow-up verifiers and divides the factors into five categories: financial, commercial, professional, personal, and other. By identifying and sharing these factors, this thesis aids in anticipating and avoiding potential conflict of interest between environmental role players. Article 3 strengthens the continuum between environmental governance approaches by conceptualising a framework for appraising the value of independent EIA follow-up verifiers. The framework provides for inter-linking principles and objectives of sustainability to the performance areas of EIA, EIA follow-up and the EMS. The appraisal results indicate that independent verifiers add most value when they are involved in screening, checking compliance, influencing decisions, community engagement, and integrating environmental governance approaches. The study confirms the benefits of adaptable, proactive, experienced, and independent EIA follow-up verifiers, such as ECOs, on major South African construction projects. / PhD (Geography and Environmental Management), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

An independent industry of Environmental Control Officers (ECOs) is active on various construction sites across South Africa. It forms part of a global network of verifiers, such as Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) and EIA follow-up verifiers. This network authenticates statements about and the implementation of sustainability commitments made during the planning phase of major construction projects. International studies show that the construction industry is experiencing many challenges to deliver sustainability commitments, including inadequate collaboration between role players, illdefined roles and responsibilities, and insufficient use of environmental governance approaches. On-site verifiers like ECOs may aid in restraining these challenges by bridging ineffective governance approaches, such as classic EIA with new governance approaches, for instance self-responsibility (e.g. Environmental Management Systems (EMSs)) and involvement of third parties. Moreover, an “independent from all” verification function may be vital in developing countries such as South Africa, where trust between the government, market and public is particularly fragile due to historical injustices. Interestingly, limited learning has been drawn and shared from this function’s real-world experience. There are also differing views on the role, independence and value of ECOs, due to roles, frequent interaction with persons responsible for delivering sustainability commitments, and collaboration with third parties being ill-defined. The overarching purpose of this study is to advance understanding of independent ECOs in major South African construction projects. Three lines of inquiry are followed. The first is to define what the role is, or ideally should be, of an ECO in the South African compliance monitoring and enforcement effort. The second is to identify what factors might influence the independence of verifiers. The third is to appraise how and to what extent independent EIA follow-up verifiers add value in major construction projects in the developing country context of South Africa. This study’s research assumptions are based on the real world of ECOs and uses a mixed method research approach to draw knowledge from the industry. The strategies of inquiry include a survey, interviews, and multiple case study evaluations. The methods for data collection include literature review, a self-administered survey questionnaire, semi-structured interviews, video material, observations of practice at case studies, and the collection of project documentation. The methods used for data analysis are the categorisation and measuring of opinions and statements of survey participants, the analysis of video material and project documentation, and the nominal categorisation and ordinal scaling of case study results. Three journal articles capture the essence of the research results and form part of the thesis report, as prescribed by the North-West University’s rules for doctoral theses in article format. All three articles were peer-reviewed and published in journals aimed at international audiences. Article 1 of the thesis highlights that an industry of ECOs fulfils numerous roles at various construction sites across South Africa. The results identify the importance of ECOs functioning independently of all role-players, but warn that obsessing about independence may compromise the ability of ECOs to fulfil their roles. The results also show that industry is in need of competence and the regulation thereof, as well as support from all role players. By drawing from the research results, the thesis defines an ECO. Article 2 of the thesis reiterates that independence is central to internationally acclaimed verification fields and important to ensure the credibility of EIA. The study identifies 18 factors that might influence the independence of EIA follow-up verifiers and divides the factors into five categories: financial, commercial, professional, personal, and other. By identifying and sharing these factors, this thesis aids in anticipating and avoiding potential conflict of interest between environmental role players. Article 3 strengthens the continuum between environmental governance approaches by conceptualising a framework for appraising the value of independent EIA follow-up verifiers. The framework provides for inter-linking principles and objectives of sustainability to the performance areas of EIA, EIA follow-up and the EMS. The appraisal results indicate that independent verifiers add most value when they are involved in screening, checking compliance, influencing decisions, community engagement, and integrating environmental governance approaches. The study confirms the benefits of adaptable, proactive, experienced, and independent EIA follow-up verifiers, such as ECOs, on major South African construction projects. / PhD (Geography and Environmental Management), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015

Målet om ett långsiktigt ekologiskt hållbart Sverige kan inte nås utan en hållbar transportpolitik och infrastruktur. Järnvägen ses generellt som ett mer miljövänligt transportslag och ett ökat nyttjande av denna är därmed viktigt. Det leder dock till ett ökat behov av drift, underhåll och viss nybyggnation, samt till behovet av att se till dess miljöpåverkande faktorer. En miljöanpassad offentlig upphandling, således en hållbar upphandling av dessa entreprenader är ett steg närmare en hållbar utveckling. Syftet med miljökrav vid upphandling är att minska järnvägssektorns negativa miljö- och klimatpåverkan, och att främja miljöarbetets utveckling. Det miljöarbete som förs inom och emellan organisationer är minst lika viktigt då marknadsdrivna insatser ses som ett möjligt komplement till lagar och krav. Miljökravens formuleringar görs utefter lagstiftning och en rad andra aspekter beroende på beställare och projekt. Syftet med studien är att undersöka hur tolkningen ser ut hos beställar- och utförarorganisationer för drift, underhåll och nybyggnation av järnväg. En kvalitativ studie förs via intervjuer och miljödokument och bearbetas med tematisk analys utifrån perspektiven struktur, kultur och processer ur organisationsteorin. Resultatet visar att organisationernas tolkningar utav miljökraven i hög grad präglas utav samma faktorer, dock med olika tyngdpunkt. Dessa berör miljökravens tydlighet, miljöpolitikens inverkan, kommunikationens betydelse, förändring- och läroprocessers effekter och viljan till miljöarbete. Om miljöfrågan tas på allvar i toppen av hierarkin inom organisationen, så kan denna förmedlas vidare genom deras beslut om vision, mål och strategi. Det ger ett tydligare ramverk där mål och mätbarhet i verksamheten realiseras. Detta samtidigt som vilja och förmåga hos alla aktörer förstärks och samsynen gällande miljöarbetet kvalitetssäkras. / The goal for a long-term ecologically sustainable Sweden cannot be reached without a sustainable politics of transport and infrastructure. The railway is generally seen as a more environmentally friendly transport which leads to the importance of an increased use of it. On the other hand, that gives rise to the necessity of rail operation and maintenance, building railways and of considering the railways environmental impact. Environmental considerations in public procurement, a sustainable procurement, for these activities are a way of getting to a sustainable development. The purpose of environmental requirements in public procurement is to reduce the railway sectors environmental- and climate impact, and to further encourage the work for environmental improvements. Environmentally friendly activities performed by organizations are important because market driven efforts are seen as complementary to laws and requirements. The formulation of the environmental requirements is made through legislation and other aspects depending on the public authority and project. This paper aims to examine the interpretations of the environmental requirements made by both public- and private organizations within building, operation and maintenance of the railway. This is done by the means of qualitative interviews and document analysis, with the use of a thematic analysis and the perspectives of structure, processes and culture taken from the organization theory. The results show that the interpretations of the environmental requirement were all tinged by the same factors, but with different focus. These include the clarity of the requirement, environmental politics, communication, changing- and learning processes and the will to work for environmental improvements.

While domestic environmental agencies are still responsible for follow up the progress of environmental policy, the context of complex and large-scale environmental problems strongly influence the possibility to fulfill policy objectives. This thesis explores a case of bilateral environmental cooperation carried out by Swedish environmental authorities, to analyze how it contributes to governance and governability of environmental issue areas. Qualitative interviews with concerned actors revealed that bilateral cooperation was perceived to fill specific functions for the governability of environmental issues, complementary to other international cooperation. Key perceived qualities of bilateral cooperation were that it enabled trustful relations on working level and served as a door opener for dialogue. Joint policy development by environmental agency peers and demonstrating successful examples were seen as useful for promoting policy change. Applying a perspective of interactive governance, the thesis highlights that goals and activity selection of the studied bilateral cooperation were formed through interactions between the involved agencies and with partner countries. Bureaucratic structure and discourses on international cooperation constitute important limitations to the development and use of bilateral environmental cooperation. The study recommends governability assessment as a tool for improving design and follow-up of international environmental cooperation. Governability assessment analyzes the role that the interaction, and the interacting organization play in a governing system of an environmental issue area. The thesis adds to previous research on global environmental governance with empirical examples of the role bilateral interactions plays in the governing systems, as well as the specific qualities perceived by actors as crucial to the role. It also provides recommendations on how to further analyze initiatives by actors aiming to exercise environmental leadership in a diverse or fragmented institutional context of global environmental governance.

La conquête des espaces depuis le XVème siècle a permis la reconnaissance du principe de souveraineté des États sur leurs ressources naturelles. Le XXIème siècle doit faire face à l'épuisement progressif des ressources naturelles fossiles mondiales et à la quête de nouvelles. Les tensions autour de la gestion actuelle mondiale des ressources naturellesont posé le constat d'une régulation juridique fragile, et l'idée d'adopter d'autres gouvernances reposant sur un mode de gestion nouveau. Cette autre approche, intergénérationnelle serait basée sur une gestion raisonnée au sens de rationnelle, équilibrée et adaptée des systèmes endémiques. Or, ce basculement place la question de la gestiondes ressources naturelles mondiales au coeur des priorités inter-générationnelles. Le XXIème siècle permet alors de réfléchir à la reconnaissance juridique du principe d'interdépendance entre l'Homme et la Nature. Mais cette réflexion juridique vient a contrario des politiques publiques et modes de gestion traditionnels. L'Europe a amorcé une réactivité effective. La France a suivi par l'adoption de la charte de l’environnement, les lois dites Grenelle I et II, la loi sur la transition énergétique. Certains États Andins ont inscrit ce principe dans leur constitution. L'approche juridique contemporaine de la gestion des ressources naturelles mondiales renvoit ainsi à d'autres modes de gouvernance et à des notions de territoires endémiques et d'intérêt général commun. Les enjeux juridiques environnementaux mondiaux reposent alors sur denouvelles politiques sécuritaires anticipatives, renforçant les liens de coopération existants face à la multiplicité des sources d’autorité et de pouvoir. / The conquest of space since the fifteenth century allowed the recognition of the principle of sovereignty of States over their natural resources. The XXI century is facing the depletion of global fossil natural resources and the pursuit of new. Tensionsaround the world present management of natural resources posed the finding of a weak legal regulation, and the idea of adopting other governance based on a new mode of management. The other approach, intergenerational would be based on a reasoned management in the sense of rational, balanced and adapted endemic systems. But this shift puts the issue of the management of global natural resources at the heart of intergenerational priorities. The XXI century then allows to reflect on the legal recognition of the principle of interdependence between Man and Nature. But this legal thinking isa contrario of public policies and traditional management methods. Europe has initiated an effective response. France followed by the adoption of the charter of the environment, the laws say Grenelle I and II, the Law on energy transition. SomeAndean States have included this principle in their constitutions. The contemporary legal approach to the management of global natural resources and returns to other modes of governance and to notions of endemic areas of common public interest. Global environmental legal issues while based on new proactive security policies, strengthening existing ties of cooperation to face the multiplicity of sources of authority and power.

The major focus of this thesis is to discuss the development and current level of the concept of environmental politics in terms of its potential to serve as a general concept for the theoretical understanding of the relationship between man and his natural environment and of its dynamics. To the end the thesis, using a broad literature review, sets the major stages of the development of society focused on the exploitation of natural resources, the protection of nature, and the benefits of natural services, and on ways in which modern societies responded to negatively evaluated impacts of these activities. This serves as a base for analysis and better understanding ofthe development of a key concept of current environmental policy, the concept of sustainable development, the development and current state of the social sciences in terms of environmental issues, as well as their major focus in this area, the current debate over structure and power of environmental goals in modern societies, as well as the issues of effectiveness and integration of governmental environmental policies.