This study addresses a conceptual gap in collaborative environmental governance pertaining to the role of Indigenous peoples. Conventional collaborative approaches to environmental governance include input and resource-pooling by two or more stakeholders. This approach becomes conceptually problematic when the stakeholder view is extended to Indigenous peoples. While experiences vary widely around the world, it is common for Indigenous peoples to assert themselves as existing within self-determining nations within their traditional homelands – rather than as stakeholders or interest groups. This perspective is reflected in the Indigenous governance literature, which provides a window into how Indigenous peoples view themselves. The purpose of this doctoral research was to critically evaluate the extent to which principles and practices of collaborative environmental governance are compatible with the main tenets and advances in Indigenous governance related to self-determination. This was done through an extensive literature review and empirical study in the context of British Columbia, Canada. Through a multi-case study analysis of three regional scale cases, complemented by analysis of a single case at the provincial scale, this research analyzed assumptions and perspectives existing at the intersection of Indigenous governance and collaborative environmental governance. The regional, multi-case study concentrated on the practice of collaboration around governance for water, while the provincial case examined a water policy reform process. The key findings of this research were that non-Indigenous entities and personnel initiating or practicing collaborative environmental governance and engaged in water policy reform tended to hold a stakeholder-view of Indigenous peoples. In contrast, Indigenous peoples and leaders tended to view themselves as existing within self-determining Indigenous nations. These conflicting assumptions led to dissatisfaction for both Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples with regard to collaboration for water governance and water reform, in terms of both processes and outcomes. This research makes contributions to both scholarship and practice. Conceptually, the research identifies how the assumptions and approaches to collaboration within mainstream collaborative environmental governance scholarship should shift fundamentally in ways that incorporate concepts related to Indigenous governance. This conceptual shift could be applied to the breadth of empirical contexts that are discussed in existing collaborative environmental governance scholarship. The empirical findings of this research provide a robust rationale for the importance of a conceptual bridge between the collaborative environmental governance and Indigenous governance literatures. This bridge would involve creation of a body of collaborative scholarship that addresses self-determination and nationhood when theorizing on collaboration with Indigenous peoples. Additionally, it makes a practical contribution by highlighting ways in which those engaged in collaborative environmental governance and water policy reform can draw on some of the tenets of Indigenous governance scholarship. These recommendations include the following: (1) approach or involve Indigenous peoples as self-determining nations rather than one of many collaborative stakeholders or participants; (2) Identify and clarify any existing or intended (a) environmental governance processes and (b) assertions to self-determination by the Indigenous nation; (3) Create opportunities for relationship building between Indigenous peoples and policy or governance practitioners; (4) Choose venues and processes of decision making that reflect Indigenous rather than Eurocentric venues and processes; and (5) Provide resources to Indigenous nations to level the playing field in terms of capacity for collaboration or for policy reform decision making. Finally, this research suggests that positive outcomes are possible where water governance is carried out in ways that meaningfully recognize and address the perspectives of Indigenous peoples.

O processo internacional de discussão sobre orientações e programas voltados à conservação das florestas iniciado na década de 1990 foi influenciado pelos resultados das conferências internacionais sobre meio ambiente e pelos efeitos da globalização neoliberal. Esta dissertação examina a repercussão dessas inter-relações nas políticas de conservação florestal que vêm sendo implementadas e defendidas por diferentes atores, as quais valorizam a participação da sociedade civil e do mercado na gestão ambiental e promovem os interesses econômicos do setor florestal. Faz também uma avaliação crítica dos limites das teorias tradicionalmente utilizadas para a compreensão dos processos internacionais de elaboração de políticas para o meio ambiente e florestas (que utilizam principalmente os conceitos de regime internacional e governança global em suas análises), apontando para a necessidade de se colocar em destaque o caráter conflitivo e desigual do sistema no interior do qual essas políticas são pensadas. / The international discussion on programs and guidelines for forest conservation which began in the early nineties was influenced by the results of the international environmental conferences and by the effects of neoliberal globalization. This dissertation examines the repercussion of these interrelationships over the forest conservation policies that have been implemented and supported by different actors, which value the civil society and market participation in environmental management and promotes the forest sector economic interests. It also critically evaluates the limits of the theories traditionally employed to the comprehension of the international environmental policy-making process (which primarily use the concepts of international regime and global governance in their analyses), indicating the need of emphasizing the contentious and unequal character of the system within which these policies are thought.

227 p. / Submitted by Santiago Fabio (fabio.ssantiago@hotmail.com) on 2013-01-10T19:17:15Z No. of bitstreams: 1 2222.pdf: 2178459 bytes, checksum: 88a624c1b2b93d306213742a3c88742d (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2013-01-10T19:17:15Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2222.pdf: 2178459 bytes, checksum: 88a624c1b2b93d306213742a3c88742d (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008 / A obtenção de consensos mínimos, em âmbito mundial, para a redução de gases do efeito estufa e, consequentemente, do aquecimento global, envolveu anos de negociações entre atores estatais e não estatais, chegando-se à formulação do Protocolo de Kyoto, em vigência desde 2005. No entanto, isso não foi capaz de mitigar os conflitos sociais e ambientais no momento de sua aplicação. Nesta dissertação, procura-se apresentar os conflitos, interesses e lógicas de ação envolvidos durante as etapas de elaboração, validação e aprovação de um projeto de Mecanismo de Desenvolvimento Limpo (MDL), um dos instrumentos de flexibilização trazidos pelo Protocolo. A análise do Projeto Plantar, um dos primeiros projetos de MDL brasileiros a negociar créditos no Mercado de Carbono, ilustrou vários níveis de governança ambiental: local, regional, nacional e internacional. Por meio de ampla pesquisa bibliográfica, análise documental, entrevistas semi-estruturadas e estruturadas, e observação não participante, buscou-se, então, verificar as estratégias de relacionamento políticoinstitucional utilizadas pela empresa proponente, a Plantar S.A., para regular os conflitos socioambientais existentes e, assim, legitimar-se perante seus stakeholders visando à aprovação de seu projeto de MDL. Constatou-se que, efetivamente, a empresa precisou adotar diversos mecanismos, como melhorias substanciais em seus relaciona mentos políticoinstitucionais, a adoção de estratégias de relações públicas, o incremento de sua gestão socioambiental e a ampliação de sua participação política junto a outras empresas do setor e ao governo brasileiro, visando a influenciar a construção das políticas públicas ligadas ao MDL. Definitivamente, o Projeto Plantar representa um rico caso de análise sobre a amplitude de interesses envolvidos na governança ambiental, que engloba aspectos econômicos, culturais e ideológicos. / Salvador

O processo internacional de discussão sobre orientações e programas voltados à conservação das florestas iniciado na década de 1990 foi influenciado pelos resultados das conferências internacionais sobre meio ambiente e pelos efeitos da globalização neoliberal. Esta dissertação examina a repercussão dessas inter-relações nas políticas de conservação florestal que vêm sendo implementadas e defendidas por diferentes atores, as quais valorizam a participação da sociedade civil e do mercado na gestão ambiental e promovem os interesses econômicos do setor florestal. Faz também uma avaliação crítica dos limites das teorias tradicionalmente utilizadas para a compreensão dos processos internacionais de elaboração de políticas para o meio ambiente e florestas (que utilizam principalmente os conceitos de regime internacional e governança global em suas análises), apontando para a necessidade de se colocar em destaque o caráter conflitivo e desigual do sistema no interior do qual essas políticas são pensadas. / The international discussion on programs and guidelines for forest conservation which began in the early nineties was influenced by the results of the international environmental conferences and by the effects of neoliberal globalization. This dissertation examines the repercussion of these interrelationships over the forest conservation policies that have been implemented and supported by different actors, which value the civil society and market participation in environmental management and promotes the forest sector economic interests. It also critically evaluates the limits of the theories traditionally employed to the comprehension of the international environmental policy-making process (which primarily use the concepts of international regime and global governance in their analyses), indicating the need of emphasizing the contentious and unequal character of the system within which these policies are thought.

A finalidade primeira desta dissertação é análise da governança ambiental global e brasileira frente ao caso concreto do Porto do Rio Grande. Para tanto, o trabalho se desenvolveu com a hipótese de que os instrumentos regulatórios de tutela ao meio ambiente presentes na política portuária brasileira possuem como escopo a sustentabilidade da atividade portuária, em conformidade com os ditames do programa de governança ambiental global na área portuária, o que pode ser verificado no Porto do Rio Grande – RS. O objetivo geral deste trabalho centrou-se na identificação das principais Convenções e Tratados internacionais e no ordenamento jurídico do Brasil, dos instrumentos utilizados como mecanismos de tutela do meio ambiente nas atividades portuárias, analisando a finalidade destes instrumentos, bem como desenvolver um estudo de caso do Porto do Rio Grande – RS. A natureza complexa do problema a ser investigado enseja em sua tratativa metodológica a aplicação do processo dedutivo, que permite conhecer aspectos particulares de um fenômeno, em especial atinentes aos aspectos ambiental, econômico e jurídicos decorrentes da atividade portuária. Nesse sentido, a presente dissertação faz considerações a partir do conceito da governança ambiental global e enumera os tratados e acordos internacionais, bem como a legislação nacional que visam a proteção do meio ambiente aplicáveis ao subsetor portuário. Constitui o objeto de estudo o Porto do Rio Grande, no Estado do Rio Grande do Sul, considerado pela Secretaria Especial de Portos da Presidência da República como um dos portos mais ambientalmente responsáveis no contexto portuário nacional, um entre poucos com licença ambiental do IBAMA para operar, sendo destacados seus programas e projetos de gestão na área ambiental. / Submitted by Marcelo Teixeira (mvteixeira@ucs.br) on 2014-05-22T13:54:45Z No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao Nicole da Silva Paulitsch.pdf: 2158760 bytes, checksum: d7819a63cdd5bde5e847c5e9284cd883 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2014-05-22T13:54:45Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Dissertacao Nicole da Silva Paulitsch.pdf: 2158760 bytes, checksum: d7819a63cdd5bde5e847c5e9284cd883 (MD5) / Fundação Universidade de Caxias do Sul / The first purpose of this dissertation is the analysis of global environmental governance and the case of the Brazilian port of Rio Grande. To this end, the work developed with the hypothesis that the regulatory instruments to protect the environment present in Brazilian ports policy have scoped the sustainability of port activity, in accordance with the dictates of the global environmental governance programme in the port area, which can be checked at the port of Rio Grande-RS. The overall objective of this work has focused on the identification of the main international conventions and treaties and the legal system of Brazil, of the instruments used as mechanisms to protect the environment in the port activities, analyzing the purpose of these instruments as well as develop a case study of the port of Rio Grande-RS. The complex nature of the problem to be investigated immediately in their methodological handling the deductive procedure, that allows to know particular aspects of a phenomenon, in particular with respect to environmental, economic and legal aspects of port activities. In this sense, this dissertation make considerations from the concept of global environmental governance, and enumerates the international treaties and agreements, as well as national legislation for the protection of the environment applicable to the subsector. The object of study is the port of Rio Grande, in the State of Rio Grande do Sul, considered by the Special Secretariat of ports of the Presidency of the Republic as one of the most environmentally responsible ports in the context of national port, one of the few with IBAMA's environmental license to operate, being highlighted their programs and environmental management projects.

O processo internacional de discussão sobre orientações e programas voltados à conservação das florestas iniciado na década de 1990 foi influenciado pelos resultados das conferências internacionais sobre meio ambiente e pelos efeitos da globalização neoliberal. Esta dissertação examina a repercussão dessas inter-relações nas políticas de conservação florestal que vêm sendo implementadas e defendidas por diferentes atores, as quais valorizam a participação da sociedade civil e do mercado na gestão ambiental e promovem os interesses econômicos do setor florestal. Faz também uma avaliação crítica dos limites das teorias tradicionalmente utilizadas para a compreensão dos processos internacionais de elaboração de políticas para o meio ambiente e florestas (que utilizam principalmente os conceitos de regime internacional e governança global em suas análises), apontando para a necessidade de se colocar em destaque o caráter conflitivo e desigual do sistema no interior do qual essas políticas são pensadas. / The international discussion on programs and guidelines for forest conservation which began in the early nineties was influenced by the results of the international environmental conferences and by the effects of neoliberal globalization. This dissertation examines the repercussion of these interrelationships over the forest conservation policies that have been implemented and supported by different actors, which value the civil society and market participation in environmental management and promotes the forest sector economic interests. It also critically evaluates the limits of the theories traditionally employed to the comprehension of the international environmental policy-making process (which primarily use the concepts of international regime and global governance in their analyses), indicating the need of emphasizing the contentious and unequal character of the system within which these policies are thought.

A finalidade primeira desta dissertação é análise da governança ambiental global e brasileira frente ao caso concreto do Porto do Rio Grande. Para tanto, o trabalho se desenvolveu com a hipótese de que os instrumentos regulatórios de tutela ao meio ambiente presentes na política portuária brasileira possuem como escopo a sustentabilidade da atividade portuária, em conformidade com os ditames do programa de governança ambiental global na área portuária, o que pode ser verificado no Porto do Rio Grande – RS. O objetivo geral deste trabalho centrou-se na identificação das principais Convenções e Tratados internacionais e no ordenamento jurídico do Brasil, dos instrumentos utilizados como mecanismos de tutela do meio ambiente nas atividades portuárias, analisando a finalidade destes instrumentos, bem como desenvolver um estudo de caso do Porto do Rio Grande – RS. A natureza complexa do problema a ser investigado enseja em sua tratativa metodológica a aplicação do processo dedutivo, que permite conhecer aspectos particulares de um fenômeno, em especial atinentes aos aspectos ambiental, econômico e jurídicos decorrentes da atividade portuária. Nesse sentido, a presente dissertação faz considerações a partir do conceito da governança ambiental global e enumera os tratados e acordos internacionais, bem como a legislação nacional que visam a proteção do meio ambiente aplicáveis ao subsetor portuário. Constitui o objeto de estudo o Porto do Rio Grande, no Estado do Rio Grande do Sul, considerado pela Secretaria Especial de Portos da Presidência da República como um dos portos mais ambientalmente responsáveis no contexto portuário nacional, um entre poucos com licença ambiental do IBAMA para operar, sendo destacados seus programas e projetos de gestão na área ambiental. / Fundação Universidade de Caxias do Sul / The first purpose of this dissertation is the analysis of global environmental governance and the case of the Brazilian port of Rio Grande. To this end, the work developed with the hypothesis that the regulatory instruments to protect the environment present in Brazilian ports policy have scoped the sustainability of port activity, in accordance with the dictates of the global environmental governance programme in the port area, which can be checked at the port of Rio Grande-RS. The overall objective of this work has focused on the identification of the main international conventions and treaties and the legal system of Brazil, of the instruments used as mechanisms to protect the environment in the port activities, analyzing the purpose of these instruments as well as develop a case study of the port of Rio Grande-RS. The complex nature of the problem to be investigated immediately in their methodological handling the deductive procedure, that allows to know particular aspects of a phenomenon, in particular with respect to environmental, economic and legal aspects of port activities. In this sense, this dissertation make considerations from the concept of global environmental governance, and enumerates the international treaties and agreements, as well as national legislation for the protection of the environment applicable to the subsector. The object of study is the port of Rio Grande, in the State of Rio Grande do Sul, considered by the Special Secretariat of ports of the Presidency of the Republic as one of the most environmentally responsible ports in the context of national port, one of the few with IBAMA's environmental license to operate, being highlighted their programs and environmental management projects.

O meio ambiente se apresenta como um dos desafios da governança global no que se refere às abordagens de Relações Internacionais e Ciência Política. Isso se deve ao fato de que os recursos naturais não se submetem à soberania direta do Estado e/ou das organizações internacionais formais como fonte de autoridade devido à transnacionalidade que o tema enseja. Neste sentido, os diferentes atores das relações internacionais, estatais e não estatais, precisam construir arenas de atuação, criar regulamentações onde os Estados (eventualmente) não estão presentes, e criar instrumentos de enforcement e compliance. No entanto, a centralidade das questões ambientais é colocada em xeque por teorias racionalistas de relações internacionais baseadas na autoridade do Estado e de sua capacidade de enforcement top-down. O meio ambiente é um assunto melhor considerado por arenas transnacionais em um contexto multinível e policêntrico. Neste sentido, a análise em nível local e a capacidade de organização de grupos sociais na constituição dos arranjos institucionais através da ação coletiva para solucionar a possível \"tragédia dos comuns\" tem atraído estudiosos que procuram demonstrar a sua efetividade e, consequentemente, a sua contribuição para a resolução das contendas ambientais globais. Desta forma, o objetivo deste trabalho é demonstrar como a relação entre a governança dos recursos de uso comum em âmbito local vincula-se aos instrumentos de governança global definidos por governos e organizações internacionais formais para o uso da biodiversidade. Inicialmente, realiza-se revisão bibliográfica da literatura de Relações Internacionais e Ciência Política para articular as questões ambientais entre o local e o global para, posteriormente, revelar como a governança ambiental multinível e policêntrica é estabelecida para o caso do uso da biodiversidade em comunidades locais na Amazônia brasileira, como apresentado no trabalho empírico. / The environment is presented as one of the challenges of global governance with regard to the approaches of International Relations and Political Science. This is due to the fact that natural resources are not subjected to the direct sovereignty of the State and/or formal international organizations as a source of authority because of the transnationality that the subject entails. In this sense, the different actors of International Relations, State and non-State, need to build action arenas, create regulations where States (eventually) are not present, and create instruments of enforcement and compliance. However, the centrality of environmental issues is kept in check by rationalist theories of International Relations based on States\' authority and ability to top-down enforcement. The environment is a subject better considered in transnational arenas in a multilevel and polycentric context. In this sense, the analysis at the local level and the organizational ability of social groups in the constitution of institutional arrangements through collective action to address the possible \"tragedy of the commons\" has attracted scholars seeking to demonstrate its effectiveness and, consequently, their contribution for the resolution of global environmental issues. Thus, the aim of this study is to demonstrate how the relationship between the governance of the common-pool resources at the local level is linked to the global governance instruments set by governments and formal international organizations for the use of biodiversity. Initially, a literature review of International Relations and Political Science literature is carried out to articulate environmental issues between the local and the global to reveal how the multilevel and polycentric environmental governance is established in the case of the use of biodiversity in local communities in the Brazilian Amazon, as shown in the empirical work.

Abstract New forms of environmental governance are implemented with promises associated with more flexible and participatory decision-making. However, resistance towards these ways of doing decisions occurs also in relation to forests in northern Finland. This thesis seeks to explain this resistance and to discuss how participation in the context of multi-level environmental governance can be enhanced. A combination of anthropological fieldwork methods and concepts from environmental politics is used to create a bottom-up research strategy to examine forest governance. Based on theme interviews, planning documents and press releases of various actors, this thesis identifies problems for hybrid forest governance modes, which combine State, market, and civil society actors in decision-making processes. Based on selected topical case studies regarding state-owned commercial forests in Inari, Forest Lapland, Muonio, and Liperinsuo three different governance modes are identified: a State-based mode with a participatory dimension and two ‘pressure’ modes taking place via market-based campaigns of environmental NGOs and local protests. Concerning the protected areas, namely Malla Strict Nature Reserve and the Pallas-Ylläs and Oulanka national parks, one governance mode is identified as taking place on the vertical park managements – international conservation agencies – local resource users axis. A major explanation for resistance towards the different governance modes is that decision-making processes neglect site-specifics. Related problems include missing stakeholders, lack of site-specific discussions in planning processes, generalised concepts used in standardisation practices, engagement of ‘faraway’ stakeholders in decision processes, and lack of transparency. As a result, ‘the site strikes back’ responses, i.e. pressure campaigns, protests, opposition, and rumours have emerged. In order to mitigate resistance, this thesis proposes ways to enhance participation and deliberation in forest governance. However, the utility of these suggestions is challenged by polarised views and a lack of trust between the different parties. Finally, hypotheses explaining resistance towards decision-making are formulated. Also, contributions to environmental anthropology are outlined, and further questions relevant for research on environmental governance are posed. / Tiivistelmä Uudet ympäristöhallinnan muodot lupaavat parempaa kansalaisosallistumista ja joustavuutta päätöksentekoon. Kuitenkin näitäkin hallinnan muotoja vastustetaan myös Pohjois-Suomen metsiin liittyen. Tässä väitöskirjassa pyritään selittämään vastarintaa metsien hallintaa kohtaan valtion omistamissa talousmetsissä ja suojelualueilla. Väitöskirjassa yhdistetään antropologisia kenttätyömenetelmiä ja ympäristöpolitiikan käsitteitä. Pohjaten teemahaastatteluihin, suunnitteludokumentteihin, lehdistötiedotteisiin ja www-sivuihin tämä väitöskirja määrittää ongelmia hybrideille hallinnan ja päätöksenteon muodoille, jotka koostuvat valtioon, markkinoihin ja kansalaisyhteiskuntaan liittyvien toimijoiden vuorovaikutuksesta. Pohjaten ajankohtaisiin metsäkiistoihin Inarissa, Metsä-Lapissa, Muoniossa ja Liperinsuolla kolme erilaista hallinnan muotoa erotellaan: valtiovetoinen hallinnan muoto, johon kansalaisyhteiskunta linkittyy osallistavien prosessien kautta sekä kaksi ”painostusmuotoa”, jotka koostuvat ympäristöjärjestöjen markkinapohjaisista kampanjoista sekä paikallislähtöisistä protesteista. Mallan, Pallas-Ylläksen ja Oulangan suojelualueisiin liittyen määritellään yksi hallinnan muoto, joka muodostuu puistojen hallinnoista, kansainvälisistä suojelutoimijoista sekä paikallisista luonnonkäyttäjistä. Näitä hallinnan muotoja yhdistää se, että niiden kohtaama vastarinta johtuu paikkakohtaisen päätöksenteon puutteista. Ongelmat liittyvät päätöksentekoprosesseista puuttuviin intressiryhmiin, suunnitteluprosesseissa käytyjen keskustelujen yleisluonteisuuteen, yleispätevien käsitteiden käyttöön standardoimisprosesseissa erityisesti suojelualueilla, läpinäkyvyyden puutteeseen sekä kaukaisten toimijoiden osallistumiseen paikallisiin päätöksiin. Näiden ongelmien seurauksena paikkakohtaisuutta ei huomioida riittävästi hallinnassa, mistä seuraa ’paikan vastaisku’ protestien, huhujen, vastustuksen ja kampanjoiden muodossa. Vastarinnan syntymistä voitaisiin ehkäistä parantamalla osallistumista ja neuvottelua, joskaan parannusehdotuksetkaan eivät ratkaise luottamuksen puutteeseen ja osapuolten näkemysten napaistumiseen liittyviä ongelmia. Väitöskirjassa luodaan hypoteeseja, jotka selittävät ympäristöhallinnan kohtaamaa vastarintaa. Lisäksi väitöskirja tarjoaa antia sekä uusia tutkimuskysymyksiä erityisesti ympäristöantropologialle.

L’échec des négociations sur le climat en 2009 à Copenhague invite à penser un modèle complémentaire de gouvernance internationale environnementale, dont les prémisses ont émergé par la voix des États insulaires de l’AOSIS. Des États, se regroupant sur la base d’une perception du risque partagée, mettant en exergue des fragilités grandissantes, telle est la base de départ de cette enquête. Le niveau régional se présente comme l’un des compléments à la crise de l’universalisme. Mais penser un niveau de gouvernance internationale en environnement requiert d’identifier les conditions d’émergence de celui-ci et de son efficacité. Nous nous concentrerons sur les premières. Nous interrogerons l’identité des acteurs de sa création, les outils qu’ils utilisent et les raisons pour lesquelles est créé ce régionalisme permettant de lutter contre les changements climatiques. Différents courants des relations internationales proposent une approche théorique de la coopération régionale et plus génériquement du régionalisme, sans pour autant qu’un modèle uniforme n’ait été identifié. L’approche théorique par le biais de problématiques environnementales au niveau régional nécessite l’intervention de plusieurs courants permettant d’expliquer le phénomène : le constructivisme par la construction de l’objet sécuritaire, les théories de la stabilité hégémonique par la recherche d’un hégémon régional incitant les autres États à coopérer, le néolibéralisme institutionnel pour expliquer le rôle des réseaux et la recherche du gain que les États peuvent espérer en entrant dans le processus coopératif, les théories de l’interdépendance complexe par l’intervention d’acteurs non étatiques. Ces différentes approches parviennent-elles ou échouent-elles à expliquer ce phénomène ? / The failure of the climate negotiations in Copenhagen in 2009 prompts us to reflect on a complementary model of international environmental governance, whose premises have emerged through the voice of the island States of AOSIS. States, coming together on the basis of a shared perception of risk, highlighting increasing fragilities, this is the starting point of this investigation. The regional level is presented as one of the complements to the crisis of universalism. But reflecting on alevel of international governance environment requires identifying the conditions for its emergence and for its efficiency. We will focus on the first ones. We will question the identity of the actors of its creation, the tools they use and the reasons why this regionalism, allowing fighting against climate change, is created. Various trends of international relations offer a theoretical approach to regional cooperation, and regionalism more generically, without having identified a uniform model. The theoretical approach through environmental issues at the regional level requires the intervention of several schools of thought to explain the phenomenon: constructivism by building a climate threat and its perception , theories of hegemonic stability by seeking a regional hegemon encouraging other States to cooperate, institutional neoliberalism to explain the role of networks and the search for profit States can expect by entering the cooperative process, theories of complex interdependence through the intervention of non- State actors. Do these various approaches succeed or fail to explain this phenomenon?