Watson, M. orcid.org/0000-0003-2817-6676, Bulkeley, H. and Hudson, R. (2008) Unpicking Environmental Policy Integration: Tales from waste management. Environment and Planning C: Government and Policy, 26 (3). pp. 481-498. ISSN 0263-774X
Abstract
Through an exploration of UK municipal waste policy, this paper examines debates on environmental policy integration (EPI) and governance. We argue that this policy arena has been characterised by modes of vertical integration, which have failed to promote the horizontal integration required to move beyond the limits of anachronistic institutional structures and have failed to achieve the paradigm shift needed to make meaningful progress towards sustainability. Through this analysis we develop three critical arguments. First, that the analysis of EPI requires attention to embedded paradigms, structures, and dynamics at all levels of governance, emphasising the importance of incorporating subnational levels of governing to EPI analyses. Second, that both analysis of and arguments for EPI need to engage more fully with broader dynamics of governing and to recognise the coexistence of contradictory processes of integration. Finally, we sound a note of caution in relation to calls for EPI. In the messy, dynamic, and multilevelled reality in which EPI has to be implemented, such calls must recognise both sustainability and policy integration as iterative processes rather than as predetermined blueprints.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Keywords: | Environmental Policy Integration, waste management, governance |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Sheffield |
Academic Units: | The University of Sheffield > Faculty of Social Sciences (Sheffield) > Department of Geography (Sheffield) |
Depositing User: | Dr Matt Watson |
Date Deposited: | 15 Oct 2012 13:24 |
Last Modified: | 08 Feb 2013 17:40 |
Published Version: | http://dx.doi.org/10.1068/c0510j |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Pion |
Refereed: | Yes |
Identification Number: | 10.1068/c0510j |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:74631 |