Behavioral patterns of environmental performance evaluation programs
2016 (English)In: Journal of Environmental Management, ISSN 0301-4797, Vol. 182, p. 429-435Article in journal (Refereed) Published
Sustainable development
Hållbar utveckling
Abstract [en]
During the past decades numerous environmental performance evaluation programs have been developed and implemented on different geographic scales. This paper develops a taxonomy of environmental management behavioral patterns in order to provide a practical comparison tool for environmental performance evaluation programs. Ten such programs purposively selected are mapped against the identified four behavioral patterns in the form of diagnosis, negotiation, learning, and socialization and learning. Overall, we found that schemes which serve to diagnose environmental abnormalities are mainly externally imposed and have been developed as a result of technical debates concerning data sources, methodology and ranking criteria. Learning oriented scheme is featured by processes through which free exchange of ideas, mutual and adaptive learning can occur. Scheme developed by higher authority for influencing behaviors of lower levels of government has been adopted by the evaluated to signal their excellent environmental performance. The socializing and learning classified evaluation schemes have incorporated dialogue, participation, and capacity building in program design. In conclusion we consider the ‘fitness for purpose’ of the various schemes, the merits of our analytical model and the future possibilities of fostering capacity building in the realm of wicked environmental challenges.
Place, publisher, year, edition, pages
Academic Press , 2016. Vol. 182, p. 429-435
Keywords [en]
Environmental management, Environmental performance evaluation, Multi-level environmental governance, capacity building, environmental assessment, governance approach, learning, Article, classification, decision making, environmental protection, quality of life, socialization, sustainable development, urban area, behavior, environment, human, interpersonal communication, Humans, Negotiating
National Category
Earth and Related Environmental Sciences
Identifiers
URN: urn:nbn:se:miun:diva-37989DOI: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2016.07.085Scopus ID: 2-s2.0-84982805309OAI: oai:DiVA.org:miun-37989DiVA, id: diva2:1377798
2019-12-122019-12-122025-01-31Bibliographically approved