Regulators networks: collaborative agency approaches to the implementation and enforcement of environmental law

Abstract

Regulators, irrespective of geographic location, the entities and sectors they regulate and the nature of the commodities regulated, face a common challenge of maintaining institutional capacity for undertaking effective regulatory activities. This chapter considers how agencies engaged in environmental regulation and enforcement use network learning to close this capacity gap. The chapter consists of five sections. Section 1 consists of a brief introduction, providing some context around environmental regulation, environmental regulatory tools and regulator networks. Section 2 profiles several networks designed to aid environmental regulation and enforcement. Section 3 explores some benefits and functions of networks including learning and capacity-building. Section 4 explores how network efficacy may be evaluated. Section 5, the conclusion, includes a research agenda to advance the utility of networks as a tool for implementing environmental law.