The Declining Relevance of the Environmental Nation-State

The Environmental state is not a formal category, but a substantive one. It came up in the late 1960s/1970s, changed in character since then and we will have to see how long it will last and in what outlook. A historical analysis of the environmental state in the OECD region should distinguish at least five periods: until 1960 (near absence), 1960-1980 (establishment and institutionalization of the environmental state), 1980-1990 (state failure and neoliberalization debates/pressure), 1990s (redefinition and legitimation of environmental states internationally). Many scholars note that since the new Millennium a new period has emerged: the environmental state shows a growing irrelevance.

The claim of weakening environmental state institutions seems to be part of wider concerns of the positions of states versus markets under conditions of globalization. Quite some scholars claim that under neoliberal globalisation the strengthening of the power and influence of (global) market institutions came together with declining roles of political state institutions. But that is not clearly evident regarding all agendas, as the recent regaining influence of political institutions on global financial institutions. So, is there something special at stake with respect to environmental state institutions? Is the interpretation of the current waning role and position of environmental state authorities correct? If so, how can we explain this decreasing power and position of environmental state authorities and how is it related with our capacities to cope with environmental problems? And how do we normatively assess this decreasing impact of state authorities in mitigating environmental problems? These questions are central in this paper.