How law structures public participation in environmental decision making: A comparative law approach

Despite some skepticism regarding its effectiveness, public participation has become a central facet of environmental decision making, including governments' various decisions to address climate change. However, the existing literature tends general benefits rather than examine details how such actually occurs and it differs among nations—even nations all purportedly pursuing similar goals. This article begins fill that knowledge gap by examining law's key role in structuring different countries may participate unfolding national agendas reduce greenhouse gas emissions adapt change impacts. Both United States European Union member states have decades experience writing—and rewriting—public into their laws. actively explores compares laws States, Union, Netherlands (as an exemplar EU state) structure making order assess far along scale categories each government progressed. It concludes that, for moment, law more often allows collaboration empowers make certain kinds decisions—although new soon encourage creative collaborative forms there, as well.