The literature on multi-level governance (MLG), an approach that explicitly looks at the system of the many interacting authority structures at work in the global political economy, has grown significantly over the last decade. The authors in this volume examine how multilevel governance (MLG) systems address climate change and water policy.By taking a comparative perspective, the contributors seek to examine the impact of multilevel governance on the environment. They show how the interplay between autonomous governments at the sub-national, federal or supranational and international levels in MLG systems create unique challenges and opportunities. Both cutting greenhouse gas emissions and allocating river flows require tough political or legal decisions that create winners and losers. This book offers a cogent examination of the successes and failures of the United States, European Union, Canada and Australia in grappling with these policy problems. This book will appeal to academics and students of public policy, international affairs and environment studies. Those working in government institutions will find the research both interesting and invaluable. Contributors: D. Benson, D.J. Fiorino, D. Gordon, B.T. Heinmiller, A. Jordan, K. Kern, D. Macdonald, J. Meadowcroft, M. Pallemaerts, B.G. Rabe, I. Weibust

The literature on multi-level governance (MLG), an approach that explicitly looks at the system of the many interacting authority structures at work in the global political economy, has grown significantly over the last decade. The authors in this volume examine how multilevel governance (MLG) systems address climate change and water policy.By taking a comparative perspective, the contributors seek to examine the impact of multilevel governance on the environment. They show how the interplay between autonomous governments at the sub-national, federal or supranational and international levels in MLG systems create unique challenges and opportunities. Both cutting greenhouse gas emissions and allocating river flows require tough political or legal decisions that create winners and losers. This book offers a cogent examination of the successes and failures of the United States, European Union, Canada and Australia in grappling with these policy problems. This book will appeal to academics and students of public policy, international affairs and environment studies. Those working in government institutions will find the research both interesting and invaluable. Contributors: D. Benson, D.J. Fiorino, D. Gordon, B.T. Heinmiller, A. Jordan, K. Kern, D. Macdonald, J. Meadowcroft, M. Pallemaerts, B.G. Rabe, I. Weibust

The US, Switzerland and Canada are wealthy democracies that should be conducive to effective decentralized or cooperative environmental policy-making. However, a closer examination of their environmental policy over many decades finds no evidence that these approaches have worked. So does it matter which level of government makes policy? Can cooperation between sub-national governments protect the environment? Building on comparative case studies on air and water pollution and making use of extensive historical material, Inger Weibust questions how governance structure affects environmental policy performance in the US, Switzerland, Canada and the European Union. The research breaks new ground by studying formal and informal environmental cooperation. It analyzes whether federal systems with more centralized policy-making produce stricter environmental policies and debates whether devolution and the establishment of subsidiaries will lead to less environmental protection. An essential insight into the complexities of policy-making and governance structures, this book is an important contribution to the growing debates surrounding comparative federalism and multi-level governance.