Better by design: rethinking interventions for better environmental regulation

Area of Science:

• Environmental policy and regulation
• Public administration
• Behavioral economics

Background:

• Effective environmental regulation aims for optimal outcomes with minimal burden.
• A gap exists in understanding the efficacy of different policy instruments and their contextual application.
• Non-governmental resources are increasingly leveraged to promote environmentally sound behaviors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate how policymakers select regulatory instruments.
• To analyze the factors influencing instrument choice within a specific governmental department.
• To understand the interplay between policy objectives, industry characteristics, and regulatory approaches.

Main Methods:

• A case study approach was employed, focusing on the UK's Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra).
• A sample of 33 policymakers was interviewed or surveyed regarding their selection of policy and regulatory instruments.
• Analysis involved examining the relevance of various instruments based on risk and industry-specific factors.

Main Results:

• Policymakers utilize a broad spectrum of regulatory tools to achieve environmental targets.
• The selection and relevance of instruments are contingent upon specific policy areas, risk assessments, and industry attributes.
• Direct regulation is deemed essential for mitigating environmental risks and addressing non-compliance.
• Co-regulatory approaches offer flexibility for novel environmental challenges, facilitating evidence development and adaptive management.

Conclusions:

• No single regulatory instrument guarantees all environmental outcomes; a tailored approach is necessary.
• Direct regulation provides certainty in managing environmental risks and performance.
• Co-regulation is valuable for navigating uncertainty in emerging environmental issues and building consensus.
• Understanding the context-specific relevance of policy instruments is crucial for effective environmental governance.