Analyzing the Effectiveness of International Environmental Institutions
Author(s)
Keohane, Robert
Abstract
Environmental problems are most serious in those parts of the world least able to deal with them. However, it is futile to demand that poor, developing countries solve environmental problems they are not equipped to deal with. On the other hand, since most environmental issues are confined within states, it is not reasonable to expect massive international outcries each time an environmental disaster occurs in a remote part of the world. To deal with these competing aims, international institutions have been set up to supply aid to those in need. Financial transfer institutions outline the flow of aid from rich countries to poor countries for specific environmental purposes. Their purpose is dual: they aim to both strengthen environmental policies in recipient countries through the promise of aid, and also to improve the overall quality of the natural environment. This article explores under what conditions these institutions are effective. The author concludes that while the effective use of international environmental institutions is difficult, these organizations have looked to the experiences of other developmental organizations and learned from their mistakes.