Page 81 - Module_5_en

Figure 23 Gears of the policy process (from Najam 2005) Module
5

Abu Dhabi, UAE

In order to slow, stop and ultimately reverse environmental degradation, we need to understand not

only what is directly causing that degradation, but also how human society is contributing through its
policies and decisions. Policies, formal or informal create the “rules of the game,” and they represent
leverage points influential in system direction. But because policies are deeply ingrained, they often are
difficult to change unless their relationship to the interests of social groups is well understood.

Analysing the linkages between observed environmental change and society’s policies is one of the most

important yet most challenging aspects of IEA. It is one thing to recognize a linkage (e.g., between groundwater
depletion and water withdrawal for irrigation). In order to go to the root of the problem, one must look not
only at potential physical causes, but also understand public policy decisions and the web of related interests
that lay in the background (e.g., economic incentives for water pumping, strategic food self-sufficiency policies).
Even deeper, one needs to develop a clear picture of how political and economic interests motivate various
actors from government to agribusinesses to farmers, getting them involved in formulating and accepting a
particular policy in contrast to perpetuating unsustainable forms of behaviour.

It also is important to understand that societal responses may mitigate an environmental problem
leading to improving the state of the environment, or could be in themselves drivers for worsening the
same problem or creating new ones. For example, subsidizing energy prices could be increase energy
accessibility for the poor. However, low energy prices could send market signals that result in a growing
energy demand, that results in an increase in harmful air emissions.

IEA Training Manual Workshop for the National Reporting Toolkit (NRT) 79