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Multi‐level interactions in a sustainable development context: different routes for Flanders to decision‐making in the UN commission on sustainable development
Author(s) -
Van den Brande Karoline,
Happaerts Sander,
Bruyninckx Hans
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
environmental policy and governance
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.987
H-Index - 48
eISSN - 1756-9338
pISSN - 1756-932X
DOI - 10.1002/eet.563
Subject(s) - flemish , context (archaeology) , sustainable development , government (linguistics) , commission , state (computer science) , corporate governance , typology , public administration , business , political science , investment (military) , regional science , economic system , economics , sociology , law , politics , finance , geography , linguistics , philosophy , archaeology , algorithm , computer science , anthropology
This article focuses on how subnational governments try to be part of the global sustainable development debate. In particular, it looks at the Belgian subnational government of Flanders and decision‐making in the UN Commission on Sustainable Development. Subnational entities, such as Flanders, are not directly represented in global multilateral organizations and thus need to find other ways if they want to be involved. Yet, those organizations play an important role, for example with regard to agenda‐setting and the formulation of global sustainable development goals. Starting from a multi‐level governance perspective, we use a typology of four routes, along the dimensions intra‐ and extra‐state and intra‐ and extra‐European, that subnational governments have at their disposal. In each of those routes multiple interactions take place between different levels of government. We show that the Flemish government has most extensively used intra‐state routes, first and foremost because of the constitutional opportunities it has within the Belgian institutional context. Extra‐state routes that bypass the state are used less, because greater access is possible through the state and because those routes require a higher investment in financial and human resources. A direct consequence of the use of the intra‐state routes is the important role that has to be ascribed to the interactions between the Flemish and the federal level of government. Those interactions are steered by specific intra‐Belgian arrangements and shape how Flanders can be involved. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd and ERP Environment.