Facing south? British environmental movement organisations and the challenge of globalisation

Abstract

Environmental movement organisations in Britain have responded differently to globalisation. WWF, Friends of the Earth (FoE) and Greenpeace all have transnational origins, affiliations and aspirations, but whereas WWF and FoE have broadened their agenda to embrace the concerns of the global South with sustainable development and social justice, Greenpeace appears little changed. Explanations are sought in their forms of engagement with other, more powerful actors and with local supporters. Whereas Greenpeace has mainly worked alone on strictly environmental issues, WWF has engaged partners in government and corporations and joined campaign coalitions on global issues. FoE has eschewed corporate partnerships, but has played a leading role in campaign coalitions within and beyond the environmental movement, including the emergent global justice movement. Attentive to the concerns of its local groups and prominent in FoE International, FoE is uniquely exposed to grassroots pressures and influences from the South.