Talking past each other: Local environmentalists in different organisational contexts

Abstract

Rather than taking a narrow definition of ‘environmentalist’ as meaning operating within the non‐governmental sector, a better perspective sees those with environmental concerns as operating in a variety of organisational contexts. Networking is thus a significant mechanism in moving towards an integrated environmental policy but, because of the resources and powers residing within local authorities and their potential for coordinating other bodies, local government retains a strategic role in local environmental policy. The discussion of local networking and enabling action by local authorities on environmental issues can hold out prospects for success in achieving local environmental policy goals. But organisational constraints in the different sectors, the enduring strategic role of local government in this policy area and the potential conflict between environmental and other policy goals, all can serve to limit achievement of those local environmental policy goals, and structure the advances that are...