Transnational learning, policy analytical capacity, and environmental policy convergence: Survey results from Canada

Abstract

In this article, we seek to clarify further the effects of internationalization on environmental policy convergence by focussing on a country's policy analytical capacity as a mechanism mediating transnational policy learning. We argue that without significant policy analytical capacity, it is unlikely for transnational communication to produce policy learning crucial to this potential mechanism of international environmental policy convergence. Based on a survey of Canadian provincial public servants, we find that while policy analysts in the environmental policy sector have some interaction with those outside of their own jurisdictions, their particular training, employment patterns, and work activities mean they are unlikely to use knowledge drawn from external sources in their decision-making processes.