Rethinking Private Authority : Agents and Entrepreneurs in Global Environmental Governance

"Rethinking Private Authority examines the role of non-state actors in global environmental politics, arguing that a fuller understanding of their role requires a new way of conceptualizing private authority. Jessica Green identifies two distinct forms of private authority--one in which states delegate authority to private actors, and another in which entrepreneurial actors generate their own rules, persuading others to adopt them. Drawing on a wealth of empirical evidence spanning a century of environmental rule making, Green shows how the delegation of authority to private actors has played a small but consistent role in multilateral environmental agreements over the past fifty years, largely in the area of treaty implementation. This contrasts with entrepreneurial authority, where most private environmental rules have been created in the past two decades. Green traces how this dynamic and fast-growing form of private authority is becoming increasingly common in areas ranging from organic food to green building practices to sustainable tourism. She persuasively argues that the configuration of state preferences and the existing institutional landscape are paramount to explaining why private authority emerges and assumes the form that it does. In-depth cases on climate change provide evidence for her arguments. Groundbreaking in scope, Rethinking Private Authority demonstrates that authority in world politics is diffused across multiple levels and diverse actors, and it offers a more complete picture of how private actors are helping to shape our response to today's most pressing environmental problems"-- Provided by publisher Rethinking Private Authority Examines The Role Of Non-state Actors In Global Environmental Politics, Arguing That A Fuller Understanding Of Their Role Requires A New Way Of Conceptualizing Private Authority. Jessica Green Identifies Two Distinct Forms Of Private Authority--one In Which States Delegate Authority To Private Actors, And Another In Which Entrepreneurial Actors Generate Their Own Rules, Persuading Others To Adopt Them.drawing On A Wealth Of Empirical Evidence Spanning A Century Of Environmental Rule Making, Green Shows How The Delegation Of Authority To Private Actors Has Played A Small But Consistent Role In Multilateral Environmental Agreements Over The Past Fifty Years, Largely In The Area Of Treaty Implementation. This Contrasts With Entrepreneurial Authority, Where Most Private Environmental Rules Have Been Created In The Past Two Decades. Green Traces How This Dynamic And Fast-growing Form Of Private Authority Is Becoming Increasingly Common In Areas Ranging From Organic Food To Green Building Practices To Sustainable Tourism. She Persuasively Argues That The Configuration Of State Preferences And The Existing Institutional Landscape Are Paramount To Explaining Why Private Authority Emerges And Assumes The Form That It Does. In-depth Cases On Climate Change Provide Evidence For Her Arguments.groundbreaking In Scope, Rethinking Private Authority Demonstrates That Authority In World Politics Is Diffused Across Multiple Levels And Diverse Actors, And It Offers A More Complete Picture Of How Private Actors Are Helping To Shape Our Response To Today's Most Pressing Environmental Problems-- A Theory Of Private Authority -- Agents Of The State : A Century Of Delegation In International Environmental Law -- Governors Of The Market : The Evolution Of Entrepreneurial Authority -- Atmospheric Police : Delegated Authority In The Clean Development Mechanism -- Atmospheric Accountants : Entrepreneurial Authority And The Greenhouse Gas Protocol. Jessica F. Green. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. "Rethinking Private Authority examines the role of non-state actors in global environmental politics, arguing that a fuller understanding of their role requires a new way of conceptualizing private authority. Jessica Green identifies two distinct forms of private authority ... one in which states delegate authority to private actors, and another in which entrepreneurial actors generate their own rules, persuading others to adopt them. Drawing on a wealth of empirical evidence spanning a century of environmental rule making, Green shows how the delegation of authority to private actors has played a small but consistent role in multilateral environmental agreements over the past fifty years, largely in the area of treaty implementation. This contrasts with entrepreneurial authority, where most private environmental rules have been created in the past two decades. Green traces how this dynamic and fast-growing form of private authority is becoming increasingly common in areas ranging from organic food to green building practices to sustainable tourism. She persuasively argues that the configuration of state preferences and the existing institutional landscape are paramount to explaining why private authority emerges and assumes the form that it does. In-depth cases on climate change provide evidence for her arguments. Groundbreaking in scope, Rethinking Private Authority demonstrates that authority in world politics is diffused across multiple levels and diverse actors, and it offers a more complete picture of how private actors are helping to shape our response to today's most pressing environmental problems." This book examines the role of nonstate actors in global environmental politics, arguing that a fuller understanding of their role requires a new way of conceptualizing private authority. It identifies two distinct forms of private authority—one in which states delegate authority to private actors, and another in which entrepreneurial actors generate their own rules, persuading others to adopt them. Drawing on a wealth of empirical evidence spanning a century of environmental rule making, the book shows how the delegation of authority to private actors has played a small but consistent role in multilateral environmental agreements over the past fifty years, largely in the area of treaty implementation. This contrasts with entrepreneurial authority, where most private environmental rules have been created in the past two decades. The book traces how this dynamic and fast-growing form of private authority is becoming increasingly common in areas ranging from organic food to green building practices to sustainable tourism. It persuasively argues that the configuration of state preferences and the existing institutional landscape are paramount to explaining why private authority emerges and assumes the form that it does. In-depth cases on climate change provide evidence for the book's arguments. The book demonstrates that authority in world politics is diffused across multiple levels and diverse actors, and it offers a more complete picture of how private actors are helping to shape our response to today's most pressing environmental problems. Contents List of Illustrations Acknowledgments Acronyms Introduction Chapter One. A Theory of Private Authority Chapter Two. Agents of the State: A Century of Delegation in International Environmental Law Chapter Three. Governors of the Market: The Evolution of Entrepreneurial Authority Chapter Four. Atmospheric Police: Delegated Authority in the Clean Development Mechanism Chapter Five. Atmospheric Accountants: Entrepreneurial. Authority and the Greenhouse Gas Protocol Chapter 6. Conclusion Bibliography Index