ABSTRACT
Today, two main types of summits play important but different roles in environmental governance. First, regional organizations such as the EU and club-like forums such as the G20 play more or less important roles in governing human activities that cause environmental damage. Environmentalists may dismiss the summits that take place in these settings as focusing on policies for economic growth and stability rather than on environmental protection. Yet, if we measure importance in terms of environmental consequences, summits that take place in these
settings and that focus primarily on economic issues will often-for better or worse-be the most important. The EU’s importance is further boosted by its direct involvement in environmental policymaking and by its unique institutional capacity.
