ABSTRACT
This chapter attempts to compare the institutional arrangements, policy formulation and implementation of environmental policy from a continental comparativist perspective. It highlights both differences and similarities in the way in which environmental policies are monitored within the regional trading blocs. The chapter focuses on the institutional context in which environmental policy is found in both the European Union (EU) and North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). The institutionally rich environment that comprises EU decision making at the supranational level is simply lacking in NAFTA. The chapter employs two case studies, one from the EU and one from NAFTA. It explores some theoretical considerations, and presents an analytical framework for the comparison of intergovernmentalism and historical institutionalism approaches. Intergovernmentalism suggests that nations do not give up sovereignty, per se, but rather pool it, to work together more efficiently. Historical institutionalism stresses that the relationship between institutions and individual behavior needs to be seen in broad terms.
