Sustainability, Innovation and Participatory Governance

The ongoing debate about governance is very much concerned with participation and inclusiveness. It questions the effect the shift from government to governance has had on participation, who should participate and how. It also questions whether participatory governance can lead to sustainable and innovative outcomes. This book focuses on the last of these questions using an empirical analysis of the development, implementation and review of an EU environmental management system - the Eco-Management and Audit Scheme (EMAS). It examines under what circumstances might participatory governance encourage sustainability and innovation. Firstly looking at the involvement of key actors in the development of EMAS regulation at EU level, it then analyses case studies from three member states, Germany, Greece and the UK. The book also provides new ideas about the notion of governance and so plays a part in the debate about future governance of Europe.