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The Politics of Sustainable Development in UK Government: What Role for Integrated Policy Appraisal?

Author

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  • Duncan Russel

    (Centre for Social and Economic Research on the Global Environment, School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TJ, England)

  • John Turnpenny

    (Centre for Social and Economic Research on the Global Environment and the Tyndall Centre for Climate Change Research, School of Environmental Sciences, University of East Anglia, Norwich NR4 7TJ, England)

Abstract

Attempts to better integrate policy in pursuit of more sustainable development have been made by many countries through the application of ex ante policy appraisal to sectoral policies. The United Kingdom (UK) is often cited as an international leader in this regard, but this is by no means clear. We examine empirically the extent to which the UK Regulatory Impact Assessment (RIA) system facilitates more integrated, and ultimately sustainable, policies. It appears RIA practice is far from integrated. Many RIAs cover a narrow range of impacts, are conducted late in the policy process, have relatively closed consultation processes, do not explicitly show how trade-offs were made, and use analysis inconsistently, if at all. We argue that providing more resources and improving quality control for RIA may improve integration to only a limited degree. More fundamental barriers to integration are hindered by closed policy communities and institutional processes and therefore may be more difficult to overcome.

Suggested Citation

  • Duncan Russel & John Turnpenny, 2009. "The Politics of Sustainable Development in UK Government: What Role for Integrated Policy Appraisal?," Environment and Planning C, , vol. 27(2), pages 340-354, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:sae:envirc:v:27:y:2009:i:2:p:340-354
    DOI: 10.1068/c0810j
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Jordan, Grant & Halpin, Darren, 2006. "The Political Costs of Policy Coherence: Constructing a Rural Policy for Scotland," Journal of Public Policy, Cambridge University Press, vol. 26(1), pages 21-41, May.
    2. World Commission on Environment and Development,, 1987. "Our Common Future," OUP Catalogue, Oxford University Press, number 9780192820808.
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    Cited by:

    1. Zimmermann, Michel & Pye, Steve, 2018. "Inequality in energy and climate policies: Assessing distributional impact consideration in UK policy appraisal," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 123(C), pages 594-601.

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