Resolving Environmental Disputes: From Conflict to Consensus

* A fresh examination of the causes of environmental conflicts and key tools for conflict resolution through consensus building
* Explores case study material from the UK, the US and the Netherlands and draws conclusions relevant to conflicts and policies in all jurisdictions
* Essential, practical reading for stakeholders on all sides of environmental conflicts charged with creating constructive outcomes


Clashes over environmental issues often leave government agencies, industry and activists locked in unproductive political or legal combat. Increasingly, players from all sides are conceding that there must be some other way of resolving environmental conflicts. This book examines that proposition by examining how and why conflicts occur and whether approaches to conflict resolution based on consensus building could be more widely applied. It differs from existing books by covering both environmental mediation and public participation and by analysing detailed case studies from the UK, the US and the Netherlands.

In addition, the book explores official resistance to the wider use of consensus building, arguing that government agencies that have resisted participation and mediation cannot be dismissed as the problem but have to be part of the solution. The concluding chapter suggests general principles for effective partnership working concerning the remits, resources and the timescales within which agencies operate.