The role of NGOs in environmental governance

Guest lecture by Ioli Christopoulou on the role of environmental NGOs in environmental governance on October 21, 2019.

Ioli Christopoulou was invited to deliver a guest lecture during the class on international law and climate diplomacy which is taught by Emmanuella Doussis, Associate Professor at the Political Science and Public Administration Department of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens and member of the advisory committee of the Green Tank.

The lecture provided a historic review of the dynamic evolution of environmental non-governmental organizations, in parallel with the evolution of the protection of the environment. It emphasized how NGOs constitute an integral component of the ever changing environmental governance.

During the talk the various types of NGOs were recognized. Through examples of various actions the varied roles of NGOs in environmental policy change were presented. In addition, during the discussion with the students, differences of NGOs depending on the time period and the political framework in which they operate were traced.