An empirical assessment of the national environmental policy plan (NEPP) as an adaptive governance program: The case of Netherlands

ABSTRACT: This study aims to evaluate and explore the organizational structure and programs of Netherlands‟ environmental institution known as National Environmental Policy Plan (NEPP). The environmental activism has been one of the popular movements in the Netherlands since 1960s. The growth of this movement resulted in the establishment of one of the highly active environmental institutions in Europe. Although, the environmental issues in the Netherlands expanded out of necessity to combat some of the natural and manmade challenges; however, it is the performance and success of NEPP that received several prizes for its success as an example of progressive environmental institution. An evaluation and understanding of factors that involved in the success of this institution is the main objective. Various dimensions including public policy, technological advance, social and cultural aspects, popular support, environmental governance, as well as, economic approaches has been investigated to measure the workings of NEPP. Furthermore, the policy making process and planning approaches are also explored. The aim is to explore how and in what ways the Dutch model can be replicated or remodeled in similar situations. One of the main factors behind the success story of the Dutch case is the involvement of public in NEPP‟s implementation. This aspect is also focused in the context of bottom-up planning approach. For the purpose of this research, a qualitative methodology based on an in-depth / open-ended interview questions. The convenient sampling aimed to target those respondents who are involved in NEPP and those who have an intimate knowledge of its functions and performance. A close attention has been given to the role NGOs as well. In the meantime, the, Ecological Modernization‟ (Geoforum, 2000) theory has been the theoretical backdrop to this study, which has been guiding the Dutch model. Keywords: National Environmental Policy Plan (NEPP); Environmental performance; sustainable development; the case of Netherlands; Organizational evaluation; Ecological Modernization. …………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………