Environmental law without implementation? Impacts of the structural reforms of environmental administrations

The administrative structural reforms of the federal states have an impact on the capacities for action and problem solving in environmental administration. Reform efforts nationwide are characterized by two main objectives: budget consolidation and the optimization of state administration. In order to minimize possible losses in the environmental problem-solving capacity of the administration, the process of administrative modernization should be monitored, analyzed and managed.

With a background paper and a policy paper the project highlightes the fundamental importance of structural administrative reforms for the capacities of the environmental administration and for achieving high environmental standards. In this way, the environmental administration is made visible as a central actor in the relationship between political requirements, their legal implementation and the enforcement of these laws.