Green partnerships in Britain's energy sector - classifying non-governmental organisations and exploring their varying potential to co-operate with energy companies

TY - JOUR

T1 - Green partnerships in Britain's energy sector - classifying non-governmental organisations and exploring their varying potential to co-operate with energy companies

AU - Krieger, Kristian

AU - Rogers, Brooke

PY - 2010

Y1 - 2010

N2 - Why do some non-governmental organisations (NGOs) use partnerships with the corporate sector as a tool to achieve their environmental objectives whilst others do not? The potential of NGOs to enter into partnerships depends on their organisational resources and structures, their values, ideas and attitudes. This hypothesis is explored in the case of Britain's NGOs and their potential for engagement with the energy industry. Empirical data on the characteristics of NGOs and their attitudes towards partnerships and existing engagement with business were collected through a questionnaire-based survey and semi-structured interviews. Three clusters of NGOs were identified and linked to different patterns of engagement. The findings are relevant for critically reviewing claims that NGO-business-partnerships offer effective solutions to environmental problems, have the potential to substitute for governmental regulation and may contribute to accomplishing a more sustainable society.

AB - Why do some non-governmental organisations (NGOs) use partnerships with the corporate sector as a tool to achieve their environmental objectives whilst others do not? The potential of NGOs to enter into partnerships depends on their organisational resources and structures, their values, ideas and attitudes. This hypothesis is explored in the case of Britain's NGOs and their potential for engagement with the energy industry. Empirical data on the characteristics of NGOs and their attitudes towards partnerships and existing engagement with business were collected through a questionnaire-based survey and semi-structured interviews. Three clusters of NGOs were identified and linked to different patterns of engagement. The findings are relevant for critically reviewing claims that NGO-business-partnerships offer effective solutions to environmental problems, have the potential to substitute for governmental regulation and may contribute to accomplishing a more sustainable society.

U2 - 10.1080/09644016.2010.518681

DO - 10.1080/09644016.2010.518681

M3 - Article

SN - 0964-4016

VL - 19

SP - 910

EP - 929

JO - ENVIRONMENTAL POLITICS

JF - ENVIRONMENTAL POLITICS

IS - 6

ER -