Environmental groups: their role in the decision-making process in the context of resource management

Abstract

Environmental movement organisations play an important role in the decision-making process in the context of resource management. They mobilise public concern for environmental issues, raise citizen awareness of the inadequacies of the political and administrative system and help balance or reduce the influence of capital dominated interest groups. However, in the future with the emergence of resource scarcity, environmental politics will enter a new era. This period will be characterised by the increase in conflict and dispute regarding the allocation of scarce resources. If environmental movement organisations are going to remain effective in this era, they must develop a political philosophy concerning societal-environmental interactions and avoid the present trend towards institutionalisation. To enhance the development of this political philosophy, environmentalists need to widen their agendas to encompass other social movements, such as the womens movement, labour and Maori groups.