Sustainable Environment

The Challenges of Environmental Governance in Developing Countries

Environmental governance in developing countries faces numerous challenges due to complex socio-economic, political, and institutional factors. Political will and institutional capacity play crucial roles in shaping environmental governance, yet many developing nations struggle with economic development, lack of transparency, and inadequate public participation. The involvement of multiple stakeholders—government agencies, private sector actors, and civil society—often results in fragmented decision-making and overlapping responsibilities. Furthermore, the influence of global economic pressures and multinational corporations can undermine national environmental policies, making it harder for governments to prioritize long-term sustainability over short-term economic gains. Strengthening governance structures and fostering collaboration among stakeholders are essential to overcoming these barriers.

Most developing countries generally depend on their economic structure from the resources and natural resources. Massive exploitation of natural resources has the potential to cause environmental crises and natural damage that adversely affect the sustainability of the environment. One factor that significantly challenges environmental management in developing countries is the interest in economic development. Economic development and environmental management are two things that always have contradictions and clash interests with each other. This is particularly relevant in developing countries, where there is an urgent need to reduce poverty and improve the overall welfare of the people.

To address these challenges, developing countries need to adopt integrated approaches that balance economic growth with environmental sustainability. This Article Collection aims to provide evidence of the complexities of environmental governance in developing countries. In addition, this Collection will provide a comprehensive understanding of the solutions that are being offered so that developing countries can navigate the complexities of environmental governance and work toward a more sustainable future. We welcome article contributions from scholars across the world through empirical research (both qualitative and quantitative approaches) or conceptual/theoretical perspective essays on environmental governance in developing countries. This Article Collection aims to collect multidisciplinary studies that develop research-led, practice-based solutions to address the crucial challenges faced in developing countries. We encourage comparative studies, studies focused on the development of environmental governance, and studies involved in the application of integrated perspectives. Last, we recognize environmental governance remains problematic in both developing and developed countries, so thus, we welcome article contributions comparing the hurdles of both developing and developed countries regarding environmental governance.

We welcome articles that focus on, but are not limited to the governance aspects of the following subtopics:

• Regulatory and Institutional Challenge
• Land Use Change Policy
• Transition Energy Policy
• Coastal and Watershed Management
• Flooding Governance
• Sustainable Communities
• Natural Resources Management
• Water Urban Governance
• Climate Change and Adaptation Strategies

Keywords:

1. Environmental governance
2. Environmental policy
3. Urban Governance
4. Sustainable Development Goals
5. Developing Countries

All manuscripts submitted to this Article Collection will undergo a full peer-review; the Guest Advisors for this Collection will not be handling the manuscripts (unless they are an Editorial Board member).

Please review the journal scope and author submission instructions prior to submitting a manuscript.

The deadline for submitting manuscripts is July 31, 2026.

Please contact Kara Roberts ([email protected]) with any queries and discount codes regarding this Article Collection.

Ali Roziqin is a Lecturer in the Department of Government Studies, Universitas Muhammadiyah Malang, Indonesia. He obtained his bachelor’s degree from the Department of Public Administration at Universitas Diponegoro, Indonesia. He holds a Master of Public Administration from the Universitas Gadjah Mada, Indonesia. His research interests are in bureaucracy, public policy and administration, and public sector innovation. He has published papers in the reputable international journals like Sustainability (MDPI), Local Environment (Taylor and Francis), Tourism Critiques, Journal of Science and Technology Policy Management, Journal of the Knowledge Economy, and Public Administration and Policy: An Asia-Pacific Journal, as well as in the IGI Global.

Sudharto Prawata Hadi is a professor in the field of business sustainability and environmental studies at Universitas Diponegoro. Dr. Hadi is a Proper Advisory Board, the Indonesian environmental business rating. He completed his doctorate at the School of Community and Regional Planning University of British Columbia (UBC), Vancouver, Canada. Dr. Hadi is the Chancellor of Diponegoro University for the 2010–2014 period. He actively teaches in several programs, both undergraduate and postgraduate programs in the fields of environmental planning/management, environmental ethics, and environmental conflict resolution. Dr. Hadi is Country Coordinator at the Sustainable Energy and Environmental Forum based at Kyoto University Japan, Researcher for Legal Empowerment and Industrial Pollution in collaboration with China and the Van Vollenhowen Institute (VVI), Leiden University Netherlands, City Development Advisory Council (DP2K) Semarang, Foundation Supervisor Development of Sustainable Life in Semarang, and Member of the Working Group of the Sukolilo Karst Forum.

Conflict of Interest Disclosure

The Guest Advisors do not have any Conflicts of Interest to disclose.