Environmental management in international organizations: The case of NATO

Environmental Management in International Organizations is the focus of the research. It can be shown that three pillars shape environmental management and the performance of the organization can be attributed to the level of implementation of these three pillars. The empirical research has shown that NATO environmental performance has shortcomings in the three pillars.

The theoretical approach taken to explain why NATO environmental performance is where is it at was through the application of Prinicpal-Agent theory. The actions and inactions of the Principal (NATO nations) and agent (NATO staff) has been operationalized with five elements of the theory: agency slack, information asymmetry, agenda setting, comitology and police-patrol/fire-alarm procedures.

The conclusions of the research focus on organizational and procedural challenges of implementing environmental management in an international organization.