On The Functions Of Non-state Actors In The International Environmental Cooperation

Since the 20th century, the relationship between human and nature has caused for reflections as the development of environmental issues. For the character of transnational, long-term and vulnerable, it determines that the solution of global environmental issues must be based on the approaches, namely, and adopted a top-down international cooperation of environment by the international society so that to promote the solving the problems. The function and space of non-state actors, which are new powers of the global environmental cooperation, have developed unprecedented. And it is important to carry on global environmental governance and realize the goal international environmental cooperation to strengthen the study of non-state actors.There are various forms of non-state actors, and this study focus on the representative non-state actors such as inter-governmental international organizations, non-governmental international organizations, transnational corporations, local governments, and individuals. First, inter-governmental international organizations are the unique authorities in some respects of creating the international environmental laws, maintaining the order of global environmental cooperation, coordinating and solving environmental contradictions and perfecting the mechanism of global environmental cooperation. They are the most important actors besides country in the global environmental cooperation.Second, the functions of non-governmental organizations have also strengthened. At the domestic level, non-governmental organizations can reply their policy advices and recommendations; they may affect the national policy and the activities of some domestic groups through the way of collective protests, pressure of public opinion, and so on. At the international level, non-governmental organizations play an important role in coordinating the global contradictions, participating in global environmental cooperation, promoting the development of the international environmental laws and perfecting the mechanism of global environmental cooperation.Third, transnational corporations are the important economic and political subjects in the world. They strong have strong economic and technological strengths, and it should not be underestimated that the effect of transnational corporations on the attitude of both home country and host country in the global environmental issues. So, the study on transnational corporations is important for perfecting the mechanism of global environmental cooperation.Forth, local governments organize the environmental cooperations of regional level, it makes up the deficiency of country, and it is good for the free flow of materials, stuff and technology. The participation of local governments in the international environmental cooperation enriches the contents of international cooperation; it is benefit for improving the environmental advocacy and exerting the mass basis.Fifth, individuals, who can free movement without the bound of politics and social status, are also important non-state actors. The interaction among individuals, especially the country leaders and some international experts, is important to coordinate the global contradictions and to create the international environment policy.Also, the functions of non-state actors, which is the new power in the international community, are limited by certain factors. This study does some attempts to exert the functions of non-state actors and to realize the interaction among the actors. Besides, this study replies suggestions to the international environmental cooperation of our country.