Environmental Status And Role Of Non-governmental Organizations

In pace with the development of science and technology and the increasing frequency of humankind's activities since middle 20th century, environmental issues have caught much attention of the world. Hence environmental NGOs have been closing up slowly to the center of the international arena and playing a unique and unreplaceable role in the global environmental governance. Environmental NGOs are working for a better world by improving the environment and serving as a bridge between the peoples and governments in the world because of their technical expertise and monitoring capabilities. Moreover, they are pushing global governance towards democracy while challenging the sovereign of state. This paper tries to give an overall study on the definition, characters, classifications, background, and role and effect of environmental NGOs in the contemporary international relations, which the last part is the stress of this paper.Part one concentrates on the classifications and characters of environmental NGOs. First, it defines NGO and its natures, and then draws forth the definition of environmental NGOs. The main part is classifications and characters.Part two analyzes the background of the environmental NGOs rising. Here illustrate four main accounts to the rising of environmental NGOs: result of the industrial revolution, the defects of the nation-state governing system, the formation of a global civil society and the development of high-tech, inherent merits of environmental NGOs.Part three briefs five main international environmental NGOs: Greenpeace, WWF, FOEI, IUCN and CAN. Latter half of this part briefs the present situations and natures of Chinese environmental NGOs.Part four focuses on the role of environmental NGOs, which is the key sector of this paper. It details how environmental NGOs influence the policies and actions of the United States, nations, transnational corporations and private individuals.Part five analyzes several problems with which environmental NGOs are faced.