Governments' Role in Governance

Governments at all levels play a role in governance.

National governments take many actions as part of their role as the governing body for a country. They sign up to international agreements (e.g. the Aarhus Convention), adopt legislation, set policies, establish governmental bodies, and fund actions at regional and local levels.

In addition to legislation and policies, national governments establish governmental bodies like the EPA to monitor environmental conditions, commission research, regulate permits for businesses on environmental issues, and advise national government on ways to improve environmental quality.

Local governments have a more limited role because their duties are prescribed by national government. For example, they have a limited role in air quality issues but have a larger role in other matters related to areas such as planning and how it relates to the built environment.