IMPLEMENTATION OF INTERNATIONAL ENVIRONMENTAL COMMITMENTS - THE CASE OF THE NORTHERN SEAS

This paper sets out to discuss the ''effectiveness'' of two regional e nvironmental regimes: the North Sea/North-East Atlantic and the Baltic . Effectiveness is conceived of in terms of (1) outputs: decisions Row ing from the regime; (2) outcome: behavioural change resulting from th e regime; and finally (3) impact: consequences of the regime for the n atural environment. Outputs are Fairly easy to measure, and both regim es have a rather high score on this indicator, especially in more rece nt years. Outcome, however, is more important if we want to know more about the tangible consequences of the regime. Nevertheless, this yard stick is more difficult to apply and knowledge is much more limited. B oth regimes seem to have a lower score on this dimension, especially t he Baltic regime; not least because this regime faces a more difficult problem than the North Sea regime. As to impact, which is the most im portant dimension, uncertainty is even higher and any ranking is prema ture. The main challenges in this field at present are Co learn more a bout outcome; to focus on the causal links between the international r egime level and the domestic implementation process; and to determine how much of domestic behaviour is due to the regime rather than other factors? Several major social science research projects are now underw ay to untangle this intricate process.