Title: Energy, environment and environmentalism: Wales with/vs. Britain

Authors: Stéphanie Bory

Addresses: Lyon 3, 60 chemin du Chevronnet, 69480 Morancé, France

Abstract: Purpose: This paper aims to study the relationships between the National Assembly for Wales and the British Government on environmental issues. Methodology: It is first necessary to consider conflicts that opposed Wales and Britain in the second half of the 20th century. Then, the paper focuses on a comparative analysis of major documents on energy released over the last few years by the Welsh and the British Governments in order to pinpoint the specificity of the Welsh vision of environmental issues. This finally leads to the study of the interdependence between the two governments. Findings: The study reveals that Wales insists on the rurality of the country, while aiming to set up partnerships with the local communities and to adopt a local vision of environmental issues. Value: Since the UK is composed of four nations, it is worth studying the tensions and relationships between the centre and the periphery.

Keywords: energy policy; environment; Wales; Great Britain; sustainable development; sustainability; nationalism; conflicts; environmentalism; Welsh Government; UK Government; environmental policy; United Kingdom; rural areas; partnerships; local communities; local vision.

DOI: 10.1504/PIE.2016.082158

Progress in Industrial Ecology, An International Journal, 2016 Vol.10 No.2/3, pp.179 - 193

Received: 03 Mar 2016
Accepted: 02 Nov 2016
Published online: 08 Feb 2017 *

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