Abstract

Environmental governance has emerged as a central theme in contemporary social science discourse due to the accelerating environmental crises marked by climate change biodiversity loss pollution resource depletion and unsustainable patterns of production and consumption. The concept transcends traditional regulatory frameworks and incorporates a multi-level multi-actor approach involving governments international institutions civil society private corporations and local communities. Sustainable development policies rooted in the principle of meeting present needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own have become the normative foundation for environmental governance in the twenty-first century. This research paper critically examines the theoretical evolution institutional mechanisms policy frameworks and practical challenges associated with environmental governance and sustainable development policies with particular attention to developing economies.