Mapping the Environmental State of the USA

Consensus is emerging that reversing global environmental crises will require mainstreaming environmental objectives throughout governments, including public organizations not typically thought of as having environmental goals. To what extent is this mainstreaming occurring? Which types of public organizations – and which sub-units within them – collaborate most and least on environmental matters? Is the prioritization of environmental objectives in a public organization influenced by the values of the officials working inside of it? I investigate these questions through a large-N survey of public officials (n= 1500) working in ten U.S. federal departments and agencies charged with policy portfolios that affect the environment. This ongoing study represents one of the most comprehensive mappings of “the environmental state” to date. Results will pave the way for more detailed assessments of institutional influences on the environmental performance of a country with one of the largest environmental footprints and enhance our understanding of what shapes environmental institutions more generally.