Comparative Environmental Governance: Legal Frameworks and Policy Responses in South Asia

Abstract

This study compares environmental governance in South Asia by analyzing foundational legal frameworks, such as India’s Environmental Protection Act of 1986, Pakistan’s Environmental Protection Act of 1997 and Bangladesh’s Environment Conservation Act of 1995, and their policy responses to shared challenges such as air pollution, water scarcity, biodiversity loss, natural disasters, and greenhouse gas emissions. Using a PESTEL framework, the analysis reveals that while all three nations possess ambitious, pioneering jurisprudence, the effectiveness is consistently undermined by Political Instability, Institutional Capacity deficits, and Economic prioritization of growth. The comparison highlights a trade-off: polycentric systems (India, Pakistan) offer high adaptability but low resilience to fragmentation, while Bangladesh’s centralized system offers consistency but low flexibility. The study concludes by discussing the implications of these governance differences for environmental resilience and sustainable development in the region, arguing that cross-regional policy learning and a South Asian environmental pact are essential to bridging the persistent gap between legislative intent and ecological outcomes.