Collaborative Problem-Solving: An Option for Preventing and Resolving Environmental Conflicts

摘要

Resolving environmental disputes through litigation can be time-consuming and expensive, particularly for community groups and nongovernmental organizations. Moreover, the end results are often disappointing for all of the parties involved. Not surprisingly, collaborative problem-solving is becoming an attractive alternative to traditional methods of dispute resolution. After providing background on the regulatory climate that led to the increased use of negotiation techniques, Bariy Hill and Nicholas Targ examine the keys to successful collaborative problem-solving. They then demonstrate how this tool has benefited industry, the community, and the government, using case studies from real-life environmental justice disputes.