Introduction

Coordinated, well-functioning institutions are crucial for tackling environmental challenges like climate change, pollution, biodiversity loss, and resource overuse. This book presents case studies from around the world to showcase how different socio-political institutions interact to influence environmental management outcomes in complex, polycentric institutional settings. Collectively, the cases emphasize the importance of unpacking interactional complexity through an improved understanding of cross-scalar, cross-cultural, and cross-functional institutional interactions. By encouraging practitioners to reflect on these three dimensions, this book identifies key considerations for designing innovative institutional coordination mechanisms in support of sustainable environmental management.