We are pleased to announce the publication of a new systematic review by BIOPOLISTA researchers Jonas von Pfister, Nicolai Goritz (né Schulz), Giorgio Varanini, Adrien Ludot, Julian Nal, Maria Proestou and Alexandra Gottinger in Environmental Policy and Governance.

The article “Does Context Really Matter for Environmental Policy Implementation?” examines what determines successful environmental policy implementation and how these determinants vary across different contexts. Drawing on 88 empirical studies covering 148 implementation cases worldwide, the authors identify several factors that consistently shape implementation, including the knowledge and skills of implementers, political support, policy design, organisational resources, coordination, and the attitudes of affected actors.

At the same time, the review shows that these determinants do not matter in the same way across all implementation contexts. Differences emerge depending on the type of policy instrument, the target group, and the administrative levels involved in policy design and implementation. For example, economic instruments are more frequently associated with challenges related to knowledge, skills and financial resources, while regulative instruments are more often linked to political salience, attitudes and resistance among affected actors.

The findings highlight the importance of moving beyond universal approaches to policy implementation. Instead, implementation strategies need to account for the specific challenges associated with different policy instruments, target groups and governance arrangements. For implementation research, the study points towards a more contingency-oriented approach that asks not only which determinants matter, but also under which conditions and why.

The research was supported by student assistant Mariia Dziubynska, who contributed to the review process.

The article is available open access via DOI, with the underlying dataset and replication files also publicly accessible.