Journal of Global Resources, July 2021, Volume 07 (02) B. K. Choudhary, Arun K. Tripathi and Jeetesh Rai Page 134 | 14 14 WHO DECIDES? ENGAGEMENT AS ‘VIABLE PROCESS’ IN ENVIRONMENTAL DECISION MAKING Bikramaditya K. Choudhary 1 , Arun Kumar Tripathi 2 and Jeetesh Rai 2 1 Assistant Professor, Centre for the Study of Regional Development, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi, India Corresponding author email: bkcjnu@gmail.com; bkchoudhary@mail.jnu.ac.in 2 Assistant Professors, Kirorimal College, University of Delhi, Delhi, India Email: arunkmc@gmail.com, jeeteshrai@gmail.com How to cite this paper: Choudhary, Bikramaditya K, Tripathi, Arun Kumar and Rai, Jeetesh (2021) Who decides? Engagement as ‘viable process’ in Environmental Decision, Journal of Global Resources, Vol. 07 (02) DOI: 10.46587/JGR.2021.v07i02.014 Received: 21 March 2021 Reviewed: 18 April 2021 Revised: 31 May 2021 Final Accepted: 05 June 2021 Freely available Online www.isdesr.org Abstract: Environmental decision-making is usually considered a linear process that moves through discrete stages before arriving at a final decision (Davoudi 2006; Schon 1999). Scholars like, Ascher and Healy 1990; Dryzek 2005; Keeley and Scoones 2003; Kingdon 2003; Street 1997; Yeager 1991. This paper proposes ‘stakeholder engagement processes’ as alternative to traditional environmental decision-making as alternative that has the potential to achieve better outcomes. In the process it presents criticisms of the technical-rational model and discusses theoretical reasons for supporting stakeholder engagement processes in light of other available policy options. Taking examples from developed and developing countries, it brings to the audience the inherent differences in these situations and presents the limitations of these approaches. Specifically, drawing on brief empirical examples from Joint Forest Management (JFM) in India, agricultural policy in Ethiopia, agricultural and conservation policy in Zimbabwe, fisheries management in Europe and Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) negotiations (further details of which are presented in the footnotes), this paper concludes that deliberative, inclusive and participatory approaches to environmental decision-making could be better in certain cases, depending on the context. The paper, therefore, argues that these approaches should be circumspectly institutionalised within environmental decision-making processes. Keywords: Environmental Decision-Making, Stakeholder Engagement Approaches, Decentralization