THE BASIS OF LEADERSHIP IN ENERGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL DESIGN (LEED) AS A MODEL ENVIRONMENTAL GOVERNANCE MECHANISM

In light of emergent global environmental challenges, this project explores the extent to which the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) green building rating system is a model environmental governance mechanism. Through an assessment of LEED and U.S. Green Building Council linkages to the environmental movement and environmental governance sectors and systems, linkages between LEED and environmental governance are identified within an increasingly dynamic, multi-scalar and interdependent governance context. While LEED is found to be a unique, effective and integrated environmental governance mechanism in the marketplace, it is concluded that LEED could not easily be deployed to other industries without significant modifications, and without the presence of an industry-specific blend of market and environmental governance conditions.