The Politics of Sustainability The Rise and Decline of the Colombian Ministry ofEnvironment

How can the state, which has historically been instrumental in the degradation of the environment, become more active in its protection? Among the key actors in any such transformation would be dedicated ministries of environment. Yet, since these institutions were first created in the 1970s, we have barely begun to understand how they are affected by politics. This analysis of how the Colombian Ministry of Environment emerged and subsequently evolved shows the crucial impact of political debates and changes on environmental management. In particular, the study shows that Colombian governments in the early twenty-first century gravely underestimated the importance of institutional continuity. Looking to the future, it suggests ways in which environmental institutions might be designed to weather different political climates, thereby allowing the greening of the state to become more than just a blueprint.