Sustainability Policy: Key Actors in Its Design—the Role of Public Administration, Policy Entrepreneurs and the Judicial System

Dear Colleagues,

Sustainability policy serves as a strategic framework aimed at balancing economic, social, and environmental needs while ensuring the well-being of both present and future generations. This policy is grounded in the principle of sustainable development, which emphasizes the promotion of economic growth and social welfare while preserving natural and environmental resources over time.

In the public sector, public administration plays a central role in the planning, formulation, and implementation of sustainability policies. This governance process is characterized by inter-institutional, interdisciplinary, and cross-sectoral collaboration, requiring a balance between political, economic, professional, and social considerations. In this context, the professional civil service is a crucial actor in driving policy processes, including drafting action plans, formulating regulations, conducting environmental impact assessments, enforcing compliance mechanisms, and sometimes mediating between political decision-makers and experts from academia and civil society.

Policy entrepreneurs—whether elected officials, civil servants, academics, or social activists—contribute to advancing innovative ideas in the field of sustainability. They identify public problems, propose solutions, mobilize public and political support, and at times, create a "policy window" for change.

The judicial system also plays a significant role in defining the boundaries of sustainability policy. Courts serve as institutions of judicial review and frequently adjudicate cases related to environmental rights, urban planning, resource allocation, and intergenerational equity. Through statutory interpretation or landmark rulings, the judiciary system influences the implementation of sustainability policies and the scope of governmental authority in these matters.

In conclusion, the design of sustainability policy is a complex process involving interactions among various institutional and political actors—particularly the civil service, policy entrepreneurs, the executive branch, and the judiciary system—operating within a multi-systemic framework to promote balanced, equitable, and long-term development.

Prof. Dr. Assaf Meydani
Prof. Fany Yuval
Guest Editors

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• sustainability policy
• policy entrepreneurs
• public administration
• judicial review
• governmentality