In some regions, the structure of local politics has created space for imaginative local politicians to come up with innovations that are copied around the world. In other cases, the structure of local politics has the opposite effects, paralyzing innovative efforts by state agencies and forcing innovative public servants to abandon their efforts to improve the urban environment. State-society synergy does not have to be consensual or conflictual in order to be effective. As long as the response between communities and the state is combined with engagement, conflict can play a vital role in creating synergy. Evans concludes that the organizational capacity of governments, local and national, to deliver public goods is essential to making cities convenient and decent to live in.
Public institutions play a very important role, because they articulate shared interest.
State-society synergy will only be successful if collective solutions are brought together and conflicts between local communities and state agencies are left aside. Special attention is given to NGOs and how they interact with other sectors through formal and informal networks. Rapid industrial development of Asian countries has brought global debate and action over development and protection of the environment. As a consequence there is an increasing involvement of Asian NGOs at the local, national, regional, and international levels. Lin Gan concludes that the role of NGOs in international and national environmental politics is crucial.