GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL GOVERNANCE

Since the reform of the international institutions wasn't a topic for the Rio+5 UNGASS, it is becoming clear that those institutions in their current form are unable to address sustainable development. The UNEP Governing Council agreed during its session in February 2001 to set up a Ministerial working group, the main task of which is to look at environmental governance issues.

Given the planetary ecological crisis, it has been argued for some time that a substantial reform of the system of international institutions could assist more effective global environmental policies. An overwhelming amount of policy guidance in the field of sustainable development, including a large number of legally binding agreements, has been produced since 1990. Priority should be given to the implementation of and compliance to these agreements. Whatever comes out of such a reform could also serve as the advocate of further development of international environmental standards. Several Suggestions have been made to that regard for the reform of the CSD and the reform of UNEP.

The genuine, effective and equitable participation of civil society organisations from all regions in international environmental governance is a pre-condition for sustainable development. It should also be ensured that all countries are able to participate effectively and that a holistic concept of sustainable development is fostered. An institutional reform that would weaken the position of civil society and/or developing countries in international environmental governance would not be worth achieving it.

A WORLD ENVIRONMENT ORGANISATION?

The idea of Germany and France among others to develop the UNEP into a World Environmental Organization would be a long term endeavor as well as a diplomatic risk. The developing countries are arguing strongly against the creation of a new organisation that would deal only with environmental issues. The US is also strongly against the creation of a new and expensive UN institution. The same reasoning is used to counter the idea to create a World Organisation on Sustainable Development by combining and strengthening UNEP and UNDP. The mistrust toward new organisations, the lack of financial support and the unclear mandate of such a "world government" for sustainable development are major obstacles in the discussions.

In the end, the establishment of a WEO must be judged by how much it increases the power of international environmental agreements to be legally binding and enforceable. As NGOs like Friends of the Earth argue, it should be ensured that powerful actors like the WTO or International Financial Institutions, but also trans-national corporations comply with sustainable development agreements, including agreements promoting sustainable agriculture and food security. Many NGOs demand that sustainable development agreements should override trade and investment rules.