SUSTAINING OUR GLOBAL PUBLIC GOODS

Global Public Goods (GPGs) cut across many aspects of our lives. Many GPGs have historically existed outside of human interference, such as the oceans and seas, the atmosphere, and ozone layer. Whilst other GPGs have emerged as different aspects of globalisation have advanced. The opening of national borders has increased the volume of cross-border influences, both positive and negative. As a result, it has become increasingly important to name and frame the growing phenomenon of GPGs.

The concept of GPGs is relatively new and an agreed precise definition of GPGs has been lacking. However growing pressures have drawn international attention to the fact that public policy-making has been largely reactive in response to the challenges they pose. GPGs cover global issues that range across the whole spectrum of the sustainable development agenda, from the global environment, international financial stability and market efficiency, to health, knowledge, peace and security and humanitarian rights. This paper seeks to outline some of the latest policy ideas, framing the international debate about some of these key global issues by examining them through the "lens" of Global Public Goods.

[ pdf; 17 pages ]