Global EcoLomic Governance

The concept of global governance in any given domain is ill-defined. A Study Group of the Stiftung für die Rechte zukünftiger Generationen (www.srzg.de) has elaborated a definition which is very suitable for an ecolomic discussion since it emphasizes the intergenerational as well as the political, economic and social aspects:
 

In spite of the lack of a generally accepted definition, discussions on global governance in the wake of various globalization processes are becoming more and more important, even crucial. It is not surprising therefore that analysts from a number of disciplines using many different and often new concepts, methodologies and perspectives are attracted to this phenomenon. There is, in fact, a need for new intergovernmental approaches and negotiation processes for which IISD has very recently published two cutting edge studies. Najam, Runnalls and Halle in Environment and Globalization - Five Propositions (2007) suggest ways forward in reconciling the increasing interdependence of global markets and consumption patterns with the global ecosystem and with very different levels of development. In the preceding companion volume Global Environmental Governance - a Reform Agenda (2006) Najam, Papa and Taiyab discuss whether UNEP should be replaced by a World Environment Organization? Or should it be given the status of a specialized agency? The authors favor the latter solution.

The best endowed multilateral environmental  governance mechanism is the Global Environment Facility - indeed, as Professor Laurence Boisson de Chazournes concludes, a "Unique and Crucial Institution," (2005) and at the same time a  "Pioneering Institution" (2003) in several regards. The author analyzes the GEF's core features of governance and universality, and their implementation through innovative structures and decision-making processes based on a weighed double majority of votes using member states and financial contributions.  The GEF has gone through a pilot phase from 1991 to 1994 and is now a mature and at the same time further evolving organization. She shows how the GEF has already spurred other UN-based organizational innovations, and how it demonstrates the ability of the UN system to adjust to new challenges by using the flexibility inherent in existing structures and by encouraging cooperation between partners in different sectors.

How can we integrate or 'mainstream' environmental dimensions into the other development sectors of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)? The UN-60 2005 World Summit process (New York, 14-16 Sept. 2005) has disappointed NGO observers, see e.g. Oxfam's critique. It has nevertheless led to a list of more or less specific commitments which have been summarized in a UN Fact sheet. See also "Rethinking UNEP," (2005) by Maria Ivanova, Yale University which was prepared to support progress in the UN's environmental inter-agency and joint program planning. UNEP's own contribution to this process consisted in the organization of a High-level "Brainstorming Workshop" for Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) on 'Mainstreaming the Environment' in Nairobi on 13-14 July 2005 which focused on this question [Short summary with photos of many of the key participants HTTP://WWW.IISD.CA/SD/SDHLB/]. The 7th MDG is a call to "Ensure Environmental Stability." The conference participants emphasized the fact that the other MDGs cannot be implemented in isolation of MDG 7 and that the protection and sustainable management of the natural resource base and the environment is a fundamental prerequisite for social and economic development and well-being. The intricate set of eight MDGs in fact has been suggested by the Swiss representative Franz Xaver Perrez as a model for strengthening cooperation among MEAs: this objective can be furthered by the development of a list of clear, simple and measurable environmental goals.