Governance
The current system of global environmental governance reflects the challenge of assembling cooperation among the international community, even on environmental matters that all agree require common action. There are three elements to global environmental governance. One element is comprised of intergovernmental organizations within the United Nations system, led by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), which are responsible for developing and coordinating environmental and sustainable development policy at the international level. A second element is the framework of international environmental law, which takes the form of a large number of environmental treaties. These treaties, such as the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change, are legally binding agreements that call on countries to take joint action on environmental problems. A third element is the financing mechanism to build capacity to carry out treaty commitments, to supplement national efforts toward sustainable development in poorer countries, and to support the UN agencies and treaty secretariats that coordinate and carry out environmental efforts. These include the bilateral development assistance, the World Bank, other regional development banks, UN funds like the UN, the Global Environment Facility, philanthropies, and the private sector.
Upcoming events
UN Climate Change Conference Baku - November 2024
Key expected outcomes of COP 29 include a new collective quantified goal on climate finance to replace the current USD 100 billion per year goal and guidance on operationalization of the new loss and damage fund (including eligibility criteria).
Events and Articles
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UN Climate Change Conference Baku - November 2024
Key expected outcomes of COP 29 include a new collective quantified goal on climate finance to replace the current USD 100 billion per year goal and guidance on operationalization of the new loss and damage fund (including eligibility criteria).
13th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer (COP13) and 36th Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer (MOP36)
Delegates will tackle key questions in enhancing the protection of both ozone layer and climate, including how parties will fund atmospheric monitoring sites to bridge information gaps, manage remaining emissions of controlled substances, and address uncertainties about substances not controlled by the Protocol.
2024 United Nations Biodiversity Conference - SBI 5 / CBD COP 16 / CP-MOP 11 / NP-MOP 5
Participants will review the state of implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, including through alignment with national biodiversity strategies and action plans as well as resource mobilization.
SDG Moment 2024
Held immediately following the Summit of the Future, the 2024 event brought together diverse voices to discuss how to reinvigorate the 2030 Agenda and the global governance system that underpins it.
Summit of the Future
Acknowledging the multilateral system is broken, many speakers said with slow progress or regression on the Sustainable Development Goals, the Summit should be seen as a last-ditch effort to turn the tide and reimagine a system of global governance that works for all.
High-Level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF 2024)
Against a troubling geopolitical backdrop, the annual session of the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development will convene under the theme “Reinforcing the 2030 Agenda and eradicating poverty in times of multiple crises" while 38 countries will present SDG progress reports.
Global Major Groups and Stakeholders Forum (GMGSF) at UNEA-6
Serving as the prep meeting for major groups and stakeholders attending the UN Environment Assembly, talks will be organized around the UNEA-6 theme of “Effective, inclusive and sustainable multilateral actions to tackle climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution.”
UNEA-6 and OECPR-6
Under the theme “Effective, inclusive and sustainable multilateral actions to tackle climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution,” delegates adopted 15 resolutions, two decisions, and a Ministerial Declaration, covering topics including the highly hazardous pesticides, sustainable lifestyles, sand and dust storms, and environmental recovery in areas affected by armed conflict.
14th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS COP 14)
From the launch of the first State of the World’s Migratory Species report, to a resolution on deep-sea mining, and updated guidelines on light pollution, ecotourism, and community involvement in conservation, the first Conference of the Parties in Central Asia effectively tackled many challenges in the conservation of migratory species. (Sintesis en español) (Résumé en français)
UN Climate Change Conference - United Arab Emirates Nov/Dec 2023
Parties adopted a decision operationalizing the new loss and damage fund and a number of parties announced pledges for its initial capitalization. But negotiations were difficult on the other central outcomes: the first Global Stocktake, the Global Goal on Adaptation, the mitigation work programme, just transition pathways, and climate finance.