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

16th Session of the Conference of the Parties of the UNCCD (COP 16)

Convening in Riyadh, delegates will undertake a midterm evaluation of the UNCCD 2018−2030 Strategic Framework, adopt the UNCCD’s biennial budget, and negotiate decisions around the sustainable use of land.
Conference of the Parties (COP) 2 December 2024 - 13 December 2024

Events and Articles

Filter by:

Showing 221 - 230 of 430 results

CBD COP 10

Conference of the Parties (COP) 18 October 2010 - 29 October 2010

CSD 18

Event 3 May 2010 - 14 May 2010

15th Meeting of the CITES Conference of the Parties (CoP15)

CITES CoP15 will likely be remembered for the debates on bluefin tuna, sharks, corals, polar bears, and ivory sales. However, beyond these highly publicized debates, delegates seemed pleased with the progress on numerous implementation and enforcement efforts, including source codes, permits and certification, and electronic permitting, as well as the protection of a number of new plant and animal species.
Conference of the Parties (COP) 13 March 2010 - 25 March 2010