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.
Events and Articles
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13th Session of the Conference of the Parties to the UNCCD (COP 13)
Both the CST and the CRIC completed their work ahead of schedule, while several decisions at the heart of the negotiations, including adoption of the 2018-2030 Strategic Framework, alignment of the Convention with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and improved reporting and monitoring procedures, were not as contentious as some expected. The heavy lifting done by the Intergovernmental Working Group on the future strategic framework―and the special methodological session of the CRIC in October 2016―appeared to have paid dividends in Ordos.
Marrakech Climate Change Conference - November 2016
The Marrakech Climate Change Conference COP 22 was perceived to have two tasks. To the outside world, delegates had to demonstrate the UNFCCC could contribute to the momentum generated post-Paris by the actions of non-state actors, as well as other international processes. Internally, delegates had considerable technical work at hand, to build a foundation for the accelerated completion of the modalities, procedures and guidelines that will make the Paris Agreement implementable.
Montreal Protocol MOP 28
MOP 28’s primary decision was to adopt the Kigali Amendment, which amended the Protocol to include hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) as part of its ambit. MOP 28 also adopted a number of substantive and procedural decisions.
17th Meeting of the CITES Conference of the Parties (COP17)
Delegates considered 90 agenda items and 62 species-listing proposals submitted by 64 countries. Some of the resolutions and decisions adopted concern: actions to combat wildlife trafficking; demand reduction strategies to combat illegal trade in CITES-listed species; provisions on international trade in hunting trophies of species listed in Appendix I or II aimed at enabling better controls of the sustainable and legal origin of those specimens; and more
3rd Extraordinary Meeting of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol (ExMOP 3) and Associated Meetings
The resumed session of OEWG 37 continued its discussions on the feasibility and ways of managing hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs), as agreed to under the Dubai Pathway on HFCs. It concluded its work on generating solutions to the stated challenges contained in the Dubai Pathway on HFCs. A key outcome was agreement on possible funding solutions.