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.
Events and Articles
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Katowice Climate Change Conference - December 2018
Parties adopted the Katowice Climate Package at COP 24, which finalized nearly all of the Paris Agreement Work Programme, including decisions to facilitate common interpretation and implementation of the Paris Agreement on the mitigation section of NDCs, adaptation communications, transparency framework, Global Stocktake, and financial transparency. Work on Article 6 was not concluded. The COP was unable to agree on whether to “welcome” or “note” the IPCC Special Report on 1.5°C of Global Warming.
2nd Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Minamata Convention on Mercury (COP2)
Billed as a “working COP,” delegates came prepared to engage with technical issues to further the implementation of the Convention. Delegates were able to agree on permanent arrangements for a stand-alone Secretariat, based in Geneva.
2018 UN Biodiversity Conference
The Conference adopted a number of decisions on a series of strategic, administrative, financial, and ecosystem-related issues of relevance to the implementation of the Convention and its Protocols. These included 37 decisions under the CBD COP; 16 decisions under the Cartagena Protocol COP/MOP; and 16 decisions under the Nagoya Protocol COP/MOP.
13th Meeting of the Conference of the Contracting Parties to the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands (COP13)
COP13 adopted 25 resolutions, including on a language strategy with a step-by-step plan to add Arabic as the fourth Convention language, gender, peatlands, blue carbon ecosystems, sustainable urbanization, agriculture, intertidal wetlands, wetlands in West Asia, and Arctic and sub-Arctic wetlands. The release of the Global Wetland Outlook provided a touchstone for discussions on challenges ahead to ensure the conservation and wise use of wetlands.
UN World Data Forum 2018
On the final day of the second UN World Data Forum, Stefan Schweinfest, Director, UN Statistics Division (UNSD), highlighted that the UN had successfully used its convening power to bring over 2,000 participants to Dubai to engage and discuss systems to create information that can support the most important policy decisions of the day, especially for implementing the 2030 Agenda. Abdulla Nasser Lootah, Director General, FCSA, noted that the proceedings, which have been filmed and archived, offer a tool for the data community going forward and urged that the discussions begun in Dubai should continue.
8th Session of the Meeting of the Parties to the Convention on the Protection and Use of Transboundary Watercourses and International Lakes (Water Convention MOP8) serviced by the UN Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE)
Throughout the meeting, many speakers highlighted the importance of further expanding the Water Convention and making its tools globally available to enable cooperation and effective water management. MOP8 addressed many substantive issues, including reporting under the Convention and SDG indicator 6.5.2 (proportion of transboundary basin area with an operational arrangement for water cooperation).
Fiji / Bonn Climate Change Conference - November 2017
The COP launched the Talanoa Dialogue, a facilitative dialogue to take stock of collective progress towards the Paris Agreement’s long-term goals. COP 23 also established the “Fiji Momentum for Implementation,” a decision giving prominence to pre-2020 implementation and ambition. Parties also provided guidance on the completion of the PAWP and decided that the Adaptation Fund shall serve the Paris Agreement, subject to decisions to be taken by CMA 1-3.