40 Years ofInternational Sustainability

Governance

Arthur Lyon DahlInternational Environment Forum

http://iefworld.org

EOI Business School26 February 2015

International Governance

Why we need international governance

Ethical basis for governance

Quick review of 40 years of international sustainability governance

Alternative vision of future governance

After 40 years, we are stillaccumulating economic,

social, and environmental debt• Financial crisis is the most immediate

threat to world stability• Climate change is accelerating faster

than the worst predictions of a few years ago

• UK Chief Scientist (19 March 2009): the world faces a 'perfect storm' of problems in 2030 as food, energy and water shortages interact with climate change to produce public unrest, cross-border conflicts and mass migrations

Little global economic governance

• Global consumer society living beyond its means, accumulating debt

• Head of European Central Bank (Feb. 2009): "We live in non-linear times: the classic economic models and theories cannot be applied, and future development cannot be foreseen."

• Derivatives over $500 trillion by 2008 (x4 5y), $700 trillion in 2010

• Vulnerability of global financial system

Vacuum in Business Governance

• Transfer pricing, “creative” accounting, offshore tax havens allow escaping taxation

• Exorbitant salaries of corporate leaders and bonuses of bankers

• Delocalization to escape social and environmental regulation

• Corporate funding of disinformation

• Corruption flourishing almost everywhere

• Powerful lobbies influence “democratic” processes

Fossil fuels and climate change The accepted limit for global warming without

significant damage to the planet is 2°C, and this is probably too high

The estimated remaining capacity of the atmosphere to absorb carbon without going past this limit is 565 gigatons of CO

2, which may be

reached in 16 years Proven oil, coal and gas reserves total 2,795

gigatons (not counting unconventional sources) To prevent catastrophic climate change, 80% of

proven reserves need to be taken off asset accounts and left in the ground

No governance mechanism to make this happen

1972

Club of Romewarned about

unsustainability

Scenarios from World 3(Meadows et al. (1992) Beyond the Limits)

Business as usual Transition 1995 Transition 2015

Where are we now?

MacKenzie, Debora. 2012 Doomsday Book. New Scientist,

7 January 2012, pp. 38-41.

Historical cyclesin governance

Peter Turchin (mathematical ecologist) 2010:• a civilization or empire depends on social cohesion

(indicator: collective violence)• population growth and new technology generate

wealth for elite → oversupply of labour increases poverty → concentration of wealth → factionalism → anarchy → collapse → restart (200 year cycle)

• predicted political instability/impending crisis in Western Europe and US peaking 2020

• need to reduce social inequality

Problem of values in governance

Governance is usually seen as a power game driven by:

• Domestic political priorities• National self-interest• Economic interests of the most powerful• Little incentive to pursue common long-

term interests• Only superficial commitment to

international ethical frameworks (UN Charter, Declarations)

THE PROBLEMS ARE GLOBAL BUT GOVERNANCE IS STILL

NATIONAL• Legislation: social definition of ethical limits• Taxation: wealth redistribution for common

services and social security• International frameworks largely non-binding

(labour, health, transport, intellectual property)• No global mechanism for economic

management (IMF, G8, G20, etc.)• No mechanism for global wealth redistribution• No international legislation providing common

standards or a level playing field for business

Ethical basisfor governance

Justice

Justice is the first virtue of social institutions

Laws and institutions no matter how efficient and well-arranged must be reformed or abolished if they are unjust

The rights secured by justice are not subject to political bargaining or to the calculus of social interest.

(John Rawls (1999), A Theory of Justice. Rev. Ed., Cambridge, Harvard University Press, p. 3-4)

Sustainability based onOneness of Humanity

• Since humanity is one, each person is born into the world as a trust of the whole, and each bears a responsibility for the welfare of all humanity

• This collective trusteeship constitutes the moral foundation of human rights, development policy and sustainability

• The welfare of each country and community can only be derived from the well-being of the whole planet

Values for the economic system

Sustainability requires new values-based economic models

The aim should be a dynamic, just and thriving social order:

Strongly altruistic and cooperative in nature

Providing meaningful employment

Helping to eradicate poverty in the world. (adapted from Bahá'í International Community, Valuing Spirituality in Development, 1998)

A transformed social order

A social order characterized by competition, violence, conflict and insecurity needs to give way to one founded on unity in diversity.

(Karlberg 2004. Beyond the Culture of Contest: From Adversarialism to Mutualism in an Age of Interdependence.)

Cooperation rather than competition is the best foundation for social and economic progress.

(Nowak 2011. SuperCooperators: Altruism, Evolution, and Why We Need Each Other to Succeed)

Quick review of40 years of

internationalsustainability governance

UN Conference on the Human EnvironmentStockholm 1972

United Nations Conferenceon the Human Environment

- Stockholm, 5-16 June 1972- 113 countries- 19 agencies- more than 400 intergovernmental and nongovernmental organizations

UN Conference on the Human EnvironmentStockholm 1972

Delegation of the Baha'i International Community ⬇

Results of UNCHE

• Stockholm Declaration - 26 principles

• Action Plan with 109 recommendations:

- Environmental Assessment (Earthwatch)

- Environmental Management

- Support Measures

• Creation of UNEP 1972

- Governing Council

- Secretariat

- Environment Fund

United NationsEnvironment Programme

• Secretariat in Nairobi• Catalytic role• Infoterra• GEMS• IRPTC (chemicals)• Regional Seas• Environmental Law• Conventions

Beginning of UN actionon environment

and development

• World Population Conference 1974• CITES 1975

• Habitat I 1976

• World Conservation Strategy 1980

• Vienna Convention 1985 and Montréal Protocol 1987 (ozone layer)

• World Commission on Environment and Development (Brundtland Commission), 1987

World Commission onEnvironment and Development

Sustainable development is development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. It contains within it two key concepts:•the concept of 'needs', in particular the essential needs of the world's poor, to which overriding priority should be given; and•the idea of limitations imposed by the state of technology and social organization on the environment's ability to meet present and future needs.

World Commission on Environment and Development (Brundtland Commission), Our Common Future, 1987, p. 43

EARTH SUMMITThe United Nations

Conference on Environment and DevelopmentRio de Janeiro, 1992

172 countries, 108 heads of state

2,400 non-governmental organizations

Rio DeclarationAgenda 21 Conventions on climate change and

biodiversityDeclaration of forest principles

The preparatory processfor UNCED

• UNCED Secretariat in Geneva

• 4 meetings of the intergovernmental preparatory committee

• Working parties of experts

• Wide consultation with NGOs

• Each chapter of Agenda 21 negotiated, its costs calculated, and adopted by governments

Agenda 21 of the United Nations

Action plan for sustainable development negotiated by governments

and adopted by the world's leaders

and the UN General Assembly

Agenda 2140 Chapters

SOCIAL AND ECONOMIC DIMENSIONS• International cooperation• Combatting poverty• Changing consumption• Demographic dynamics• Human health• Human settlements• Integrating environment and

development

RESOURCES• Atmosphere• Land resources• Deforestation• Desertification• Mountain development• Agriculture and rural development• Biological diversity• Biotechnology• Oceans and coastal areas• Freshwater• Toxic chemicals• Hazardous wastes• Solid wastes and sewage• Radioactive wastes

MAJOR GROUPS• Women• Children and youth• Indigenous peoples• Non-governmental organizations• Local authorities• Workers and trade unions• Business and industry• Scientific and technological

community• Farmers

MEANS OF IMPLEMENTATION• Financial• Technology• Science• Education and training• Capacity-building• Institutional arrangements• Legal instruments• Information for decision-making

Intergovernmental structures

• Division of Sustainable Development, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, UN (New York) • Global Environment Facility• Secretariats of the Conventions

(UNFCCC and CCD in Bonn, CBD in Montréal) • United Nations Environment

Programme (Nairobi)

• www.unep.org

Implementation of Agenda 21: 1992-2013

Commission onSustainable Development

• Commission under the Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC)

• Preparatory Committee (March) • Meeting for 2 weeks in April-May• Side events• Parallel events• Task managers• Interagency working groups

• 1992-2002 by chapters of Agenda 21

• 2004-2018 by themes over two years

• 20th and last CSD 20 September 2013, replaced by the High Level Political Forum decided at Rio+20

CSD Work Programme on Indicators

• Meetings: Earthwatch; Ghent (Belgium, UNEP, SCOPE), Wuppertal

• Adoption by the CSD in 1994

• Expert Group

• Blue book 135 indicators (1996) (DPSIR, econ/soc/env/inst, by chapter of Agenda 21)

• 20 pilot countries

• Revised by theme, 56 indicators (2001)

• 3rd version 2006, 96 indicators, 50 core

• Now preparing Sustainable Development Goals and Indicators for post-2015

Scientific Advisory Processes

• National State of the Environment and Sustainability reports - 150 countries

• State of the Marine Environment 1982, 1990, 2001 by Joint Group of Experts on the Scientific Aspects of Marine Environmental Protection (GESAMP) 1969

• UNEP Global Environment Outlook 1997, 2000, 2002, 2007, 2012

• UNEP Global Biodiversity Assessment 1995• Millennium Ecosystem Assessment 2005• Global International Waters Assessment 2006• International Assessment of Agricultural Knowledge,

Science and Technology for Development 2008• Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) 1988

Geneva reports 1990, 1995, 2001, 2007, 2013-2014• Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity & Ecosystem

Services(IPBES) 2013 Bonn

Civil Society - Major Groups

• Stockholm 1972 - 137 NGOs• Rio Earth Summit 2400 NGOs • Major Groups: Women, Children and

Youth, Indigenous Peoples, Non-governmental Organizations, Local Authorities, Workers and Trade Unions, Business and Industry, Scientific and Technological Community, Farmers

• strengthening role in UN processes

Small Island Developing States

• Regional Organizations (SPC, Forum, Caricom, IOC, SPREP, etc.)

• AOSIS - Alliance of Small Island States

• Regional Seas Programmes• SIDS Conferences: Barbados 1994;

Mauritius 2005; Apia 2014

Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Secretariat of the Pacific Regional Environment Programme (SPREP)Environment Programme (SPREP)

• Regional Symposium on Conservation of Nature 1969, 1976, conferences every 4 years

• SPC Regional Ecological Advisor 1974• Apia Convention 1976• SPEC/SPC/UNEP/ESCAP Coordinating Group• National and Thematic Reports, Action Plan,

State of Environment Report• South Pacific Conference on the Human

Environment 1982• SPREP Convention 1986

Regional Governance

• UN Regional Commissions• Regional Intergovernmental

Organizations (EU, OAS, AU, SPC, Pacific Forum, etc.)

• Regional Seas Programmes• River Basin Conventions• Mountain Conventions

Implementation of Agenda 21:Intergovernmental follow-up

• Commission on Sustainable Development (annual review)

• Rio +5 (1997) • Millennium Summit: MDGs, quantitative goals

• World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, 2002

• Summit in New York, 2005

• UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio+20), 2012

• High Level Political Forum

World Summit onSustainable Development

Johannesburg 2002

Johannesburg DeclarationPlan of Implementation

Type II Partnerships (governments, business, civil society)

COP15 Copenhagen 2009

Failure in Copenhagen• UNFCCC COP15 in Copenhagen, December 2009, failed to

agree on binding reductions in CO2 emissions

• Kyoto Protocol was intended to demonstrate that the countries that caused the problem would respect their commitments to take action first (not solve climate change)

• They proved they were not trustworthy• Without confidence, the negotiations were very difficult• Ethical issues were raised but then ignored• The consensus rule allowed countries to hold everyone

hostage to their special interests• In the end, the most powerful made a deal among

themselves• A system founded on national sovereignty cannot address

urgent global problems effectively

Progress on climate change

• Legally-binding agreement by 2015, applicable from 2020 for all countries

• IPCC 5th Report 2014: severe, pervasive and irreversible impacts for people and ecosystems

• Lima COP 20 2014 positive spirit

• Negotiating text agreed Geneva 13 February

• Continuing negotiations June, etc.

• COP 21 Paris December 2015

• Efforts to bridge emissions reduction gap to 2020

United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development

Rio de Janeiro20-22 June 2012

Green economy

Institutional arrangements for sustainable development

Rio+20 Rio Centro Conference Centre

Rio+20

The future we want

Adopted by the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (Rio +20), 20-22 June 2012

The future we want (A/RES/&&/288)283 paragraphs

Our common vision

Renewing political commitment

Green economy in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication

Institutional framework for sustainable development

Framework for action and follow-up (by themes)

Means of implementation

Rio+20Heads of Agencies Side Event

The other Rio+20sThe intergovernmental conference had

many side events, the Sustainable Development Dialogues, and a nearby exhibition and event space.

Apart from UNCSD, there were:

Peoples' Summit in Flamengo Park

Business summit at a big hotel

Scientific forums in universities

Indigenous peoples' forum

Rio+20 Side Event with Secretary General

Rio+20 Side Event - BICElimination of Extremes of Wealth and Poverty

Rio+20 ICSU Science Forum

Rio+20Global Research Forum on Sustainable Consumption and Production

Rio+20 Peoples' Summit

Rio+20 - Peoples' Summit

Rio+20 - Peoples' Summit

Rio+20 - Peoples' Summit - IEFChanging mentalities and motivations: values for the sustainability transition

Rio+20 Peoples' Summit

Post-2015 Reports

• - United Nations Development Group. 2013. “A Million Voices: The World We Want: A Sustainable Future with Dignity for All”.

• - United Nations Development Group. 2013. The Global Conversation Begins: Emerging Views for a New Development Agenda.

• - United Nations System Task Team on the Post-2015 Development Agenda. "Realizing the Future We Want for All: Report to the UN Secretary-General".

• - UN Secretary-General's Report to the General Assembly Special Event, September 2013. “A life of dignity for all: accelerating progress towards the Millennium Development Goals and advancing the United Nations development agenda beyond 2015".

• - High-Level Panel on Post-2015 Development Agenda. “A New Global Partnership: Eradicate Poverty and Transform Economies through Sustainable Development”. Report of the High-Level Panel of Eminent Persons on the Post-2015 Development Agenda, 30 May 2013.

• - UN System organized thematic consultations on post-2015 development agenda, including: Conflict, Violence and Disaster; Education; Energy; Environmental Sustainability; Food Security and Nutrition; Governance; Growth and Employment; Health; Inequality; Population; and Water.

• “Breaking Down the Silos: Integrating Environmental Sustainability in the Post-2015 Agenda”. Report of the Thematic Consultation on Environmental Sustainability in the Post-2015 Agenda. France/Costa Rica, UNDP/UNEP. August 2013.

Post-2015 Reports

• United Nations Global Compact, “Corporate Sustainability and the United Nations Post-2015 Development Agenda: Perspectives from UN Global Compact Participants on Global Priorities and How to Engage Business Towards Sustainable Development Goals”. Report to the UN Secretary-General, 17 June 2013.

• Sustainable Development Solutions Network, “An Action Agenda for Sustainable Development: Report for the UN Secretary-General”. Prepared by the Leadership Council of the Sustainable Development Solutions Network, 6 June 2013.

• European Report on Development. 2013. “Post-- 2015: Global action for an Inclusive ‐and Sustainable Future”. Brussels: European Center for Development Policy Management, the Overseas Development Institute, and the German Development Institute (DIE).

Implementation of Agenda 21:post2015

• HLPF - High Level Political Forum every 4 years, 24 September 2013 - 2 days - heads of state/government

• ECOSOC - annual ministerial session, 8 days, with regional preparations, national reports

• Global Sustainable Development Report• Sustainable Development Goals (MDG +)

UN Summit September 2015

Synthesis Report of the Secretary-General

The Road to Dignity by 2030: Ending Poverty, Transforming All Lives

and Protecting the PlanetSynthesis Report of the Secretary-General On the Post-

2015 Agenda, released 4 December 2014http://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/content/documents/5527SR_advance

%20unedited_final.pdf

"young people will be the torch bearers... the first truly globalized, interconnected, and highly mobilized civil society, ready and able to serve as a participant, joint

steward, and powerful engine of change and transformation."

Synthesis Report of the Secretary-General

• fundamental transformation is needed in society and the economy

• Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) define a paradigm shift for people and planet

• inclusive and people-centred, leaving no one behind• integrate the economic, social and environmental

dimensions• in a spirit of solidarity, cooperation, mutual accountability• with the participation of governments and all

stakeholders

Synthesis Report of the Secretary-General

transformative partnerships built upon- principles and values- shared vision- shared goals- participation of all relevant stakeholders- mobilizing the power of culture- mutual accountability at the center

Synthesis Report of the Secretary-General

Six essential elements• Dignity: to end poverty and fight inequalities• People: to ensure healthy lives, knowledge, and the

inclusion of women and children• Prosperity: to grow a strong, inclusive, and

transformative economy• Planet: to protect our ecosystems for all societies and

our children• Justice: to promote safe and peaceful societies, and

strong institutions• Partnership: to catalyse global solidarity for sustainable

development

Sustainable Development Goals

17 action oriented, global in nature and universally applicable SDGs

1. End poverty in all its forms everywhere

2. End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture

3. Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages

4. Ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote life-long learning opportunities for all

5. Achieve gender equality and empower all women and girls

6. Ensure availability and sustainable management of water and sanitation for all

Sustainable Development Goals

7. Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all

8. Promote sustained, inclusive and sustainable economic growth, full and productive employment and decent work for all

9. Build resilient infrastructure, promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization and foster innovation

10. Reduce inequality within and among countries

11. Make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable

12. Ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns

13. Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts

14. Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development

Sustainable Development Goals

15. Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss

16. Promote peaceful and inclusive societies for sustainable development, provide access to justice for all and build effective, accountable and inclusive institutions at all levels

17. Strengthen the means of implementation and revitalize the global partnership for sustainable development: Finance, Technology, Capacity-building, Trade, Systemic issues: Policy and institutional coherence, multi-stakeholder partnerships; data, monitoring and accountability

SDG targets and indicators

Indicators and a Monitoring Framework for Sustainable Development Goals: Launching a data revolution for the SDGs

Sustainable Development Solutions Network. Revised working draft for consultation, 16 January 2015

- 100 global indicators for 17 SDGs, calculated for all countries

- 141 complementary national indicators (optional)

- methodology, data availability, and responsible organizations

- ready to start implementation in 2016http://unsdsn.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/150116-Indicators-and-a-Monitoring-

Framework-for-SDGs-working-draft-for-consultation.pdf

SDG targets and indicators

ICSU/ISSC Review of Targets for the Sustainable Development Goals: The Science Perspective

SDGs major improvement on Millennium Development Goals (MDGs)

Of 169 targets beneath the 17 draft goals:

- 29% are well defined and based on the latest scientific evidence

- 54% need more work

- 17% are weak or non-essential

- Many targets suffer from lack of integration, repetition, vague, qualitative language

- need hard, measurable, time-bound, quantitative targets

- goals are presented in ‘silos’ without interlinking

- danger of conflict between different goals

- trade-offs between overcoming poverty and moving towards sustainability

- need an ‘end-goal’ big picture vision for the SDGs: “a prosperous, high quality of life that is equitably shared and sustained.”

In summary

• Lots of discussion, little implementation

• Lack of financial means

• Major imbalances between economy, society and environment continue

• Enforcement mechanisms are lacking

Alternative visionof future

internationalgovernance

GLOBAL NEED FOR FUNDAMENTAL CHANGE

- Climate change tipping points- Extremes of wealth and poverty- A generation without hope- Gap between scientific urgency and political

realism

Fundamental systems change is needed to transition to a sustainable society, including strengthened international governance. What are some of the options?

Systems perspective on

governance

• Geographic scale (multilevel)• Global dimensions of Earth system• Subsidiarity• Integration across sectors• Shared understanding of human

purpose and social goals• Rethinking prosperity

DESIGN CRITERIA To compensate for political tendency to react only

when there is no other optionInstitutional arrangements for sustainability

require:- scientific definition of planetary

environmental potentials and limits,- recognition of inertia in environmental

systems,- long-term perspective to avoid overshoot

and collapse.This leads to the following design criteria:

Criterion 1: Scientific assessment of planetary limits

- Nine initial limits demonstrated by Rockstrom et al. (2009)

- Limits are dynamic and interrelated- Need systems modeling to define limits,

identify economic and social driving forces and management actions

- Regular reports on the state of the environment and sustainability

- Indicators of planetary sustainability

Criterion 2: Natural resources management

Major planetary natural resources subject to international trade are a single resource needing global management:

- Scientific criteria for global management- Compensation for global restrictions on use- Equitable distribution of costs and benefits

Criterion 3:Environmental standards

Scientific basis for global environmental standards and targets:

- Health effects of environmental pollution- Environmental impacts of eutrophication,

toxic chemicals, endocrine disrupters, etc.- Level global playing field for business- Subsidiarity in implementation- Protection of the poor against exploitation

Criterion 4:Governance for the energy transition

• Wind, tidal and wave turbines; photovoltaic panels; hydroelectricity; geothermal energy can be scaled up today to meet 100% of energy needs

• Conversion to renewables will reduce demand by 32%

• Technologies need to be combined and coordinated over a global grid

• Fossil fuels can be phased out in 20-40 years• Strong governance required to counter vested

interests in fossil fuelsJacobson and DeLucchi 2009

Criterion 5: Multi-level governance

- Nested structures with responsibility devolved to lower levels

- Transparent access to information- Consultative processes for setting

principles and priorities and reviewing progress

- Stakeholder participation in monitoring and management

- Sense of ownership and responsibility

Criterion 6: Institutional architecture

Democratic global governance:- a world federal system with legislative,

executive and judicial functions- collective security- authority over natural resources- exploitation of all available sources of energy- rights and responsibilities for governments,

business, civil society organizations in environmental management

Incorporating theethical dimension

International Environment Forum proposals to include ethical and spiritual considerations in UN policies and programmes:

- UN Permanent Forum on Ethics and Religion

- Office of Ethical Assessment in UN Secretariat

(IEF 2011)

EVOLUTIONARY STRATEGY

- Make progress where least resistance- Build governance mechanisms in small

steps- Learning through action, reflection and

consultation- Build confidence in institutions and roles

of stakeholders- Initiatives from civil society

organizations as well as governments

Initiatives within present system

- From present scientific advisory processes to integrated assessment of planetary sustainability

- Sustainable development goals and indicators

- Increased stakeholder participation- Stronger civil society involvement in UN

processes

Filling gaps

Start with international governance in areas beyond national sovereignty (high seas and atmosphere)

- Ocean fisheries management- Deep sea mineral extraction- Technology assessment of geoengineering

Build confidence in shared management of global commons, with stepwise extension of responsibilities

Human-centred development

Creating new measures of development at the individual level will help to change the focus from creating wealth to creating well-being in a spirit of justice and equity

Values-based indicators can make people conscious of their real desires and motivations, and build an emotional commitment to change

By getting the signaling right, we can measure implementation of the social contract for a just and sustainable society

CONCLUSIONS

- Present international system of national sovereignty is incapable of great transition towards sustainability

- Strong international sustainability governance is needed to stay within planetary limits

- Small incremental steps in scientific assessment, global commons, international standards, sustainable development goals, civil society participation, and ethical principles

- Civil society initiatives to demonstrate workable proposals

- Build momentum towards global governance before it is too late

The goal is an organic change in human society towards sustainability

An incremental approach applying design principles based on a wider vision of

human purpose and prosperitycan build momentum