Rationalizing the Global Environmental Rationalizing the Global Environmental Governance System: Synergies between Governance System: Synergies between Multilateral Environmental AgreementsMultilateral Environmental Agreements

Pamela S. Chasek, Ph.D.Pamela S. Chasek, Ph.D.Executive Editor, Executive Editor, Earth Negotiations BulletinEarth Negotiations Bulletin

International Institute for Sustainable DevelopmentInternational Institute for Sustainable DevelopmentAssociate Professor of International Relations, Associate Professor of International Relations,

Manhattan CollegeManhattan College

Key challengesKey challenges 500 international treaties and agreements on the 500 international treaties and agreements on the

environmentenvironment• 300 regional300 regional• 155 biodiversity-related155 biodiversity-related• 179 chemicals-related179 chemicals-related• 46 land-related46 land-related• 196 water-related196 water-related

Proliferation of subsidiary bodies under these Proliferation of subsidiary bodies under these conventions.conventions.

Conventions are largely sectoral in nature, Conventions are largely sectoral in nature, geographically scattered and under different geographically scattered and under different administrative arrangements.administrative arrangements.

Sectors that are not covered by a MEA are now Sectors that are not covered by a MEA are now often covered by Forums.often covered by Forums.

UN specialized agencies are increasingly taking UN specialized agencies are increasingly taking environmental issues into consideration.environmental issues into consideration.

                                                                                      

So how do you rationalize and So how do you rationalize and develop synergies between issues develop synergies between issues

and conventions?and conventions?

Lots of discussion and many Lots of discussion and many workshopsworkshops

Synergies between the Rio Synergies between the Rio ConventionsConventions

Synergies between the chemicals Synergies between the chemicals conventionsconventions

Synergies between biodiversity-Synergies between biodiversity-related conventionsrelated conventions

Challenges in the Challenges in the Development of SynergiesDevelopment of Synergies

The need for synergies at the The need for synergies at the national level as well as the national level as well as the international levelinternational level

The dispersion of national focal The dispersion of national focal points across government ministries points across government ministries and agenciesand agencies

The importance of engaging the right The importance of engaging the right actors actors

Addressing Synergies at the Addressing Synergies at the International LevelInternational Level

Convention Secretariats:Convention Secretariats:• Strengthening communication and information Strengthening communication and information

exchange with other secretariatsexchange with other secretariats• Rationalizing reporting and national Rationalizing reporting and national

implementation requirements implementation requirements

At the COP level:At the COP level:• Establishment of selected joint work Establishment of selected joint work

programmesprogrammes• Systematically crosslink decisions in one COP Systematically crosslink decisions in one COP

with other COPs’ decisionswith other COPs’ decisions

Addressing Synergies at the Addressing Synergies at the National LevelNational Level

Coordination between focal points for interrelated Coordination between focal points for interrelated conventionsconventions

Coordination of responsibilities of conventions Coordination of responsibilities of conventions between various sectoral policiesbetween various sectoral policies

Development of joint implementation Development of joint implementation programmesprogrammes

Development of a more participatory approachDevelopment of a more participatory approach Ensure political attention to promote capacity Ensure political attention to promote capacity

buildingbuilding Links with the development agenda at the Links with the development agenda at the

country levelcountry level Appropriate institutional mechanismsAppropriate institutional mechanisms Coordination of funding sourcesCoordination of funding sources

Example: African Focal PointsExample: African Focal Points

Of the 53 African countries, only 21 list the Of the 53 African countries, only 21 list the same ministry as its focal point for all same ministry as its focal point for all three Rio conventions. three Rio conventions.

In the other 32 countries often the focal In the other 32 countries often the focal points for two conventions are the same, points for two conventions are the same, but the third one is different. but the third one is different.

Just looking at the UNCCD focal points Just looking at the UNCCD focal points alone, ministries include agriculture, alone, ministries include agriculture, environment, forests, and rural environment, forests, and rural development. development.

OECD Focal PointsOECD Focal Points

Of 25 OECD countries, 19 maintain UNCCD Of 25 OECD countries, 19 maintain UNCCD focal points in ministries of foreign affairs focal points in ministries of foreign affairs (environment or development (environment or development departments within the ministry) or departments within the ministry) or ministries of development cooperationministries of development cooperation

This is quite different from AfricaThis is quite different from Africa The five who maintain focal points in The five who maintain focal points in

agriculture or environment ministries are agriculture or environment ministries are those who suffer from desertification those who suffer from desertification

International-National-LocalInternational-National-Local

No one has paid much attention to the No one has paid much attention to the local level. local level.

Local people deal with problems, not Local people deal with problems, not conventions. conventions.

Local people and organizations don’t Local people and organizations don’t always realize resources may be available.always realize resources may be available.

National governments don’t always report National governments don’t always report local successes because of a disconnect local successes because of a disconnect between local activities and international between local activities and international reporting requirements.reporting requirements.

More Challenges in the More Challenges in the Development of SynergiesDevelopment of Synergies

Conventions and the UN system have Conventions and the UN system have created competing ways of created competing ways of addressing facets of the same addressing facets of the same problemproblem

PovertyReductionStrategies

PovertyReductionStrategies

National Sustainable

Dev. Strategies

National Sustainable

Dev. Strategies

National Env. Mgmt

Strategies

National Env. Mgmt

Strategies

POPs National

Implement-ation Plans

POPs National

Implement-ation Plans

National Develop-

ment Plans

National Develop-

ment Plans

UNCCDNationalAction

Programme

UNCCDNationalAction

Programme

National Biodiversity

Action Plan

National Biodiversity

Action Plan

National Forestry

Plan

National Forestry

Plan

Soil Fertility Action Plan

Soil Fertility Action Plan

UNFCCCNational

AdaptationPlan of Action

UNFCCCNational

AdaptationPlan of Action

National Govern-

ment

National Govern-

ment

Additional ChallengesAdditional Challenges

Environmental issues are seldom at Environmental issues are seldom at the top of the development the top of the development cooperation agendacooperation agenda

Short-sighted political objectivesShort-sighted political objectives Roles and responsibilities of the Roles and responsibilities of the

secretariats vary secretariats vary

Bonn Montreal

UNCCD UNFCCC CBD

UN Secretariat UNEP

Global Mechanism

GEF

CST SBSTA SBSTTAIPCC

Ad Hoc Groups

Ad Hoc Groups

Moving Forward: RecommendationsMoving Forward: Recommendations1.1. Improve synergies at the national level. Improve synergies at the national level. Between conventions and focal pointsBetween conventions and focal points Coordination of MEA implementation and development planningCoordination of MEA implementation and development planning

2. Improve synergies among donors and recipients 2. Improve synergies among donors and recipients Coordination of funding programmes and projects that implement multiple MEAsCoordination of funding programmes and projects that implement multiple MEAs Implementation of the Paris Declaration – more coordinated and recipient driven Implementation of the Paris Declaration – more coordinated and recipient driven

fundingfunding

3. Improve synergies in reporting requirements. 3. Improve synergies in reporting requirements. Rationalize and possibly decrease reporting requirementsRationalize and possibly decrease reporting requirements Find similar issues across different MEAs where one coordinated report may sufficeFind similar issues across different MEAs where one coordinated report may suffice

4. Improve synergies among scientific and technical bodies. 4. Improve synergies among scientific and technical bodies. Explore ways for greater cooperation between scientific and technical bodiesExplore ways for greater cooperation between scientific and technical bodies Encourage greater communication and collaboration between ministry officials who Encourage greater communication and collaboration between ministry officials who

attend different scientific and technical body meetings. attend different scientific and technical body meetings. Develop mechanisms for results of scientific and technical bodies to be taken up by Develop mechanisms for results of scientific and technical bodies to be taken up by

political bodies (COPs, etc.)political bodies (COPs, etc.)

Thank you!Thank you!

Thank you!Thank you!