International Environmental Governance:

1. International Environmental Governance: ‘Options for Reform ’ Bradnee Chambers IEG Team Leader

2. Why IEG reform? The IEG system has, since the foundation of UNEP in 1972 developed in a highly fragmented manner, contrary to other international regimes, such as the international trade, health or labour regimes. The fragmentation of the IEG system has led to a number of deficiencies, including: Use of financial resources Inconsistency in interpretation of rules Neglect of interlinkages Structural inefficiencies No coherent, system-wide environmental strategy Implementation and capacity Monitoring, review and accountability

3. Why IEG reform? Fragmented nature of environmental financing Recognition of the negative impacts of a degraded environment on the development process The environmental pillar as the foundation for the economic and social pillars of sustainable development as life on earth is conditioned upon a healthy environment

4. Ongoing IEG Processes Currently open IEG processes: 2002 Cartagena Package, UNEP GC/GMEF decision SS.VII/1 – universal membership; 2005 World Summit Outcome, Paragraph 169, resulting in the UN General Assembly Informal Consultative Process on the Institutional Framework for United Nations Environment Work; 2008 Commonwealth Consultations on IEG; 2008 Joint Inspection Unit Reporton the Management Review of Environmental Governance in the UN System (Executive Director’s response to be discussed by the CPR on 5 November 2009); 2009 and 2010 Consultative Group set up under UNEP GC decision 25/4 and SSXI/1 respectively. Other related processes: UNFCCC COP 15 climate change negotiations; GEF 5th replenishment; IPBES; Global Environmental Goals etc.

5. UNEP Governing Council decision 25/4 Established a regionally representative, consultative group of ministers or high‑level representatives, with two co-Chairs, one from a developing and one from a developed country (Kenya and Italy) The group met twice (Belgrade 39 countries; Rome 43 countries) The group presented a set of options for improving international environmental governance to the UNEP Governing Council/Global Ministerial Environment Forum in February 2010 President of the Governing Council transmitted the set of options to the General Assembly in May 2010

6. The set of options Any reform to IEG should be based on the principle that form should follow function. Consultations on functions will lead to a discussion on forms that could range from incremental changes to other broader institutional reforms that can be considered alongside each other. The IEG debate should be addressed in the broader context of environmental sustainability and sustainable development. Developing a set of options for improving IEG should follow from a fresh examination of multiple challenges and emerging opportunities. The work of the Consultative Group should be political in nature.

7. The set of options Objectives and functions identified… 1. Creating a strong, credible and coherent science base. Data and information collection, exchange and analysis Assessment, early warning and awareness raising Cross-sectoral data collection and research Science-policy interface 2. Developing a global authoritative and responsive voice for environmental sustainability. Global agenda setting and policy guidance Rule making, standard setting and development of universal principles Compliance, monitoring and accountability Dispute avoidance and settlement 3. Achieving coherence within the UN system. Coordination of policies and programmes Coherence among Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) and rationalisation of MEA secretariat activities

8. The set of options Objectives and functions identified - continued 4. Securing sufficient, predictable and coherent funding. Mobilising funds for the global environment Development of innovative market-based financing mechanisms Influencing priorities for financing environmental initiatives Linking the public and private sector 5. Ensuring a responsive and cohesive approach to meeting country needs. Human and institutional capacity building Technology transfer and financial support Linking international and local levels

9. UNEP Governing Council decision SSXI/1 Established a regionally representative, consultative group of ministers or high‑level representatives, with two co-Chairs, one from a developing and one from a developed country (Kenya and Finland) The group met in July 2010 in Nairobi (58 countries) and will meet from 21-23 November 2010 in Helsinki, Finland As per paragraph 8 of the decision, the group “will consider the broader reform of the international environmental governance system, building on the set of options but remaining open to new ideas”. As per paragraph 10, “the group will conclude its work in a timely fashion and present a final report to the Governing Council at its twenty-sixth session in anticipation of the Council’s contribution in time for the second meeting of the open-ended preparatory committee of the United Nations Conference on Sustainable Development and the sixty-fifth session of the General Assembly.” The decision also calls for the input of the UN system through the Environment Management Group and civil society through UNEP’s Major Groups and Stakeholders Branch.

10. Ongoing discussions under GC decision SSXI/1 As per the co-Chairs’ summary of the Nairobi meeting: Nine of the initial 24 options for broader reform have been elaborated in a paper by the co-Chairs in preparation for the Helsinki meeting and shared with Governments, the UN system and civil society for comments. The UNEP Executive Director also circulated a comparative analysis of five possible institutional configurations as options for broader IEG reform. Upon receipt of comments by 4 October 2010, the co-Chairs and UNEP Executive Director will finalise the paper and share it with Governments. The papers will form the basis for discussions at the Helsinki meeting.

11. Contributing to Rio+20 One of the two main themes of the UN Conference on Sustainable Development, planned for 2012 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, is the institutional framework for sustainable development. IEG is an integral part of it. The Nusa Dua declaration of the UNEP GC/GMEF of 2010 calls for UNEP and the Consultative Group to directly contribute to the process. The outcome of the First Preparatory Committee for the Rio+20 Conference equally calls for the Consultative Group to feed into the preparatory process. Rio+20 provides the political momentum for comprehensive reform.