Responding to the challenges of sustainable development requires collective action. This involves defining common objectives, seeking consensus on what actions should be undertaken, and a framework for their implementation. During the 1990s, a consensus seemed to have been reached and a number of important international agreements were signed. This apparent convergence of views is now being questioned. Differences in objectives have emerged (regarding climate change for example). And even though common objectives have been defined (Millennium Development Goals), this does not necessarily imply a consensus regarding the actions to be undertaken. Therefore a new conceptual perspective is needed that takes heed of the failures of the current global governance system and of the real divergence of views, to be able to overcome such issues. The current system of international governance in the environmental field encounters three major problems: inefficiency; the limited and sometimes questionable nature of its legitimacy; and persistent inequity.
The conference objective was to provide an academic contribution to the political process of reforming international environmental governance. After identifying the reasons why the current governance system is subject to so much criticism, and why multilateralism is still needed to solve global problems, the participants summarised the current situation regarding the ongoing debates and the proposed solutions, and then examined the political feasibility.
Contact: Benoît Martimort-Asso