Arthur Lyon Dahl International Environment Forum http://iefworld.org EOI Business School 26 February 2015

1. 40 Years of
International Sustainability
Governance
Arthur Lyon Dahl
International Environment Forum
http://iefworld.org
EOI Business School
26 February 2015

2. 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

3. After 40 years, we are still
accumulating 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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 CO2
, 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

7. 1972
Club of Rome
warned about
unsustainability

8. Scenarios from World 3
(Meadows et al. (1992) Beyond the Limits)
Business as usual Transition 1995 Transition 2015

9. Where are we
now?
MacKenzie, Debora. 2012 Doomsday
Book. New Scientist,
7 January 2012, pp. 38-41.

10. Historical cycles
in 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

11. 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

12. 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

13. Ethical basis
for governance

14. 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)

15. Sustainability based on
Oneness 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

16. 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)

17. 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)

18. Quick review of
40 years of
international
sustainability
governance

19. UN Conference on the Human Environment
Stockholm 1972

20. United Nations Conference
on the Human Environment
- Stockholm, 5-16 June 1972
- 113 countries
- 19 agencies
- more than 400
intergovernmental and
nongovernmental
organizations

21. UN Conference on the Human Environment
Stockholm 1972
Delegation of the Baha'i International Community ⬇

22. 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

23. United Nations
Environment Programme
• Secretariat in Nairobi
• Catalytic role
• Infoterra
• GEMS
• IRPTC (chemicals)
• Regional Seas
• Environmental Law
• Conventions

24. Beginning of UN action
on 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

25. World Commission on
Environment 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),

26. EARTH SUMMIT
The United Nations
Conference on Environment
and Development
Rio de Janeiro, 1992
172 countries, 108 heads of state
2,400 non-governmental organizations
Rio Declaration
Agenda 21
Conventions on climate change and
biodiversity
Declaration of forest principles

27. The preparatory process
for 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

28. 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

29. Agenda 21
40 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

30. 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

31. Implementation of Agenda 21: 1992-2013
Commission on
Sustainable 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

32. 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

33. 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

34. 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

35. 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

36. Secretariat of the Pacific RegionalSecretariat 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

37. Regional Governance
• UN Regional Commissions
• Regional Intergovernmental
Organizations (EU, OAS, AU, SPC,
Pacific Forum, etc.)
• Regional Seas Programmes
• River Basin Conventions
• Mountain Conventions

38. 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

39. World Summit on
Sustainable Development
Johannesburg 2002
Johannesburg Declaration
Plan of Implementation
Type II Partnerships
(governments, business, civil society)

40. COP15 Copenhagen 2009

41. 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

42. 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

43. United Nations Conference on
Sustainable Development
Rio de Janeiro
20-22 June 2012
Green economy
Institutional arrangements for
sustainable development

44. Rio+20 Rio Centro Conference Centre

45. Rio+20

46. 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

47. Rio+20
Heads of Agencies Side Event

48. The other Rio+20s
The 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

49. Rio+20
Side Event with Secretary General

50. Rio+20 Side Event - BIC
Elimination of Extremes of Wealth and Poverty

51. Rio+20
ICSU Science Forum

52. Rio+20
Global Research Forum on Sustainable Consumption and Production

53. Rio+20
Peoples' Summit

54. Rio+20 - Peoples' Summit

55. Rio+20 - Peoples' Summit

56. Rio+20 - Peoples' Summit - IEF
Changing mentalities and motivations: values for the sustainability transition

57. Rio+20
Peoples' Summit

58. 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".

59. 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

60. 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

61. Synthesis Report of the
Secretary-General
The Road to Dignity by 2030:
Ending Poverty, Transforming All Lives
and Protecting the Planet
Synthesis Report of the Secretary-General On the Post-
2015 Agenda, released 4 December 2014
http://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."

62. 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

63. 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

64. 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

65. 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

66. 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

67. 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

68. 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 2016
http://unsdsn.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/150116-Indicators-and-a-Monitoring-
Framework-for-SDGs-working-draft-for-consultation.pdf

69. 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

70. In summary
• Lots of discussion, little implementation
• Lack of financial means
• Major imbalances between economy,
society and environment continue
• Enforcement mechanisms are lacking

71. Alternative vision
of future
international
governance

72. 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?

73. 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

74. DESIGN CRITERIA
To compensate for political tendency to react only
when there is no other option
Institutional 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:

75. 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

76. 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

77. 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

78. 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 fuels
Jacobson and DeLucchi 2009

79. 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

80. 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

81. Incorporating the
ethical 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)

82. 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

83. 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

84. 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

85. 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

86. 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

87. 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 prosperity
can build momentum