InterLinkages: Synergies and Coordination among Multilateral Environmental Agreements

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Inter-Linkages Synergies and Coordination among
Multilateral Environmental Agreements

• Jerry Velasquez
• United Nations University

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Eleven Years After Rio

• The trends...
• Complex and interlinked envtl problems
• We create solutions that overlap, conflict,
  contradict, or does not take advantage of
  synergies between them
• We have differentiated global and local actions
• There is reduced interest in environmental issues
  by decision makers worldwide
• We have reduced financial and human resources to
  deal with these issues

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Inter-linked Problems, Segregated Solutions
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Development Fora
Trade Fora
Population issues
Development issues
Financial Fora
Environment Fora
Environment issues
Trade issues
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• Air, water and soil pollution
• Forest fires

Local Problems and Actions

• Climate Change
• Ozone Depletion
• Biodiversity Loss

Global Problems and Actions
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Present System

• Complex and inter-linked
• Too much focus on
• Structure, not function
• Rule making, not implementation
• Segregated and divergent approaches
• Lead to conflicts, lost opportunities
• Lead to practical and real solutions
• Too much focus on the global level

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The Importance of the National and Regional Levels

• National level
• Country priorities are best voiced
• Implementation occurs
• Regional level
• Ecosystem issues often cross national boundaries
• Some MEAs have regional counterparts
• Regional institutions key in implementation
• Global level
• Instruments are reflections of national
  priorities
• Similar challenges exist at national level

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What is Inter-linkages?

• Improving implementation does not require new
  instruments but greater coherence in available
  tools
• Integrated approach to develop comprehensive
  synergistic frameworks for environmental
  management at all levels

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Operational Concepts

• Demand Driven
• Support Agenda 21
• Principle of Subsidiarity
• Value Added
• Evolution ? Revolution

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Coverage of Initiative

• Phases
• Planning, Negotiation, Ratification,
  Implementation
• Functions
• Capacity Development, Information Management,
  Resourcing, Coordination, Education and
  Awareness, Compliance, Etc.
• Stakeholders
• Government, Private sector, Civil Society, Etc.
• Issues
• Chemicals, Climate related, Biodiversity related,
  etc.

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Activities Undertaken So Far

• Assessments
• Policy Research
• Case Studies
• Capacity Building
• Other follow-up activities

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Case Studies

• 14 Countries
• Pacific Palau, Cook Islands, Vanuatu, Papua New
  Guinea
• ASEAN Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao PDR,
  Malaysia, Myanmar, Philippines, Singapore ,
  Thailand, Vietnam