Governance and Multilateral Agreements
While the number of multilateral agreements and governance frameworks abound, they vary on multiple levels. They cover different topics, from monetary policy to international trade, chemicals management to climate change. They have different memberships that do not fully overlap, and each have their own types of obligations. They also have varying legal implications, with some taking a “soft law” approach without enforcement mechanisms, while others take a “hard law” approach with the prospect of sanctions for non-compliance.
At IISD, our work on governance and multilateral agreements involves working with countries, regional and international institutions, academics, and civil society representatives to better understand these systems and their implications for sustainable, inclusive development. We consider issues such as policy coherence and conflict; governance gaps and overlaps; transparency and accountability; and the implications of these frameworks for national and regional policy space. We advise governments, hold expert meetings, participate in international forums, document and analyze negotiations, and conduct in-depth research into trends, reform options, and best practices.
Blog
Realizing Responsible Investment in Agriculture: What can policy-makers in Africa learn from Southeast Asia?
Large-scale land-based agricultural investments in Africa still entail many human rights and environmental risks that could be avoided or mitigated. Why is this still happening, and how can policy-makers reverse this trend?
The Significance of Stockholm+50
Ambassador Johanna Lissinger-Peitz of Sweden explains why it matters that we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Stockholm Conference and how we live up to its vision.
The Legacy of the Stockholm Conference
In 1972, the Stockholm Conference set off a chain of events that rewrote how countries tackle environmental challenges. How do we take the lessons of the past half century and apply them to our triple planetary crisis?
What Comes After Stockholm+50?
World leaders will mark half a century since the 1972 Stockholm Conference... and then depart. What comes next as we face accelerating societal and environmental challenges?
Stockholm+50: Weaving global environmental governance
The Stockholm Conference in 1972 created the framework that still guides how countries negotiate environmental deals. How do we fulfill its vision?
Introduction to Adaptation in the Global Stocktake
This NAP Global Network brief seeks to demystify the Global Stocktake process under the Paris Agreement and explain how it could strengthen adaptation ambition at the global level.
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A Long and Winding Road: COP 25 end notes
If there is one word to sum up what turned out to be the longest Conference of Parties (COP) in UNFCCC history, it’s arguably “frustration.” Now that COP 25 has wrapped, it’s worth looking back at what was—and wasn’t—achieved.
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