The Climate Governance Commission aims to fill a crucial gap in confronting the global climate emergency by developing, proposing and building partnerships that promote feasible, high impact global governance solutions for urgent and effective climate action to limit global temperature rise to 1.5°C or less. Worldwide greenhouse gas emissions need to be halved by 2030 and then halved again every decade to fall to zero by 2050, following the “Carbon Law”. Among other partners, the Global Challenges Foundation has been one of several behind the initiative and the Commission is actively collaborating with partners such as the Stimson Center and the Exponential Roadmap Initiative.
Climate Governance Commission – the Mission
Humanity is facing one of its gravest crises ever, but has so far failed to rise to the challenge. To avoid catastrophic climate change, worldwide greenhouse gas emissions need to be cut in half by 2030, and then halved again in each of the following decades, to reach net zero by 2050.
Achieving these goals is a challenge. Solutions do exist, but they are far from being implemented at the pace and scale necessary. The question is: How come? What is preventing the nations of the world from taking the swift and large-scale action required, and how can such action be catalysed?
Working to close vital climate action gaps – The Climate Governance Commission aims to contribute to filling crucial climate action gaps in the implementation of known solutions, diffusion of vital policies and adequate governance, and by proposing, developing, and building partnerships to promote governance solutions for urgent and effective climate action. Worldwide greenhouse gas emissions need to be halved by 2030 and then halved again every decade to fall to zero by 2050, following the “Carbon Law”. Among other partners, the Global Challenges Foundation has been one of several behind the initiative and the Commission is actively collaborating with partners as Stimson Center and the Exponential Roadmap Initiative.
Three gaps impeding the development – The Climate Governance Commission has identified three major climate action gaps that prevent the implementation of solutions needed to limit global temperature rise to 1.5°C or below.
1 . The Solution-Action Gap
2. The Policy Gap
3. The Governance Gap
Given the gravity of current circumstances, and the narrow window for collective action, a new and non-linear way of thinking is needed in order to close these gaps. As a result, the Commission presented the interim report “Governing Our Climate Future” in October 2021, outlining possible solutions on how to bridge these gaps.
The Gaps and how to close them
1. The Solution-Action Gap Technological, economic and social solutions exist, but are not implemented at the pace and scale that mirrors the magnitude of the challenge. For example, 36 technologically viable and market-ready solutions that can halve greenhouse gas emissions globally by 2030 and provide pathways to achieve the temperature rise limitation target have been identified.
2. The Policy Gap Policies to support effective implementation of technological and other solutions exist. Examples are carbon pricing and the removal of fossil fuel subsidies, but they are not being implemented as rapidly and widespread as needed, nor are they being sufficiently scaled up and diffused globally in order to enable the required climate action. Policies that support exponential climate action, and that could themselves be scaled up exponentially and diffused globally, are essential.
3. The Governance Gap There is still a deficit in governance mechanisms at a global level that can reliably and effectively promote the implementation of exponential climate policies and the achievement of collective climate targets. The aim of the Climate Governance Commission is to fill these crucial gaps by developing, proposing and building partnerships that promote feasible, high impact global governance solutions.
Ways forward – solutions do exist – Viable solutions exist that could keep the world on track to meet this goal, if supported by effective policy, finance, and leadership to enable rapid implementation on a global scale. But so far, responses to the climate emergency have not been characterized by effective policy or strong leadership, and very few countries are close to being on track to meet emission reduction targets aligned with the 1.5 degrees Celsius ambition. Looking at different types of global governance solutions according to the Commission’s explorations there may be several ways forward, for example:
– Bottom-up pathways
– New institutions
– Strengthened international law
Statement of the Climate Governance Commission (CGC)
September 2023 (UN General Assembly High-Level Week & Climate Week)
Charting a Safe Path for a Workable Future
The world faces a deepening planetary emergency – and is on a reckless path toward catastrophic climate change – having already over-stepped six of nine scientifically-identified planetary boundaries. A continued failure to address the underlying causes of this emergency—such as fossil fuel-based economies, resource waste/overconsumption and the destruction of nature—will have further devastating effects for all of humanity, triggering potentially irreversible tipping points, with dangerous consequences for planetary stability, both social and ecological. A system-wide approach to solving the climate crisis is required now, ensuring reliable climate and planetary boundary governance for the Earth as a whole.
The Climate Governance Commission (CGC) aims to address this crucial gap by developing, proposing, and building partnerships that promote feasible, high-impact global governance solutions for urgent and effective climate action to limit global temperature rise to 1.5°C or less. A premise of the Commission is that new perspectives on global governance — deploying new levels of collective wisdom and political courage — are required to tackle current existential planetary risks. Informing the upcoming COP-28 meeting in Dubai and September 2024 Summit of the Future in New York, solutions recommended by the Commission aim to move the Planet toward a global just transition, leap-frogging beyond carbon based energy to renewable technologies, jobs, and holistic economic and social well-being, with a special focus on those most vulnerable to climate change.
At this unique juncture in human history, the world may have as few as six-to-seven years to catalyze the unprecedented action needed to shift course and to avert the worst of the emergency. The current crossing of planetary boundaries has already caused intense suffering and heightened inequality. Employing existing governance levers in new and more robust ways, and creating new levers and management systems, are necessary now to meet our shared, unprecedented ecological challenges. The Climate Governance Commission, in its forthcoming (November 2023) report, Governing Our Planetary Emergency, will recommend bold and concrete steps to catalyze a shift in global governance, for the benefit of all, and with suggested pathways to address the planetary emergency. The Commission’s full report will provide practical global governance innovations for sound yet ambitious climate governance and planetary stewardship.
Find out more
Interim Report 2021: Governing Our Climate Future
Other reports of the Climate Governance Commission
Commissioners and Contributing Experts
The Climate Governance Commission is formed by its Commissioners and Contributing Experts, a group of diverse and high-level experts, who advise on and contribute to proposals regarding global climate governance, planet boundary governance and related global ecological challenges.
The Climate Governance Commission is composed of:
