Governing Our Planetary Emergency: Charting a Safe Path for a Workable Future
The world faces a deepening planetary emergency — and is on a reckless path towards runaway, catastrophic climate change — having already over-shot six of nine scientifically-identified Planetary Boundaries. Collectively, we must chart a safe and sustainable path for a workable future for all of humanity.
The world is currently experiencing the initial impacts of catastrophic climate change. Facing a crossroads in human history, we need novel approaches to global governance in support of unprecedented policy, private sector, and citizen-led actions, to shift course this decade and avert the worst of the emergency. Human interference in the life-supporting functions of our planet have already caused intense suffering and heightened inequality. Employing new and existing governance levers in more creative and technically robust ways — that harness the combined talents and commitments of governments and non-state actors — is necessary to meet our shared, colossal challenges. The Commission aspires to contribute to the thought leadership and norm entrepreneurship that may be necessary to safeguard humanity’s future. Our current challenges – although daunting – are solvable, and there are many powerful, positive trends on which to build our efforts. This Report sets forth near- and medium-term proposals for vital and substantial governance improvements across the international system. The Commission will form diverse high-level working groups to refine its recommendations and advocate for their associated transformations; we value our myriad partners in this important effort for just climate governance. By working with diverse and pro-active partners and contributing to smart coalitions of governments, civil society groups, cities, businesses, and others worldwide, the Climate Governance Commission aims to advance the near- and medium-term innovation proposals presented in this Report. In doing so, we seek to initiate a shift in global governance and provide a practical path forward for ambitious and doable climate action, ensuring a safe, flourishing, and sustainable future for all.
“We stand at the cusp of a green energy transformation, poised to shape a fairer, cleaner, healthier future. The means to finance the climate action we need to see are within reach, but it is good governance that holds the key. We must remain hopeful – but hope is not just a passive sentiment in our hearts, it must be manifested in our actions.”
— Mary Robinson, Lead Chair of the Climate Governance Commission, Chair of The Elders
To download the Report please click here.
