Introduction to Global Environmental Governance

World Environment Organization

World Summit on Sustainable Development

UN Commission on Sustainable Development

Global Convention on Rio Principle 10

World Environment Organization

Protecting the world environment is a critical foundation of sustainable development. Two-thirds of the earth is beyond the territorial sovereignty of UN member states; it is truly the ‘global commons’. The ocean of the world’s atmosphere is equally borderless; and its pollution, warming and disintegration are transnational threats. The international community must govern the global commons. To avoid devastating exploitation of our common, indispensable global environment, the protection and preservation of the global commons must be placed under the governance of the UN. Accordingly, WFM advocates for the establishment of a World Environment Organization (WEO).

In order for environmental and social issues to be adequately addressed in the international legal order, they will have to be given equitable legal and institutional authority. WFM therefore believes that the solution is the creation of a WEO or a ‘Sustainable Development Organization’ that could counterbalance the powerful finance and trade institutions. A WEO would be a designated and empowered advocate for adequate response to environmental management and sustainable development and thus provide a more balance, effective and accountable system of global governance.