Introduction to the Conference Topic
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The writing on the wall is here to stay: Human civilization will undermine its own foundations if we, the citizens of the Earth, do not change the course of our development paths. The combination of a growing population and worldwide increasing standards of living threatens to overstretch the carrying capacity of our planet at both ends: in the use of finite energy and non-renewable natural resources and in the capacity to absorb the polluting effluents of human activities. The impact of past and present carbon dioxide emissions is now felt around the world in turbulent weather conditions and, over the years, the phenomenon seems to worsen.
Climate change and other environmental disasters affect all countries whether developed or developing. Poorer countries and the poor in all countries will be the most affected as they have less resources to protect themselves against the new risks of global warming, rising sea levels, desertification and the loss of biodiversity. They will need more assistance to meet those interconnected challenges. On the other hand, the rapid industrialization of China and India and other large emerging economies like Indonesia, Brazil, Mexico or South Africa weighs increasingly on the acceleration of climate change. Understandably, the latecomers claim the right to industrialize as Europe, North America and Japan have done during the past centuries.
Thus the challenges of sustainable development are multiple: How can the more advanced countries be persuaded to accept their responsibility for the protection of global public goods? Can a grand bargain between the developed and the rapidly developing countries give the latter an opportunity to raise their living standards without compromising the future development of all countries? And how can the poorest countries of all be protected against the impact of climate change and the depletion of other natural resources?
Effective global governance is required to reconcile diverse and, at times, conflicting immediate interests. The management of economic globalization has been largely shaped by powerful countries and powerful players. Most developing countries still have very limited influence in global negotiations on rules and in determining the policies of key financial and economic institutions such as the IMF and the World Bank. These institutions, along with the WTO (and its predecessor the GATT), have played an important role in global economic management. But while opportunities have been created, the outcomes are widely seen to be unbalanced. The current multilateral system responsible for designing and implementing international policies is under-performing and lacks policy coherence as the social and environmental dimensions of globalization tend to be overlooked. The shortcomings of the current wave of economic and financial globalization, i.e. rising inequalities in and between nations and the neglect of the destructive effects of unfettered economic growth are only too obvious. Increasing asymmetries in power and inequalities in living standards within and across countries are a fertile ground for violent conflicts, terrorism, and ultimate insecurity.
The search for more effective and more inclusive forms of global governance cannot underrate the role of culture and religion. The international discourse on culture and development has become obsessed with the "clash of civilizations" and possible remedies to prevent it and transform it into a peaceful and constructive dialogue aiming at a universal ethic for sustainable development. In view of the enormous diversity of growth performances in Asia, Africa and Latin America, it is difficult to deny the role of culture in general for development and good governance. How can the positive elements of each culture and civilization be identified and mobilized for peaceful international cooperation and global governance?
Sustainable development begins at home. Every citizen, every organization and every company has to contribute to the common good. Governments have to design and implement policies that prevent free-riding of producers and consumers. The principle of sustainable development, combining environment protection and efficient management of depletable natural resources with poverty alleviation and decent living conditions for all people in developing countries, has been approved by all nations present at the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) in Rio in 1992. Yet, translating this imperative into effective economic policies seems to be an arduous task for both developed and developing countries. Sustainable development is a multidimensional concept concerned with human, social, cultural, political and economic development as well as with the ecological dimension. It requires policy coherence regarding all its components.
Good governance of nation states is part and parcel of global governance, and development assistance aiming at improving the governance capacities of developing countries contributes to the effective functioning of global governance. Free-riding of national governments in the international arena must be avoided as well. Therefore, policies of developed countries that can affect other countries must be scrutinized for their impact on developing countries. The imperative to make economic and other policies with international repercussions coherent with (sustainable) development goals has been enshrined in the EC Treaty since 1993, and in the Millennium Development Goals adopted by all UN members in 2000.
The credit for putting these questions on the global agenda goes to far-sighted research and to the international civil society which has become a player in global governance. But stakeholders are many and the creativity of private business in finding new technologies and new solutions for sustainable development must be harnessed as well. However, if climate change is a manifestation of market shortcomings, there is a need for government action, more international cooperation and effective global governance.
The failure to translate the two decades old concept of sustainable development into effective action worldwide points to the need for more research and debate about ways and means to make it more relevant for global, national and local development strategies and policies. "Global governance for Sustainable Development: The Need for Policy Coherence and New Partnerships" will be the focus of the 12th EADI General Conference to be held from 24-28 June 2008 in Geneva, Switzerland. European development researchers and their associates in the developing regions (ICCDA) will present and debate their perceptions of the dramatic global challenges and explore policy options and governance models to meet those challenges at the global, regional, national and local levels. The choice of Geneva as a venue will offer an opportunity for dialogue and cooperation with a vast array of international, governmental and civil society organizations plus an internationally oriented academic community.
