The Role of NGOs and Civil Society in Global Environmental Governance

Abstract

This chapter identifies five major roles that civil society might play in global environmental governance: (1) collecting, disseminating, and analyzing information; (2) providing input to agenda-setting and policy development processes; (3) performing operational functions; (4) assessing environmental conditions and monitoring compliance with environmental agreements; and (5) advocating environmental justice. Three case studies – the Crucible Group, TRAFFIC, and global ecosystem assessment processes – illustrate the success NGOs have had in stepping up to these roles. International decisionmaking processes seek legitimacy through the involvement of civil society, yet formal mechanisms for NGO participation within the UN system remain limited. Ad-hoc civil society participation should be replaced by a strengthened, more formalized institutional structure for engagement. The chapter offers concrete suggestions for such measures, including: