Climate change is not only a question of technological and economic concerns; it is also closely connected to issues of global democracy, human security, social and ecological justice. More flexibility and coherence in decision making and across governance levels is just as vital for comprehensive climate protection as integrating the social dimensions of climate change. This is the conclusion of an international conference organized by the Heinrich Boell Foundation that sought to enlighten the "Blind Spots of Global Climate Governance". The conference took place on 16 February in Berlin as part of the 'KyotoPlus' project. This initiative of the Heinrich Boell Foundation, WWF, Wuppertal Institute and the European Climate Forum goes beyond the already existing agreements and aims to develop further productive ideas for comprehensive measurements for climate protection.

Participants and speakers form various academic disciplines, private sector and civil society agreed that the current momentum of public perception should be used to push for a new paradigm based on ecological justice and sustainability. This includes greater coherence across governmental levels, and stronger emphasis on democratic and fair participation of all stakeholders. Who is accountable, how and for what, is increasingly central to the governance of climate change. Public regulation and mechanisms of enforceability and accountability need to play a stronger role. Karen O’Brian, chair of the GECHS project of the International Human Dimensions Programme on Global Environmental Change (IHDP) argued that there is a need to reconceptualize the notion of human security as climate change adds two new dimensions that are closely linked: equity and interconnectivity. Both are central in understanding what climate change means for human security and should therefore be considered in any political negotiations. Referring to problems of energy security and unequal access to electricity in South Africa, Patrick Bond, director of the Centre for Civil Society at the University of KwaZulu Natal, criticized the narrow focus on market-based solutions. Instead, new industrial policies, tough state regulation of emissions, massive investment in renewables, and grassroots carbon reduction initiatives were considered key elements for just global climate governance. (Christiane Roettger)

For further information on the conference, please visit http://www.globalgovernance.de

Published in:ECC-Newsletter, April 2007