The creation of an international organization (IO) for global resource management looks unlikely. The interests of importers and exporters are too divergent to permit such a scenario, as is the global distribution of resources. This was the key conclusion at the conference on "Resource Management as a Challenge for Global Governance" organized by the German Federal Academy for Security Policy, the Wuppertal Institute and the Development and Peace Foundation in Berlin from October 11 – 12. The conference was attended by at least 100 participants.
Although an IO does not appear possible, there was no disagreement about the need for a global framework for resource management. But the fundamental question is whether such a framework should be regulatory and restrictive in nature or follow the logic of deregulation and free markets. While free trade can result in asymmetric conditions, e.g. due to cartel formation, regulatory approaches are often difficult to implement. The International Panel for Sustainable Resource Management recently set up by UNEP is a committee of experts and therefore cannot close this gap, but at least it enjoys inter-governmental legitimacy.
There was unanimity in the view that issues of global resource management are about fair play, not charity. The potential solutions, however, remained unclear and contentious. For instance, should resource funds be established or should profits from national resource wealth be equitably distributed among the population as a de facto basic income?
With regard to equitable resource distribution, it was asked to what extent a UN Security Council resolution on conflict resources   as in the case of blood diamonds   is useful in preventing illegal resource exploitation, which is frequently associated with violence as well. However, this question was not dealt with in-depth at the conference and will certainly require further discussion. (Achim Maas)

Further information on the conference is available at http://www.sef-bonn.org/de/aktuelles/index.php.

Published in: ECC-Newsletter, December 2007