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Address at the panel discussion of the UNESCO Future Forum

Paris, 24.5.2011  |  speech


Key-note Address by Dr Danilo Türk, President of the Republic of Slovenia, entitled "The Challenge of Global Governance: The time to think or the time to act?" at the panel discussion of the UNESCO Future Forum
Paris, 24 May 2011


C'est un grand plaisir pour moi de rencontrer de nouveau les membres du Collegium International. Vous avez choisi d'engager la discussion sur l'économie verte, un aspect clé de développement et un défi pour la gouvernance mondiale. Je suis convaincu que la sagesse collective des membres du Collegium sous la houlette énergique de Michel Rocard va contribuer d'une manière significative en faveur d'une action qui s'impose. A ce propos, l'OCDE, qui fête son cinquantième anniversaire ces jours-ci à Paris, a également placé la croissance et l'économie verte au cœur de ses préoccupations. Il sera intéressant de comparer les résultats des réunions de l'OCDE avec les conclusions du Collegium International.

Ici, je voudrais ajouter une remarque personnelle. Depuis ses débuts, je suis les travaux du Collegium International, que j'ai soutenu sous la direction de celui qui fut alors le Secrétaire général de l'ONU, Kofi Annan. La compréhension profonde de notre monde dont témoigne le Collegium dans ses propositions sérieuses a toujours suscité le respect. Le Projet d'une Charte pour la Gouvernance mondiale lancé à Sao Paulo en novembre 2009 représente l'un des avertissements les plus graves sur l'état de la planète et un appel très convaincant à la renaissance des Nations Unies, afin que les défis de notre époque soient traités comme il faut.

The President of the Republic of Slovenia Dr. Danilo Türk takes part in the UNESCO Future Forum (photo: Stanko Gruden/STA)The International Collegium is constantly reminding the international community that the world is facing a very serious crisis of governance. Sovereign states, still the key actors of governance - national and international - should be better aware of that and should proceed with the needed reforms of the entire international system.

The Collegium is not alone in this aspiration. When one looks, for example, at the Global Risks 2011 Report produced by the World Economic Forum one sees the following diagnosis:

Two global risks are especially significant given their high degrees of impact and interconnectedness: Economic disparity and global governance failure. Both influence the evolution of many other global risks and inhibit our capacity to respond effectively to them.

There is a paradox here: The same conditions which make global governance crucial are also making it exceedingly difficult: divergent interests, conflicting incentives, differing values and norms. The failures of Doha Round trade negotiations and Copenhagen negotiations on climate change are among the consequences.

The hopes vested in the group of G-20, which acted with determination at the early stages of the global financial crisis in early 2009, have started to wane. Nouriel Roubini has recently suggested that the world of the G-20 has turned into the world of G-0. According to Roubini, no single state or a group of states today has the economic power or political will to lead.

In addition to its ineffectiveness (which may be temporary) there is a problem of legitimacy of the G-20. Bringing it into the UN system looks like a logical, albeit almost impossible solution.

The President of the Republic of Slovenia Dr. Danilo Türk takes part in the UNESCO Future Forum (photo: Stanko Gruden/STA)The UN continues its discussions on the reform of the Security Council but it seems that it is nowhere near a new "San Francisco moment" that would enable it to take the big decisions.

In short, the situation looks rather bleak. However, at a time when grand designs do not seem to be the order of the day, there is a growing sense of both urgency and opportunity of what became known as green growth or green economy.

Much of the thinking at the time of the global financial crisis and its aftermath - characterized by slow growth, high unemployment and the need to find new avenues of development concentrated on green economy as an opportunity. The book by Tim Jackson, "Prosperity without Growth" (2009) is devoted to the opportunities provided by green economy.

However, here too we face a familiar problem: Much depends on the nation state - its policies, its laws, its incentives, its economic condition etc. Let us not forget, a large part of the World, the entire Asian continent thinks in highly "Westphalian" terms: Territorial sovereignty, non interference, and a highly pragmatic, minimalistic view of the international institutions dominate. In this circumstances China has adopted a policy orientation leaning heavily towards new technologies, green economy, energy saving and developing its internal market with these strategic considerations at the top.

It is impossible to ignore the fact that powerful new players at the global scene: China, India and Brazil consider their own development as priority number one and are less likely to expect their development to rely on the changed international system.

Effective global governance is held back by very real factors such as diverging national interests but also by inadequate decision making structures both at the international and national level. But beneath this lies an even more powerful factor: technological and social change which has diminished the ability of states to control the processes of transformation and to implement the internationally agreed committments which require short term sacrifice for the long term gain.

The President of the Republic of Slovenia Dr. Danilo Türk takes part in the UNESCO Future Forum (photo: Stanko Gruden/STA)However, the awareness of the threat of global warming and its consequences has reached a point which makes some of the necessary changes possible. Just think about the fact that the UN Security Council has been considering since 2007 the issues of energy, security and climate change in a single comprehensive debate, which is still going on.

The failure in Copenhagen has led to a new, more modest format of negotiations, while at the same time, it strengthened two further basic prescriptions. First, the front of those pressing for change is broadening and, second, the number of states wishing to lead by example and not by proposing new international committments is growing. Interestingly, this category of states includes China, which has invested 37.8% of its 2009 stimulus plan to green elements (the record is held by South Korea with 80.5%.

It appears that further action should be a combinatio of national and international efforts. However, the global goals need to be defined and agreed to and there will have to be an improved coordinating mechanism, preferably within the UN.

Specific ideas exist. They need to be discussed, improved and refined. But it is equally important to maintain a strong public pressure coming from the business sector, the NGOs and the media. The international public opinion should not become tired.

The International Collegium will have a role to play in all these areas.
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