The Climate Governance Commission recommends the establishment of a Global Environment Agency (GEA).
To catalyze a network of global, regional, national, and sub-national institutions for climate and planetary boundary governance, the GEA must perform five main functions:
- A knowledge function to share and monitor climate and planetary boundary information;
- A deliberative and legislative function;
- An enabling and implementing function;
- A trust and justice-building function;
- An iterative learning function.
A GEA could work closely with other international institutions in the energy field, to phase out fossil fuels/greenhouse gases and “phase in” renewable energy, power livelihoods, ensure energy security, and drive holistic well-being.
The GEA could be established through an upgrade of the United Nations Environment Program (UNEP) in order to bestow it with ambitious and clear authorities and the capacity to effectively manage our shared global environmental commons. Alternatively, a GEA could be established as an entirely new institution.
For further information see Towards a Global Environment Agency Effective Governance for Shared Ecological Risks.