UN ecological risk governance

This chapter focuses on the field of global ecological policy and governance. During more than five decades, scientists have warned of serious anthropogenic environmental and climate change challenges, expressing increasing alarm and calling for dramatic transformations in response. Politically, there has been a growing recognition of the severe and complex challenges at the global, regional, and national, as well as the local level. It remains, however, an open question whether the current policy decisions and efforts are sufficiently comprehensive, well-considered, and effective? This chapter highlights general actions and solutions that have been proposed by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), the International Resource Panel (IRP), and the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). Furthermore, it presents UN attempts to govern climate change, biological diversity, and the use of natural resources. For each of these areas, the chapter highlights scientific assessments of the gaps between the adopted and implemented plans. Focusing on the complexities, the chapter highlights important knowledge, intervention, and governance aspects pertaining to the climate change–biodiversity nexus.