Inter-linkages is a strategic approach to managing sustainable development that seeks to promote greater connectivity between ecosystems and societal actions. More precisely, it refers to the processes and workings of environmental management which reflects the systemic characteristics of ecosystems and environmental problems; and the interconnection of human processes and environmental processes at all levels of human and natural ecosystem interaction. On a practical level this involves a greater extent of cohesiveness among institutional, environmental issue-based, and development focused responses to the challenges of sustainable development, shared by a range of international, regional and national mechanisms.
Introduction
Over the past 50 years, numerous multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs) have been established. Each agreement has customarily been designed to address a pressing environmental issue. As a result, some agreements support and strengthen the aims of others, while others possess objectives that overlap and contradict one another. The call for better coordination and harmonization between MEAs during negotiation and implementation stages is increasing. It is recognized that such efforts could promote the elimination of contradictions, avoid overlaps, and boost national capacity. Despite increased awareness surrounding the benefits of such actions, efforts to maximize synergies between agreements are generally not undertaken when plans are implemented.
There have been a number of first steps towards effective implementation of inter-linkages, among them have been efforts by UNEP, UNDP and the UNU. Most notably, environmental sustainable development efforts have been translated from the UN Conference on Environmental Development into the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the Convention to Combat Desertification (CCD), and the Forestry Principles. A prolific amount of physical and structural linkages exist between these MEAs and related implementing regimes. However, by its very nature, inter-linkages is a vast concept with an enormous scope. Often, due to the complexity of the issues, efforts to link MEA implementation are not customarily engaged. Such efforts may result in limiting conflicts, take advantage of commonalities, reduce duplication of work, and generally result in implementation gains. In an effort to enhance understanding and knowledge surrounding inter-linkages and to develop practical tools to foster synergistic implementation, work on this issue is greatly needed.
In response to the issues identified, the UNU has initiated a three-year programme called the UNU Inter-linkages Initiative. The Inter-linkages Initiative was born out of the need to develop more coordination between MEAs, an integrated approach for the development of comprehensive synergistic frameworks for national, local, and international MEA stakeholders.
Appreciating the Need for the Project
The UNU began its work on inter-linkages in late 1998. In 1999 the UNU made an assessment of the various efforts on inter-linkages initiated by governmental, non-governmental and academic organizations. This activity recognized a number of initial steps towards greater implementation of inter-linkages, among them have been efforts by UNEP, UNDP and the UNU. However, to this day, practical measures to utilize inter-linkages are still needed.
Recognizing this, the UNU surveyed various stakeholders and obtained their opinion on the types of measures generally needed to initiate meaningful inter-linkages activities; at the time, no tangible direction was developed. Some respondents argued that the issue would be best resolved among institutions at the international level, while others believed that a bottom-up approach would be more appropriate. In the end, the UNU decided to convene a conference inviting MEA secretariats and UN agencies willing to participate, to use the forum as an opportunity to identify a practical approach. The goal of the conference was to enhance and improve international understanding and awareness of the inter-linkages issue.
Findings from the International Conference on Synergies and Coordination between Multilateral Environmental Agreements
The United Nations University convened the International Conference on Inter-Linkages: Synergies and Coordination between MEAs in July 1999. The Conference provided a forum for decision-makers, to discuss and develop a synergistic approach to environmental policy making, taking into account identified inter-linkages between environmental concerns. It acted as a catalyst for international efforts to move forward and improve understanding and awareness of inter-linkages issues. The conference also served to highlight the critical need for re-prioritization among stakeholders, MEA secretariats, and UN agencies.
One of the key challenges encountered by participants at the conference was how to determine an effective approach towards conducting inter-linkage research and implementation. The conference generated a series of useful results, mainly through the examination of the concept of inter-linkages according to five broad categories: scientific mechanisms; information systems; institutions; finance; and issue management. These priority areas were identified during the experts meeting held prior to the conference. They were established in an effort to help participants focus on the task-at-hand. The examination of priority areas proved to be successful since, a clear set of priorities was established as well as measures to implement the concept. Areas requiring further study were also highlighted and several recommendations were made in regard to useful follow-up activities as suggested by conference participants. The UNU assembled the information generated at the conference, and presented it within the 1999 Inter-linkages Report. The information has since been used to develop a practical strategy to foster the Inter-linkages Initiative.
UNU’s Strategic Role
Since the conference, various inter-linkages related decisions have been taken at a number of MEA MOP/COPs (e.g. CITES, UNFCCD, UNFCCC) and several MEA secretariats have initiated inter-linkages programmes and planning. However, at present, ‘inter-linkages’ remains an illusive and abstract concept that is, for the most part, understood only in terms of a broad overarching principal. Work is therefore, required to develop a greater level of understanding at the level of practical implementation.
The UNU is a scientific academic institution that acts as a research and capacity building organ of the UN. UNU is in an ideal position to facilitate a deeper understanding of the concept of inter-linkages through various research and educational activities. In particular, the UNU possess the unique advantage of conducting the International Conference on Inter-linkages and supporting the development and exploration of the five inter-linkages related priority areas.
Activities have also been designed to contribute to the development of model implementation frameworks for use at regional and national levels, and between issues that overlap and possess the potential to cause conflict between the objectives of different MEAs. Capacity building efforts, including measures to enhance awareness building, MEA negotiation and implementation, are also key to the strategy.
Inter-Linkages Initiative Website
A website for the UNU Inter-linkages Initiative can be found at http://www.unu.edu/inter-linkages/
Related Links Project Activities
http://www.geic.or.jp/interlinkages/Aide.html#Background
http://www.iisd.ca/sd/interlinkages/index.html
http://www.iisd.ca/sd/interlinkages/interlink2/
http://www.ias.unu.edu/sub_page.aspx?catID=155&ddlID=298
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