Strengthening International Environmental Governance

Abstract

The global environmental crisis is straining not only natural systems, but international relations as well. Responding adequately to threats such as global warming, ozone depletion, and biological diversity loss will require new tools to encourage participation in and compliance with international environmental treaties. Trade mea sures will increasingly be called upon for this purpose, posing potential conflicts with international trade rules. Positive induce ments such as financial and technological assistance will also be critical. To perform these functions effectively, international envi ronmental institutions need to bestrengthened, and the entire process of international environmental governance opened to public partici pation.