In our analysis we would like to survey the parallel environmental work and responsibilities of several commissions, programs and divisions under the aegis of the organisation of the United Nations, which all deal with similar environmental issues of sustainable development, but from a different aspect, using different methods and addressing different parties (see chapter II.1). Multiple approaches of similar tasks assigned to several organisations can be a sign of a healthy operation of an organisational system.

However, this arrangement leads to the necessity of closer cooperation among these system elements, furthermore raises the possibility of streamlining the operations of the system. The overlapping missions and duties of the analyzed UN organisations include supervision of the implementation of environmental treaties, and support of the proper functioning of networks of international organisations, state bodies, professionals and NGOs. Strengthening public participation and capacity building in environmental fields, are also amongst the most typical shared functions (see chapter II.2).

In order to eliminate the overlaps among the mandates and duties of these bodies dealing with environmental and sectoral issues, as well as to facilitate and strengthen the coordination of the UN’s environmental and development-related functions, furthermore to enforce future generations’ interests, a High Commissioner for Future Generations/Environment (HCFG) under the supervision of the Secretariat General should be established. The HCFG could undertake a part of the overlapping workload and support the coordination of international initiatives in environmental monitoring, assessment and reporting (see chapter III.1).

This future institution should receive some competences, human resources and financial means from the present UN bodies, as well as some new competences, the fulfilment of which could be mostly covered by the human and financial resources transferred from the other mentioned bodies. In accordance with the historical ombudsman functions, this new, independent UN body could perform two main functions at international level: quasi “parliamentary advocacy” and “complaint officer” (see chapter III.2).

As a quasi “parliamentary advocate” for the environment and for the interests of future generations, the HCFG could manage more effectively the interrelationships of environmental and developmental issues, and ensure that general decision-making procedures across the UN take environmental considerations into account in a more systematic way. It could also encourage international, regional and national actions to address system faults, gaps and weaknesses in the present environmental legislation. The HCFG could endorse the implementation of environmental law and sustainable development related law by monitoring and evaluating international activities.

As a “complaint officer”, the HCFG would receive and investigate direct complaints from victims of environmental violations, or from citizens detecting faults in, respectively violations of the implementation of international treaties. Handling complaints could be a substantial and independent resource of information about such implementation. We also have to refer to the fact that by assessing individual countries’ efforts, the HCFG could have real possibilities to prevent or mitigate environmental threats in concrete cases, including priority ones that are difficult to tackle with on national level.

For the whole argument, see attached pdf.

Attachments:

Kornelia_a preliminary examination of the possibilities for the institutional representation of the interest of future generations and environmental protection within UN.pdf