About this Guide

This guide was composed by a team from Stakeholder Forum for a Sustainable Future (SF). It follows version one and two, 2011 and 2012, respectively, which were a joint initiative of SF and the Commonwealth Secretariat, in response to the perceived ‘knowledge gap’ on the history and dynamics of global governance for sustainable development.

The adoption on September 25, 2015, of the 2030 Agenda and its 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) marked an increased focus on governance issues. Policy objectives and targets (“What”) are key, but they cannot be implemented without adequate and tailored governance frameworks (“How?”). This Pocket guide is not about setting policy targets, but about how to achieve them.

Policy and governance are two sides of one coin, or two pieces of the same puzzle.

Graph based on Meuleman, L. 2025, ‘Waking up a Sleeping beauty? – Towards a quality protocol for indicator SDG 17.14.1 on Policy Coherence for Sustainable Development (PCSD)’. DG REFORM & ICF, Publications Office of the European Union. (1)

All SDGs have, besides policy targets, means of implementation and governance targets (marked with letters). However, SDG 16 (strong institutions, rule of law) and 17 (partnerships, means of implementation, policy coherence) offer the most cross-cutting governance concepts.

This Guide starts with sustainable development as a foundation, but then concentrates on environmental governance as one of the three dimensions of sustainability governance.

We hope that this Guide will provide the necessary background information on global environmental and sustainable development governance to allow both governmental and non-governmental stakeholders to familiarise themselves with key issues more comprehensively.

The topic of ‘environmental and sustainable development governance’ is potentially vast, as governance touches on almost all decisions and policy considerations at all levels. To make this guide manageable and accessible, we have structured the main issues into 12 short chapters.

It is important to note that the insights and ideas outlined in the Guide are not exhaustive. This is partly because the editorial process had to include some level of selection to avoid the publication becoming unwieldy. Some of the information contained in this updated version of the Pocket Guide may become redundant as a result of the outcome of upcoming global events.

Many thanks go to the SF team that collaborated on this draft: Felix Dodds (Project Lead & Co-author), Rene Marker-Katz (Researcher & Co-author), Jan-Gustav Strandenaes (Lead Consultant & Editor), and Louis Meuleman & Charles A. Nouhan (Contributing Authors).

November 2025

Louis Meuleman, Chair, Stakeholder Forum for a Sustainable Future

Felix Dodds, Adjunct Professor at the Water Institute, University of North Carolina and Fellow at Stakeholder Forum for a Sustainable Future

Acknowledgements

We would like to express our sincere gratitude to the Civil Society Unit at the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) and the European Commission for making this Third Edition possible, and to the many individuals whose insight, expertise, and dedication made this version of the guide possible. Their contributions have strengthened the clarity, depth, and relevance of this work.

We extend special thanks to Sophie Rigg, Richard Ponzio, Nudhara Yusuf, and John Vlasto for their thoughtful input on the current landscape of the Sustainable Development Goals. Their perspectives helped ensure that this edition reflects the most up-to-date developments in global sustainability governance.

We also acknowledge the foundational work of the First Edition Editor, Hannah Stoddart, whose vision and editorial leadership shaped the original guide.

Our appreciation further goes to the Contributing Authors of the First and Second Editions, whose collective scholarship and commitment laid the groundwork for this updated volume: Milena Bottero, Jack Cornforth, Jeannet Lingan, Kirsty Schneeberger, Andrew Shaw, Nadine Smith, Janet Strachan, and Robert White.

To all contributors, reviewers, and supporters—thank you. Your efforts continue to advance understanding of sustainable development governance and inspire ongoing collaboration in pursuit of a more just and resilient world.

Disclaimer: This guide is an independent publication of Stakeholder Forum for a Sustainable Future. It is not an official document of the United Nations or the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Any errors, omissions, or misrepresentations are solely the responsibility of the authors and editors.

Editors’ Note

This guide offers a high-level overview of sustainable development governance and the major actors shaping it. It is not intended to be comprehensive, but rather a starting point for understanding the landscape. Where possible, links and references are included to support deeper exploration and further research.

About this Guide
Acknowledgements
Editors’ Note
Acronyms and Abbreviations

Acronyms and Abbreviations

CBD – Convention on Biological Diversity
CIFs – Climate Investment Funds
COP – Conference of the Parties
CSD – UN Commission on Sustainable Development
CSR – Corporate Social Responsibility
CTE – Committee on Trade and Environment
CTF – Clean Technology Fund
DSD – Division for Sustainable Development
ECOFIN – Economic and Financial Committee
ECOSOC – Economic and Social Council
EMG – Environmental Management Group
FAO – Food and Agriculture Organisation
GATT – General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade
GEF – Global Environment Facility
GEO – Global Environment Organisation
GMEF – Global Ministerial Environment Forum
GRI – Global Reporting Initiative
IACSD – Inter-Agency Committee on Sustainable Development
ICE – International Court for the Environment
IEG – International Environmental Governance
IFC – International Finance Corporation
IFI – International Financial Institution
IGM – Intergovernmental Group of Ministers
ILO – International Labour Organisation
IPCC – Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
JPOI – Johannesburg Plan of Implementation
MEAs – Multilateral Environmental Agreements
MEF – Major Economies Forum
NGO – Non-Governmental Organisation
PIC – Prior Informed Consent
PP – Precautionary Principle
REDD+ – Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Degradation in Developing Countries
SCF – Strategic Climate Fund
SDGs – Sustainable Development Goals
UNCCD – UN Convention to Combat Desertification
UNCED – UN Conference on Environment and Development
UNCSD – UN Conference on Sustainable Development
UNCTAD – UN Conference on Trade and Development
UNDESA – UN Department for Economic and Social Affairs
UNDG – UN Development Group
UNDP – United Nations Development Programme
UNECE – UN Economic Commission for Europe
UNEO – UN Environment Organisation
UNEP – United Nations Environment Programme
UNFCCC – UN Framework Convention on Climate Change
WEO – World Environment Organisation
WHO – World Health Organisation
WSSD – World Summit on Sustainable Development
WTO -World Trade Organisation

References

1 Directorate-General for Structural Reform Support. 2025. Waking up a Sleeping Beauty? Towards a Quality Protocol for Indicator SDG 17.14.1 on Policy Coherence for Sustainable Development (PCSD). Authored by ICF. Publications Office of the European Union. https://op.europa.eu/en/publication-detail/-/publication/93a32ac7-3203-11f0-8a44-01aa75ed71a1/language-en

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A Pocket Guide to Environment and Sustainable Development Governance

Acknowledgements

Editors’ Note

Contents