On UNEP and Global Environmental Governance Reform : Perspectives identified and percieved by non-state actors on visions, problems and solutions of the reform

Abstract: The objective of this study is to explore the visions, problems and solutions of non-state actors regarding the reform of UNEP and Global Environmental Governance (GEG). An empirical approach is integrated throughout the thesis, i.e. online forum, interview, qualitative analysis of data, and comparative content analysis. Lack of participation, engagement and compliance of global civil society, power struggles between state governments, non-state actors and international organizations and among states for domination, lack of democratic participation, transparency and accountability, fragmentation, overlaps, duplications, etc. are identified as problems confronting the reform of UNEP and GEG. It was discovered that these problems are actually the necessary by-products during the natural evolution process of global governance system in the macro-context of parallel regionalization and globalization, a process that the current global governance system with governments as major players would gradually decentralize while a new centralized global governance system would well emerge based on the foundations of universal values for humanity. The lack of applications of existing universal values, norms and standards on a global scale is perceived as a fundamental problem by non-state actors. Thus, a world-wide green harmony, democracy, equity and justice movement to push forward a restructuring and redistribution of world power and a creation of new world order with global equality, justice, equity, harmony and democracy with the universal human rights are respected is perceived as a required fundamental approach in the realization of the fundamental reform objective of UNEP, GEG, and the UN system at large.