Environmental governance, including implementation and compliance with national laws, is a significant challenge facing countries trying to meet their commitments under the Rio Conventions, according to a new study released last week by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and the Global Environment Facility (GEF). The National Capacity Self-Assessments Synthesis Reportcalled for countries to identify their priority environmental issues such as combating deforestation, promoting sustainable land management, minimizing their vulnerabilities to the impact of climate change, or controlling biodiversity loss, and their challenges in responding to these priority issues. Countries prioritized “environmental governance” as a key concern to achieving and sustaining global environmental outcomes, in addition to the other top needs: 1) public awareness and environmental education; 2) information management and exchange; 3) strengthening organizational mandates and structures; and 4) economic instruments and sustainable financing mechanisms. Read More