Sustainability Governance represents the entire set of systems, rules, practices and processes-for different levels running from local to global-through which societies make decisions and how these are implemented about environmental, social and economic sustainment. It transcends the traditional meaning of “government” because it underscores that a variety of actors, such as:
- a) Public sector, including the government and regulatory authorities at every level.
- b) Private: Companies, corporations, and industry groups.
- c) Civil society: Non-governmental organizations (NGOs), local groups and Indigenous peoples.
- d) Academic/research institutions: those who produce knowledge.
The essence of sustainability governance is a concerted, integrated and participatory management of the intricate links among economy, society and nature aiming at long-term well-being to present and coming societies. The 2030 Agenda, and the SDGs it contains, require novel governance arrangements, institutional architecture and involvement of a burden-sharing array of actors. It is ordered to explore these aspects that the World Symposium on Sustainability Governance is being organised. This is a timely event, since we are already at an advanced stage in the implementation of the 2030 UN Agenda for Sustainable Development and most SDGs actions are off- track. The interactions between climate variability, loss of biodiversity and increased inequality are complex and require cross-cutting solutions which cannot be formulated on their own.
The World Symposium on Sustainability Governance will discuss the actions required to speed up the move from silo-based commitments to integrated action. It brings together the key players that represent policymakers, researchers, business and civil society who will need to come together to strike collaborative governance models and partnerships to close this implementation gap while there is still time.
