État de la gouvernance environnementale mondiale 2020

The report analyzes the shift of global environmental governance to virtual formats during the 2020 pandemic, noting that while operational decisions (like budgets) were achieved via the 'silence procedure', substantive negotiations on climate and biodiversity were largely delayed. It highlights that pandemic-related emission drops were temporary and structural, and warns that the crisis exacerbated social inequalities and hindered scientific reporting, such as the IPCC's sixth assessment report. The document concludes by advocating for a 'green and inclusive recovery' and a stronger link between biodiversity protection and pandemic prevention.

• The COVID-19 pandemic forced global environmental governance to move online, leading to the adoption of the 'silence procedure' to pass operational decisions and budgets when physical voting was impossible. This tool allows a text to be adopted if no country 'breaks the silence' by a specified deadline.
• While virtual formats worked for smaller, technical bodies and operational tasks, they were poorly suited for complex substantive negotiations. Major meetings, such as the COP26 and the CBD COP15, were postponed, and the lack of interpersonal 'coffee breaks' and informal discussions hindered the ability to resolve impasses.
• The pandemic caused significant delays in the production of critical scientific evidence, specifically affecting the IPCC's sixth assessment report. Factors such as childcare responsibilities (disproportionately affecting women) and lack of access to university data servers slowed the drafting process, meaning COP26 would lack necessary updated scientific guidance.
• Environmental improvements during lockdowns were temporary and structural. Daily global emissions dropped by 17% at the pandemic's peak, but up to 83% of emissions are structural (energy and transport), meaning significant reductions require transformative change rather than temporary behavioral shifts.
• The pandemic increased the use of plastics due to higher demand for personal protective equipment and disposable containers, reversing a previous trend where recycled plastic demand had begun to exceed that of virgin plastic.
• The crisis highlighted the intersection of environmental degradation and human health, specifically how deforestation and unsustainable land use increase the risk of zoonotic diseases like COVID-19. This has led to calls for a 'One Health' approach and the integration of biodiversity protection into agriculture and fisheries.
• The pandemic exacerbated existing social and racial inequalities, with marginalized populations, women, and indigenous peoples facing a disproportionate burden. Economic recessions also threatened conservation efforts by increasing poaching as tourism revenues declined.

APA

Allan, J., Soubry, B., Rosen, T., & Tsioumani, E. (2020). État de la gouvernance environnementale mondiale 2020. International Institute for Sustainable Development. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2021-03/state-global-environmental-governance-2020-fr.pdf

Chicago

Allan, Jen, Bernard Soubry, Tanya Rosen, and Elsa Tsioumani. État de la gouvernance environnementale mondiale 2020. International Institute for Sustainable Development, 2020. https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2021-03/state-global-environmental-governance-2020-fr.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Allan |first1=Jen |last2=Soubry |first2=Bernard |last3=Rosen |first3=Tanya |last4=Tsioumani |first4=Elsa |title=État de la gouvernance environnementale mondiale 2020 |publisher=International Institute for Sustainable Development |date=2020 |url=https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2021-03/state-global-environmental-governance-2020-fr.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{allan2020tat, author = {Allan, Jen and Soubry, Bernard and Rosen, Tanya and Tsioumani, Elsa}, title = {{État de la gouvernance environnementale mondiale 2020}}, institution = {International Institute for Sustainable Development}, year = {2020}, url = {https://www.iisd.org/system/files/2021-03/state-global-environmental-governance-2020-fr.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }