To Whom to Entrust Managing the Planet
26/12/2018
"We, the peoples of the United Nations, determined to save succeeding generations from the scourge of war ... and to reaffirm faith in fundamental human rights and … to promote social progress and better standards of life in larger freedom..."
UN Charter.
It is an impossible task for any single state to try and save the Earth for future generations alone. Over the recent decades, the existing international associations have not been effective in this domain either. All too often their activity has caused criticism for discrediting objective integration processes, among other things.
The United Nations Organization, to which 193 governments have delegated their representatives, clearly needs serious modernization. Independent experts, while noting 70 years of UN contribution to maintaining the world order on the planet, highlight serious shortcomings in the organization’s work. The trouble is that members of the organization are too formalized, divided and dependent on their national and corporate lobbyists. Some are corrupt; others are too ambitious or even hostile to other political systems, ideologies and cultures. That is why, from the standpoint of the Planetary Project, it is necessary to form a new system of global governance to ensure sustainable development of civilization.
This system will include supranational and supragovernmental centers of power, which would represent the constructive forces of humanity. Their activities should be aimed at solving the most pressing global problems threatening life on Earth. A basic model of the system of planetary management institutions is described in the monograph ‘Planetary Project: From Sustainable Development to Managed Harmony’ and other works of my colleagues.
It is clear that the new institutions should be created in parallel with the existing international bodies to gradually take over their mandate. To do this, it is necessary to clearly define their areas of responsibility, to empower them and to provide resources (financial, technical, and human). The Planetary Development Institute could carry out a detailed study of this project while a UN body, a humanitarian fund, an international socio-political movement, or even a party could act as its commissioner. In any case, in order to avoid a ‘conflict of interests’ the final result of this work must be approved by an absolutely independent Expert Council.
The Expert Council must include Nobel laureates and the winners of other prestigious scientific awards. Their contribution to humanity makes them the right persons to be entrusted with the responsibility for its future. The ‘Wise Men’s Club’ is not the only possible candidate for planetary government. But at the stage of transition from reasoning about the need for such a body to the practical application of the idea, its benefits are obvious. On the other hand, the global academic discourse on this topic is gaining ground and the relevance of a new planetary governance system is gradually becoming a commonly recognized concept. The Planetary Development Institute welcomes any constructive suggestions as to the composition of the main body of planetary management.