DENR chief urges reforms in global environmental governance
MANILA, Philippines — Global environmental governance should be reformed by reducing fragmentation of the agencies concerned and ensuring that developing nations receive adequate resources to fulfill international commitments.
Secretary Juan Miguel “Mitch” T. Cuna of the Department of Environment and Natural Resources (DENR) stressed this point in his address on Wednesday at the high-level political dialogue on “Renewing Environmental Multilateralism” at the 81st United Nations General Assembly (UNGA 81) in New York City.
The dialogue, which was hosted by the governments of Panama and Vanuatu, aims to adapt international cooperation amid growing geopolitical complexity and institutional pressures.
According to a DENR statement issued on Thursday, Cuna emphasized that “global treaties must move beyond abstract pledges to deliver practical outcomes.”
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He pointed out that developing countries have to bear “heavy operational burdens” that come with expanding international mandates on climate change, biodiversity loss, and pollution.
These demands, he said, are rarely matched by equitable access to climate finance, technology transfer, and capacity-building.
“Renewal should focus not only on new commitments, but on making the existing system easier to implement: reducing duplication, improving coordination, and directing more resources to delivery at the national level,” Cuna said.
Plastic pollution
In his address, Cuna focused on global negotiations for a legally binding agreement on plastic pollution.
An effective treaty, he said, should cover the full life cycle of plastics — including product design, chemicals of concern, waste management, and financing.
He pushed for a framework that “is ambitious yet implementable, taking into account the national capabilities of frontline states.”
Cuna also emphasized the role of international law, referencing the International Court of Justice (ICJ) Advisory Opinion on climate change obligations.
He noted, however, that the opinion provides needed legal clarity.
Still, he argued that legal principles must be paired with actual financing and institutional capacity to protect climate-vulnerable communities.
To address environmental degradation, Cuna urged improved cross-sectoral collaboration against transboundary harm and organized crime.
He called for closer ties between environmental agencies, customs, law enforcement, prosecutors, and financial intelligence authorities under frameworks like the UN Convention against Transnational Organized Crime (UNTOC) to combat illegal logging, illegal mining, wildlife trafficking, and illegal waste dumping.
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According to the DENR statement, the high-level dialogue is part of institutional reform efforts within the UN system aligned with the Pact for the Future and the United Nations 80 Initiative.
These initiatives seek to modernize UN operations, streamline overlapping reporting systems, and explore complementary plurilateral agreements among coalitions of willing nations to maintain momentum on urgent ecological challenges.
For the Philippines, active participation at UNGA 81 provides a vital platform to ensure global treaties reflect national realities, secure international cross-border enforcement partnerships, and mobilize resources to safeguard vulnerable ecosystems and frontline communities. /atm
