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Clearing the air: avoiding conflicts of interest within the United Nations Framework Convention on climate change
journal contribution
posted on 2023-05-20, 09:05 authored by Dambacher, BMR, Matthew StilwellMatthew Stilwell, Jeffrey McGeeJeffrey McGeeConflicts of interest (COIs) have the capacity to undermine the integrity and legitimacy of decision-making in international legal fora. The issue of COIs has recently become a contentious issue within the international negotiations under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Despite an emerging debate on COIs, key issues regarding engagement with certain non-state actors, and the reforms that could be implemented in response, remain to be systematically addressed. This article therefore examines best practice for addressing COIs in international fora to see how this might inform management of the issue within the UNFCCC. We find that protecting the integrity and legitimacy of the UNFCCC will likely require its Conference of the Parties to clearly define COIs and to adopt a process for their management. This reform will bring the UNFCCC into line with best practices in global governance and improve prospects for more effective international law on climate change.
History
Publication title
Journal of Environmental LawVolume
32Pagination
53-81ISSN
0952-8873Department/School
Faculty of LawPublisher
Oxford University PressPlace of publication
United KingdomRights statement
Copyright The Author(s) 2019. Published by Oxford University Press.Repository Status
- Restricted