These are not easy times to think about reforming or even rebuilding the international cooperation architecture to meet the challenges facing humanity. When international law is bluntly disregarded, multilateral institutions get openly attacked and institutions for global solidarity are dismantled, it is only natural to defend what has been achieved as far as possible and,…
Biodiversity loss is accelerating at an alarming rate. From deforestation in the Amazon to coral reef degradation in the Indo-Pacific, ecosystems that sustain life on Earth are vanishing. Despite global commitments, the world is failing to meet conservation goals. The problem is not only slow policy responses but a lack of financial resources, particularly in…
The first two sentences delivered by the U.S. representative at the 3rd session of FfD4 Preparatory Committee (3rd PrepCom) last week were already tough ones: “At the outset, I underscore that the United States is currently evaluating its membership and participation in all international organisations and processes. Thus, we are reserving on the whole draft…
The Fourth International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD4) needs to address the issue of tax expenditures. These preferential tax treatments cause huge immediate public revenue losses while their effectiveness is often in doubt. Governments worldwide use preferential tax treatments – called tax expenditures – to pursue different policy objectives, such as attracting investments, promoting…
The role of international trade as a key driver for sustainable development has been a recurring theme since the First International Conference on Financing for Development (FfD) in Monterrey, Mexico in 2022. Building on this established consensus, the “Zero Draft” of the FfD4 Outcome Document emphasizes the transformative potential of international trade in driving sustainable development, particularly for developing countries.…
