International Environment: Options for Strengthening Environmental Agreements

GAO discussed implementing, monitoring, and strengthening the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development's environmental agreements. GAO noted that: (1) both developed and developing countries lack agreement implementation and monitoring capability due to incomplete reporting, limited information, and insufficient resources; (2) developing countries lack technical and financial resources to implement agreements; (3) many environmental agreements have inadequate or nonexistent reporting duties and procedures; (4) improvements in the quantity and quality of information regarding participants' implementation and monitoring efforts can strengthen agreements; (5) greater information can build public and peer support for agreements and assist with guidance for multilateral aid and technical assistance; (6) incentives can increase implementation of environmental agreements; (7) limited resources inhibit developing countries from participating, negotiating, and governing agreements; and (8) direct financial assistance and international and nongovernmental organizational assistance provides greater aid for implementing agreements.