Intergenerational Dialogue, Collaboration, Learning, and Decision-Making in Global Environmental Governance: The Case of the IUCN Intergenerational Partnership for Sustainability

Abstract

This article provides evidence and a rationale based on adaptive governance studies for why creating meaningful youth engagement should be understood in terms of intergenerational dialogue, collaboration, learning, and substantive decision-making in global environmental governance. We have centered our discussion on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), as the largest global conservation organization. Through an organizational ethnography approach, we have demonstrated how generational concerns within the IUCN have been framed in terms of participation, and then present the IUCN Intergenerational Partnership for Sustainability (IPS) as a case study of a grassroots movement that is focused on transforming the IUCN towards being a fully intergenerational global governance system for nature conservation. We have described the development of intergenerational thinking and action within the IUCN, and discussed intergenerational governance as being essential for addressing nature conservation challenges faced by local communities in times of increasing global uncertainty. We conclude by providing recommendations for enhancing intergenerational dialogue and building intergenerational governance structures within global conservation organizations.

Pathway to mainstream youth engagement and intergenerational partnership in nature conservation

“…Under this task force, and with the inclusion of a young Council member, it was hoped that the vision to mainstream youth engagement and intergenerational partnership within the IUCN would be achieved. As a platform for people of all generations and cultures to exchange experiences, discuss new ideas, collaborate, and take action toward the shared vision of global conservation and sustainability, the IPS task force has focused on trying to shift the IUCN community toward a fully intergenerational global governance system for nature conservation (Zurba et al 2020). However, the IPS has remained a platform with limited connections for YPs to IUCN programs, Members, and the Secretariat (CBD 2010; Lopoukhine et al 2014).…”

Study on the Positive Effects of Environmental Rule of Law Advancement on Environmental Governance in the Age of Artificial Intelligence

“…The advancement of the environmental rule of law in the age of AI provides new perspectives and tools for environmental governance. Although there are some challenges, AI is expected to play an important role in environmental protection and governance through rational strategies and technological innovation [15][16][17].…”

Engaging children's voices for tourism and marine futures through drawing in Gili Trawangan, Indonesia

“…In order to achieve sustainable futures and inter-generational equity, it is essential to seek the perspective of children who are the future actors in tourism and stewards of the natural resources in their homelands. A gap, nonetheless, still exists in the intergenerational collaboration in global environmental governance (Zurba et al, 2020), despite the long-standing acknowledged importance of considering the "needs of the present without compromising the ability of the future generations to meet their own needs" (United Nations, 1987). The importance of intergenerational collaboration is reinforced by the report of the UN Secretary-General (2013) on "Intergenerational solidarity and the needs of future generations" to achieve inter-generational equity and justice in environmental management and stewardship.…”

“…Compared to "children, " "youth" in governance and related issues such as learning, exchange, and decision-making has been more theoretically and empirically studied and practically achieved partly because "youth" entails a larger age range and it is less challenging to involve them in such processes. Thus, intergenerational participation in substantive decision-making is still not fulfilled (Zurba et al, 2020). This under-representation of children could also be partly attributed to the prevalent assumption that children do not possess the cognitive capabilities and emotional competence required to make decisions or articulate their thoughts to be represented by others in decision-making.…”