203. As shown in previous sections of the present report, sustainable development depends on an effective framework of institutions and decision-making processes at the local, national, regional and global levels. In reality, however, the norm is too often one of fragmented institutions established around single-issue “silos”; deficits in terms of both leadership and political space; lack of flexibility in adapting to new kinds of challenges and crises; and a failure to anticipate and plan for both challenges and opportunities — all of which undermine both policymaking and delivery on the ground.

204. At the same time, the actors involved in governance are more diverse than ever before. Non-State actors have become major players in their own right and adept at using new media and social networking technologies to set agendas. Private-sector entities, meanwhile, have the power to mobilize vast resources, with both positive and negative effects on sustainable development.

205. Coalitions of State and non-State actors are thus becoming increasingly common in policymaking and implementation — on the basis of a pragmatic recognition that effective solutions often depend on a far more collaborative and flexible approach. A crucial role for Governments and State-based institutions, beyond the legitimacy they uniquely confer, then becomes how to set the agenda and create governance frameworks within which such collaboration can constructively take place.

206. The present section examines aspects of governance and coherence for sustainable development at the national and global levels. It also pays special attention to holding all actors accountable for achieving sustainable development, and many of the recommendations put forward are designed to strengthen accountability at all decision-making levels.

In particular, this section calls for:
(a) ways to improve coherence and accountability at the national and local levels (paras. 207-219);
(b) ways to improve coherence and accountability at the regional and global levels (paras. 220-236);
(c) a new set of global sustainable development goals (paras. 237-245);
(d) a periodic global sustainable development outlook report to connect the dots across issues and encourage inter-agency coherence at the international level (paras. 246-255);
(e) a new commitment to strengthening international governance for sustainable development, including by considering the creation of a global sustainable development council (paras. 256-267).