207. Good governance is at the heart of sustainable development and starts with the basics: democracy, the rule of law, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, and equality for women and men, as well as access to information, justice and political participation. The active participation of young people in society, politics and the economy must be encouraged. Policies to combat corruption and organized crime are also essential, given the damage that corrupt and criminal practices cause to society and the economy.

208. If good governance provides the soil in which sustainable development can grow, coherence is an indispensable tool for actually making it happen. When ministries and agencies work in isolation from one another, the result is fragmentation of efforts and resources and a missed opportunity to address sustainable development challenges that are themselves interconnected.

209. For example, treating climate adaptation as a wholly separate area of work from agriculture, water management or health care may make sense in one way, given that these areas fall under different ministries. But in the lives of real families and communities, they are heavily interconnected by complex webs of linkages, feedback loops and ripple effects.

210. The first steps against institutional fragmentation hence need to be taken in capitals — with genuinely whole-of-Government approaches to sustainable development. Signals sent and leadership exercised from the top, by Heads of State or Government, and by cabinets collectively, are crucial. Sustainable development is too broad and complex to be dealt with by any individual ministry or agency. It needs to involve all those at the crossroads of economic, social and environmental issues. Heads of Government can generate real results if they make clear that sustainable development should be mainstreamed throughout the work of all Government entities, and that they expect all ministers to focus on sustainable development, and work together in pursuit of it.

211. An especially powerful tool for driving coherence across Governments is the integration of budgets, for instance, by allocating resources to strategic goals rather than to ministries or departments. This kind of “management by objectives” can help to focus Government departments and agencies proactively on ways to support cross-governmental goals, whereas departmental budgets can encourage the opposite dynamic, with departments seeking to defend their budgets and “territory” from encroachment. A range of other mechanisms for improving policy coherence are set out in box 19.

212. Sustainable development perspectives should be incorporated into the budgetary process at different phases, including when the original budget proposal is prepared and later, in its implementation. These can be derived from internationally agreed goals, as well as other national or international social, economic and environmental standards. The special role of parliaments around the world in holding Governments to account, scrutinizing policy and approving budgets gives them a particular responsibility in ensuring the fulfilment of sustainable development commitments.

213. Local authorities, such as regions, states and municipalities, also have an especially important role to play, given that the subnational level is the front line for so many sustainable development issues. This is particularly the case for cities, in which over half of the world’s population now lives. “Green” cities are springing up around the world, with municipal leaders often bypassing national red tape and politics to work together across borders. Examples include such initiatives as the global “C40 Cities”, and the “Covenant of Mayors” of the European Union, through which local and regional authorities voluntarily commit to increasing energy efficiency and the use of renewable energy sources.

214. By putting in place supportive legal frameworks and allocating resources and know-how in order to augment locally raised funds and expertise, central and regional governments can play a crucial role in determining whether such initiatives flourish or wither. Capacity-building programmes for local governments can do much to increase their understanding of sustainable development issues and provide them with practical tools to work with. Effective spatial planning, for example, can lead to well-thought-through settlement and construction policies, which in turn can lead to increased energy efficiency in transport and housing, better biodiversity protection and even improved public health, by preventing people (all too often, socially marginalized groups) from settling close to dangerous emission sources or in areas prone to natural disasters. Encouraging healthy competition among cities and local authorities can also have a positive impact. This can be done through, for example, national or international sustainable development awards, such as the European Green Capital Award, given for 2012 to Vitoria-Gasteiz, a city in the Basque country of northern Spain, which puts emphasis on energy efficiency, water conservation, integrated waste management, public transport and civil society engagement.

Recommendation 40
215. As a basis for sustainable development, Governments should ensure the rule of law, good governance and citizens’ rights of access to official information, public participation in decision-making and equal access to justice.

Recommendation 41
216. Governments should enable young people’s participation in and influence on decision-making processes at the local, national and international levels. In addition, consultation processes and dialogue should be encouraged to incorporate voices from non-conventional networks and youth communities, such as Internet forums and opinion-making blogs.

Recommendation 42
217. Governments    should    adopt    whole-of-Government    approaches    to sustainable development issues, under the leadership of the Head of State or Government and involving all relevant ministries for addressing such issues across sectors.

Recommendation 43
218. Governments and parliaments should incorporate the sustainable development perspective into their strategies, their legislation and, in particular, their budget processes. To this end, they should take into account the economic, social and environmental dimensions of such issues as poverty eradication, job creation, inequality reduction, unsustainable patterns of consumption and production, energy, climate change, biodiversity and green growth. They should explore ways to incorporate specific sustainability considerations into budget oversight, report publicly on relevant activities and make budgets accessible to their citizens.

Recommendation 44
219. Measures should be taken to strengthen the interface between policymaking and science in order to facilitate informed political decision- making on sustainable development issues. Representatives of the scientific community could be included as members or advisers in relevant national or local bodies dealing with sustainable development issues.