Toward spatial fit in the governance of global commodity flows

Coenen J, Sonderegger G, Newig J, Meyfroidt P, Challies E, Bager SL, Busck-Lumholt LM, Corbera E, Friis C, Frohn Pedersen A, Laroche PC, Paitan CP, Qin S, Roux N, Zaehringer JG (2023)

Publication Type: Journal article

Publication year: 2023

Journal

Ecology and Society Resilience Alliance

Book Volume: 28

Article Number: 24

Journal Issue: 2

DOI: 10.5751/ES-14133-280224

Abstract

Global commodity flows between distally connected social-ecological systems pose important challenges to sustainability governance. These challenges are partly due to difficulties in designing and implementing governance institutions that fit or match the scale of the environmental and social problems generated in such telecoupled systems. We focus on the spatial dimension of governance fit in relation to global commodity flows and telecoupled systems. Specifically, we draw on examples from land use and global agricultural commodity governance to examine two overarching types of governance mismatches: boundary mismatches and resolution mismatches. We argue that one way to address mismatches is through governance rescaling and illustrate this approach with reference to examples of three broad types of governance approaches: trade agreements, due diligence laws, and landscape approaches to supply chain governance. No single governance approach is likely to address all mismatches, highlighting the need to align multiple governance approaches to govern telecoupled systems effectively.

Authors with CRIS profile

Anna Pedersen

Involved external institutions

Leuphana Universität Lüneburg DE Germany (DE) Universität Bern CH Switzerland (CH) Université Catholique de Louvain (UCL) BE Belgium (BE) Autonomous University of Barcelona (UAB) / Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona ES Spain (ES) Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA) / Catalan Institution for Research and Advanced Studies ES Spain (ES) University of Copenhagen DK Denmark (DK) Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam (VU) / University Amsterdam NL Netherlands (NL) Universität für Bodenkultur Wien (BOKU) / University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna AT Austria (AT) Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin DE Germany (DE)

How to cite

APA:

Coenen, J., Sonderegger, G., Newig, J., Meyfroidt, P., Challies, E., Bager, S.L.,... Zaehringer, J.G. (2023). Toward spatial fit in the governance of global commodity flows. Ecology and Society, 28(2). https://doi.org/10.5751/ES-14133-280224

MLA:

Coenen, Johanna, et al. "Toward spatial fit in the governance of global commodity flows." Ecology and Society 28.2 (2023).

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