IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v7y2015i9p12295-12321d55498.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Common But Differentiated Governance: A Metagovernance Approach to Make the SDGs Work

Author

Listed:
  • Louis Meuleman

    (Department of Governance Studies, VU University, 1081 HV Amsterdam, The Netherlands
    Center for Governance and Sustainability of the University of Massachusetts Boston, Boston, MA 02125, USA
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

  • Ingeborg Niestroy

    (International Institute for Sustainable Development, Ottawa, ON K1P 5Z9, Canada
    Environmental Policy Research Centre (FFU), Free University of Berlin, 14195 Berlin, Germany
    These authors contributed equally to this work.)

Abstract

The implementation of the common and universally applicable United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) requires differentiated governance frameworks at all levels, as it falls short to use one governance style only—hierarchical, network or market governance—or any one style combination that is believed to be fit-for-all-purposes. The article introduces the guiding principle of “Common But Differentiated Governance” (CBDG) and illustrates how this principle can make the SDGs work. It will be shown that, after more than 15 years’ experience with the concept of “metagovernance” (how to combine different governance styles into successful governance frameworks), there seems to be some convergence towards using this as comprehensive approach to achieve situationally appropriate governance frameworks. In this article, we have elaborated how policy makers could use metagovernance, combined with key governance principles, as mechanism to support analysis, design and management of SDG governance frameworks, to make failures noticed, and to suggest mitigation measures. Metagovernance respects common principles like rule of law, but takes as starting point that there may be different pathways to achieve them. A possible step-by-step approach for SDG implementation with metagovernance is proposed, as well as establishing governance support arrangements to assist process design, review, monitoring and evaluation, at least at the national level.

Suggested Citation

  • Louis Meuleman & Ingeborg Niestroy, 2015. "Common But Differentiated Governance: A Metagovernance Approach to Make the SDGs Work," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(9), pages 1-27, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:7:y:2015:i:9:p:12295-12321:d:55498
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/7/9/12295/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/7/9/12295/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Maarten Hajer & Måns Nilsson & Kate Raworth & Peter Bakker & Frans Berkhout & Yvo De Boer & Johan Rockström & Kathrin Ludwig & Marcel Kok, 2015. "Beyond Cockpit-ism: Four Insights to Enhance the Transformative Potential of the Sustainable Development Goals," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 7(2), pages 1-10, February.
    2. Hans B. Thorelli, 1986. "Networks: Between markets and hierarchies," Strategic Management Journal, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 7(1), pages 37-51, January.
    3. Stamatios Christopoulos & Balazs Horvath & Michael Kull, 2012. "Advancing The Governance Of Cross‐Sectoral Policies For Sustainable Development: A Metagovernance Perspective," Public Administration & Development, Blackwell Publishing, vol. 32(3), pages 305-323, August.
    4. Måns Nilsson & Paul Lucas & Tetsuro Yoshida, 2013. "Towards an Integrated Framework for SDGs: Ultimate and Enabling Goals for the Case of Energy," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 5(10), pages 1-28, September.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Basil Bornemann & Marius Christen, 2021. "A New Generation of Sustainability Governance: Potentials for 2030 Agenda Implementation in Swiss Cantons," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 9(1), pages 187-199.
    2. Heidingsfelder, Jens, 2019. "Private sustainability governance in the making – A case study analysis of the fragmentation of sustainability governance for the gold sector," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 63(C), pages 1-1.
    3. Carmen García-Peña & Moneyba González-Medina & Jose Manuel Diaz-Sarachaga, 2021. "Assessment of the Governance Dimension in the Frame of the 2030 Agenda: Evidence from 100 Spanish Cities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-21, May.
    4. Aida Mammadova & Nazam Ali & Krisada Chaiyasarn, 2022. "Can Online Learning about UNESCO Biosphere Reserves Change the Perception on SDGs and Different Aspects of Sustainability between Japanese and International Students?," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(13), pages 1-14, June.
    5. Liesbeth de Schutter & Stefan Giljum & Tiina Häyhä & Martin Bruckner & Asjad Naqvi & Ines Omann & Sigrid Stagl, 2019. "Bioeconomy Transitions through the Lens of Coupled Social-Ecological Systems: A Framework for Place-Based Responsibility in the Global Resource System," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(20), pages 1-23, October.
    6. Miquel Salvador & David Sancho, 2021. "The Role of Local Government in the Drive for Sustainable Development Public Policies. An Analytical Framework Based on Institutional Capacities," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-17, May.
    7. Louis Meuleman, 2021. "Public Administration and Governance for the SDGs: Navigating between Change and Stability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-22, May.
    8. Niestroy, Ingeborg, 2016. "How are we getting ready? The 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in the EU and its Member States: analysis and action so far," IDOS Discussion Papers 9/2016, German Institute of Development and Sustainability (IDOS).
    9. Maria Popescu & Lidia Mandru, 2023. "The Application of a Process Approach to the National Governance System for Sustainable Development: A Case Study in Romania," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(20), pages 1-23, October.
    10. David Horan, 2019. "Compensation strategies to enact new governance frameworks for SDG transformations," Public Sector Economics, Institute of Public Finance, vol. 43(4), pages 375-400.
    11. Maria Popescu & Lidia Mandru, 2022. "A Model for a Process Approach in the Governance System for Sustainable Development," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-15, June.
    12. Matteo Trane & Luisa Marelli & Alice Siragusa & Riccardo Pollo & Patrizia Lombardi, 2023. "Progress by Research to Achieve the Sustainable Development Goals in the EU: A Systematic Literature Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(9), pages 1-37, April.
    13. Battaglia Massimo & Gragnani Patrizia & Annesi Nora, 2020. "Moving Businesses toward Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Evidence from an Italian “Benefit-For-Nature” Corporation," Entrepreneurship Research Journal, De Gruyter, vol. 10(4), pages 1-36, October.
    14. Santiago Mejía-Dugand & Marcela Pizano-Castillo, 2020. "Touching Down in Cities: Territorial Planning Instruments as Vehicles for the Implementation of SDG Strategies in Cities of the Global South," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(17), pages 1-22, August.
    15. Efraim Hernández-Orozco & Ivonne Lobos-Alva & Mario Cardenas-Vélez & David Purkey & Måns Nilsson & Piedad Martin, 2022. "The application of soft systems thinking in SDG interaction studies: a comparison between SDG interactions at national and subnational levels in Colombia," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 24(6), pages 8930-8964, June.
    16. Andreas Endl, 2017. "Addressing “Wicked Problems” through Governance for Sustainable Development—A Comparative Analysis of National Mineral Policy Approaches in the European Union," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 9(10), pages 1-22, October.
    17. Elena Sondermann & Cornelia Ulbert, 2021. "Transformation through ‘Meaningful’ Partnership? SDG 17 as Metagovernance Norm and Its Global Health Implementation," Politics and Governance, Cogitatio Press, vol. 9(1), pages 152-163.
    18. Cameron Allen & Shirin Malekpour & Michael Mintrom, 2023. "Cross‐scale, cross‐level and multi‐actor governance of transformations toward the Sustainable Development Goals: A review of common challenges and solutions," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 31(3), pages 1250-1267, June.
    19. Beirne, John & Morgan, Peter & Sonobe, Tetsushi (ed.), 2021. "COVID-19 Impacts and Policy Options: An Asian Perspective," ADBI Books, Asian Development Bank Institute, number 21, Décembre.
    20. Jens Heidingsfelder & Markus Beckmann, 2020. "A governance puzzle to be solved? A systematic literature review of fragmented sustainability governance," Management Review Quarterly, Springer, vol. 70(3), pages 355-390, August.
    21. Khadija Zulfiqar & M Jahanzeb Butt, 2021. "Preserving Community’s Environmental Interests in a Meta-Ocean Governance Framework towards Sustainable Development Goal 14: A Mechanism of Promoting Coordination between Institutions Responsible for ," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(17), pages 1-25, September.
    22. David Tremblay & Sabine Gowsy & Olivier Riffon & Jean-François Boucher & Samuel Dubé & Claude Villeneuve, 2021. "A Systemic Approach for Sustainability Implementation Planning at the Local Level by SDG Target Prioritization: The Case of Quebec City," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(5), pages 1-20, February.
    23. Graham Long & Jecel Censoro & Katharina Rietig, 2023. "The sustainable development goals: governing by goals, targets and indicators," International Environmental Agreements: Politics, Law and Economics, Springer, vol. 23(2), pages 149-156, June.
    24. Madisen Fuller & Puneet Dwivedi, 2019. "Assessing Changes in Inequality for Millennium Development Goals among Countries: Lessons for the Sustainable Development Goals," Social Sciences, MDPI, vol. 8(7), pages 1-13, July.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Vitor Braga, 2004. "Business networking for SMEs as a means to promote regional competitiveness: A Theoretical Framework," ERSA conference papers ersa04p455, European Regional Science Association.
    2. Cannavale, Chiara & Esempio, Anna & Ferretti, Marco, 2021. "Up- and down- alliances: A systematic literature review," International Business Review, Elsevier, vol. 30(5).
    3. Schatzel, Kim & Droge, Cornelia & Calantone, Roger, 2003. "Strategic channel activity preannouncements: An exploratory investigation of antecedent effects," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 56(12), pages 923-933, December.
    4. Björn Mestdagh & Olivier Sempiga & Luc Van Liedekerke, 2023. "The Impact of External Shocks on the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Linking the COVID-19 Pandemic to SDG Implementation at the Local Government Level," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(7), pages 1-18, April.
    5. Anne-Sophie Merot & Frédérique Grazzini & Jean-Pierre Boissin, 2014. "Gouvernance et développement durable : Le cas de la responsabilité élargie du producteur dans une filière de gestion des déchets," Post-Print halshs-01185814, HAL.
    6. Bernard Baudry, 1992. "Contrat, autorité et confiance. La relation de sous-traitance est-elle assimilable à la relation d'emploi ?," Revue Économique, Programme National Persée, vol. 43(5), pages 871-894.
    7. Jan Anton van Zanten & Rob van Tulder, 2020. "Beyond COVID-19: Applying “SDG logics” for resilient transformations," Journal of International Business Policy, Palgrave Macmillan, vol. 3(4), pages 451-464, December.
    8. François Fulconis & Jérôme Joubert, 2017. "Compétitivité et réseau public d’offre de soins : des Communautés Hospitalières de Territoire aux Groupements Hospitaliers de Territoire," Post-Print hal-01790127, HAL.
    9. Frans Sengers & Bruno Turnheim & Frans Berkhout, 2021. "Beyond experiments: Embedding outcomes in climate governance," Environment and Planning C, , vol. 39(6), pages 1148-1171, September.
    10. Hyejin Jang & Keeeun Lee & Byungun Yoon, 2017. "Development Of An Open Innovation Model For R&D Collaboration Between Large Firms And Small-Medium Enterprises (Smes) In Manufacturing Industries," International Journal of Innovation Management (ijim), World Scientific Publishing Co. Pte. Ltd., vol. 21(01), pages 1-29, January.
    11. Dahlstrom, Robert & Ingram, Rhea, 2003. "Social networks and the adverse selection problem in agency relationships," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 56(9), pages 767-775, September.
    12. Fabio Zagonari, 2016. "Four Sustainability Paradigms for Environmental Management: A Methodological Analysis and an Empirical Study Based on 30 Italian Industries," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 8(6), pages 1-34, May.
    13. Flier, B. & van den Bosch, F.A.J. & Volberda, H.W. & Baden-Fuller, C.W.F., 2004. "Investigating Strategic Renewal of Five Large Dutch Financial Services Firms," ERIM Report Series Research in Management ERS-2004-032-STR, Erasmus Research Institute of Management (ERIM), ERIM is the joint research institute of the Rotterdam School of Management, Erasmus University and the Erasmus School of Economics (ESE) at Erasmus University Rotterdam.
    14. Michael Paul Kramer & Linda Bitsch & Jon Hanf, 2021. "Blockchain and Its Impacts on Agri-Food Supply Chain Network Management," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-22, February.
    15. Sophie Giordano & Elisabeth Roucolle, 2001. "Modele Comptable Et Representation Des Organisations En Reseau," Post-Print halshs-00584651, HAL.
    16. Hillebrand, Bas & Biemans, Wim G., 2003. "The relationship between internal and external cooperation: literature review and propositions," Journal of Business Research, Elsevier, vol. 56(9), pages 735-743, September.
    17. Russell Tatenda Munodawafa & Satirenjit Kaur Johl, 2019. "A Systematic Review of Eco-Innovation and Performance from the Resource-Based and Stakeholder Perspectives," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(21), pages 1-23, November.
    18. Ahlert, Klaus-Henning & Corsten, Hans & Gössinger, Ralf, 2009. "Capacity management in order-driven production networks--A flexibility-oriented approach to determine the size of a network capacity pool," International Journal of Production Economics, Elsevier, vol. 118(2), pages 430-441, April.
    19. McWilliam, Sarah E. & Kim, Jung Kwan & Mudambi, Ram & Nielsen, Bo Bernhard, 2020. "Global value chain governance: Intersections with international business," Journal of World Business, Elsevier, vol. 55(4).
    20. Sarah Challe & Stamatios Christopoulos & Michael Kull & Louis Meuleman, 2018. "Steering the Poverty†Environment Nexus in Central Asia: A metagovernance analysis of the Poverty†Environment Initiative (PEI)," Development Policy Review, Overseas Development Institute, vol. 36(4), pages 409-431, July.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:7:y:2015:i:9:p:12295-12321:d:55498. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.