Towards a new global compact: James Shaw provides a Green Party perspective on world affairs and the challenges and opportunities now confronting New Zealand.

AuthorShaw, James

International affairs at present are in a troubled state, with many challenges. But there are also opportunities. The Green Party believes that urgent action is needed. It strongly believes that a new global compact is needed for the 21st century. Such an instrument could emerge from the existing values and principles articulated in recent UN declarations and through reform of the United Nations. It depends on political vision and will. In the vexed area of climate change the Green Party favours a strong interpretation of the Paris Agreement. A Green government would put climate change front and centre of trade policy.

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Many casual observers of international affairs might fairly assume that, right now, there are more challenges than opportunities. They might have a point. Someone once said, 'I think that you will all agree that we are living in most interesting times.' That someone was Joseph Chamberlain. We face:

* populism and demagoguery;

* paralysis at the United Nations on how to deal with situations like Syria;

* challenges to the consensus on climate change and how to prevent it from getting worse.

What we need around the world in the opening stages of the 21st century is a good dose of hope. Not a cross-your-fingers-and-hope-for-the-best kind of hope, but the kind of hope that is born out of our efforts to make things better. We need to look ahead, to be aware of future dangers and opportunities; to be compassionate towards one another; to be respectful of other cultures; to know when and how to resist increasing arrogance and intolerance, to pursue the art of stable and lawful strengthening of relations among all our nations--without exception.

Key areas

There are three key areas where I think the opportunities exist amongst the challenges. The first is the challenge of dangerous and irreversible climate change. It is the very definition of existential crisis. But we are presented with the task of using this crisis as a chance to transition to a fairer, cleaner economy.

The second key area is events that undermine the international commitment to the rule of law and the authority of the United Nations. The use of force without concern for consensus among UN member states is a dangerous precedent to set. And finally the concern we all feel at the rise of populism in nations that we have previously looked to as strong examples of tolerance and openness, populism that promotes the idea that we should close borders, restrict trade and reject diversity.

What we are calling for is a new global compact for the 21st century. We believe that such a global compact can emerge from the existing values and principles articulated in recent UN declarations; through reform of the United Nations; and the critical ingredients--political vision and will. But we also believe that if we do not proactively develop such a new global compact, then the existing world order will collapse under the strain of planetary stress and the political convulsions arising from that, and a new compact will only emerge from the ashes--perhaps. We would obviously prefer the former--an orderly transition--rather than the latter, a disorderly one.

So what kind of...

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