Policy coherence
Policy coherence is key to sustainable development and implementation of the 2030 Agenda. It requires cross-sectoral collaboration between various policy areas. Such cooperation is indispensable to identify, balance, and harmonize the impacts of planned measures on other areas, other countries, and future generations. Policy coherence for sustainable development seeks to reconcile the domestic and foreign policies of industrialized countries with the requirements of development and sustainability goals.
CDE develops methods for measuring and monitoring policy coherence for sustainable development. In addition, its researchers draw up concrete proposals for how to structure sectoral policy fields like agriculture, environmental policies, financial flows, and trade in a manner that promotes sustainable development internationally and especially in the global South. CDE scientists also played an instrumental role in preparing the UN Global Sustainable Development Report since adoption of the 2030 Agenda.
Initiatives
Ongoing projects
BIO-TRADE – Protecting biodiversity through regulating trade and international business
Curbing illicit financial flows from resource-rich developing countries
EUDR: Facilitating advocacy for African smallholders in the Swiss policy debate
INSPIRE – Integrated spatial planning for biodiversity conservation and human development
JUST-FOOD: Tackling inequalities on the way to sustainable food systems
Law and Sustainable Development
Completed projects
Commodity trading in Switzerland and related Research Needs
Global Sustainable Development Report
Human rights Impact Assessments of Trade Agreements
Mountain Agenda
Rules for economic globalization and the role of Switzerland
Soft systems for hardwood
Sustainable Trade in Agriculture
Swiss Tax Regulation and Development
Towards Food Sustainability