Trade and environmental diplomacy

As the nation state's role reduced, non-governmental organizations become increasingly important in international politics. In recent decades, the number also multiplied. Non-governmental organizations are now key players, whether it's about human rights, poverty, environment or natural disasters.

Round the globe, there are thousands NGOs (non-governmental organisations) who work in different ways to improve conditions for people at home, but also to shape public opinion and justice, solidarity and participation with people in other parts of the world. Examples of NGOs are trade unions and environmental organizations, but also social and humanitarian movements. Several of them, if not most, are in one way or another operating at an international level.

Many NGOs are important actors on the world stage, although they are not policy-makers and often have much less financial resources than states and corporations. The key to success lies in their ability to elicit opinions, not least in the context of major international meetings and events. Since the first UN environmental conference in Stockholm in 1972, NGOs have organized themselves in order to influence the UN thematic conferences and other international summits, regardless of whether they acted on the environment, trade, women or other issues. Several UN agencies are currently special arrangements for consultation with non governmental organizations. The UN Commission on Human Rights, for example, all organizations with consultative status to make both oral and written suggestions and comments.
With regard to human rights violations, all NGOs, regardless of status, submit information.

Environmental organizations have become increasingly international, largely due to environmental problems today are global. Many environmental organizations, notably Greenpeace, have made themselves known for their sometimes drastic actions, for example, to peacefully occupy hazardous factories. These actions have helped to bring environmental issues on the political agenda, both nationally and internationally. Other major NGOs, for example, humanitarian and social organizations that help people both in acute distress and fighting for human rights, such as freedom of speech.

Therefore their influence becomes essential and significant because they provide a different perspective on issues such as trade and environment.

Examples of NGOs:

The environmental organization Greenpeace, working primarily with issues related to biodiversity, marine ecology, environmental toxins, genetically modified organisms and nuclear weapons.

MSF, working to help victims of war, famine or natural disasters.

Amnesty International's work includes the release of people imprisoned for their views.

Red Cross / Red Crescent Movement, works with emergency and refugee assistance.