GLOBAL GOVERNANCE FOR A SUSTAINABLE PLANET 

Since our founding in 1961, we have specialised in advancing foresight for global governance, the complex system of decision-making and cooperation crucial for our planet and its sustainable future.

Global Governance includes decision-making and accountability within the international system of relations and the processes by which decisions are made and implemented (or not implemented). The current world system of governance is frail, complex and failing all global citizens. It lack foresight and vision about the future of our planet.

THE FORCES OF PLANETARY GLOBALISATION REQUIRE COOPERATIVE GLOBAL GOVERNANCE
In today’s world, we are faced with many problems that affect more than one state or region and go beyond the capacity of individual states to solve. These include peace and security, forced migration, economic crises, terrorism, climate change, and the spread of disease. These issues can only be solved with a new construct and vision for global cooperation.

Globalisation and its global governance are admittedly broad, amorphous topic areas that span multiple industries, interests, and issues: different ideologies, political and diplomatic negotiations, sweatshops, offshoring, trade agreements, international finance, human rights, agriculture, and many more. From a new dam in China to a soybean field in a cleared stretch of Amazon rainforest, from maquiladoras in Mexico to regional rearmament and nuclear proliferation, ‘global governance’ captures a unique profile of life. Non-state actors are increasingly acquiring the ability to influence the processes of Global Governance in significant ways. Most prominent amongst these non-state actors are multinational corporations with vast financial assets. However, non-governmental organisations have also displayed a great capability to affect decision-making in the international system.

A COMPLEX WORLD REQUIRES COOPERATION AND FORESIGHT
An increasingly global and complex world has exacerbated the need for multilateral and cooperative action, but it has also shaken the very foundations of the multilateral system: authority has shifted away from international institutions and from the Western powers that have traditionally led them. A radical new order is in the making that is still unclear, with a fight for supremacy by world superpowers on Earth and in space. This situation leaves the world and its citizens without positive global leadership vulnerable to catastrophic shocks.

FROM NATIONS STATES TO THE RULE OF SUPER POWERS 
Traditionally, states have been prominent participants in global governance and have been the main building blocks of the world order. Nation states now see their clout blurred as other super-actors play an increasingly significant role in the Global Governance process. Throughout history, the balance of power between states has undergone many changes. One of the most fundamental changes in recent years was the collapse of the Soviet Union and the transition from bipolarity to unipolarity. However, the dominance of multiple economic and military superpowers such as the US, China, Russia, and India, as well as their diverse allies, represents a destabilising system for cooperative international affairs.

CENTRALISATION OF POWER AND RESOURCES FOR THE FEW
Power is becoming increasingly centralised by superpowers’ interests in domination, while the need for cooperation on issues such as climate change, development, hunger and poverty, human rights, conflict resolution, pandemics, and terrorism has never been greater. Nevertheless, beyond each problem, the greatest challenge is how to engineer collective action in a world where old and new powers compete for influence and resources. The technological revolution and the rise of AI and misinformation have empowered those who want to influence public opinion and global citizens to achieve their goals.

SUPER POWERS HAVE THE DUTY OF CARE OF WORLD CITIZENS
Within the context of globalisation, Global Governance is about the interaction that is required to solve problems which affect more than one state or region when there is no power enforcing compliance. As such, Global Governance is about decision-making and the regulation and management of interdependent relations and global processes within the international system in the absence of an overarching political authority. Global superpowers have the duty to use the rule of law to advance their interests while improving planetary sustainability.

GLOGO® – THE GLOBAL GOVERNANCE MONITORING SYSTEM®
Gold Mercury realised the crucial role that global complexity plays in our understanding of our planet and its future governance. Our president, Nicolas De Santis, led the GLOGO® project, which created a framework to manage complexity and monitor governance on our planet. GLOGO® took five years to complete. It now provides a framework to understand our planetary construct and clarity on the forces and interconnections in Global Governance, encompassing the mechanisms, relationships, and practices through which global problems are addressed, collective interests are articulated, rights and obligations are established, and differences are mediated. GLOGO® provides us with great clarity about the future of our world.

OUR ROLE IN GLOBAL GOVERNANCE
Gold Mercury International’s role in the global governance context is to provide innovative frameworks to continue to improve sustainable and ethical governance, cooperation and strategic foresight practices whilst fostering increased interaction between Global Governance actors at various levels. Our mission is to drive and encourage the much-needed dialogue between stakeholders and representatives of government, the corporate world, civil society and those passionate and visionary individuals making positive changes for the betterment of our world.

Visionary Governance® is extremely important in the context of Global Governance. The current governance process lacks foresight and is constantly criticised for lacking transparency and accountability.

Citizens all over the world are becoming disillusioned with poor governance practices and democratic processes.

Our collective mission at Gold Mercury International, including every one of you, is to ensure that all individuals, institutions, and organisations involved in Global Governance embody Visionary Governance® and Ethical Leadership.

A ‘global ethics’ or standards must be established and agreed upon through consensus among societies, corporations, institutions, and organisations. This agreement is not just a suggestion but a necessity that leaders in Global Governance must adhere to.

Participants in global governance should strive to uphold a basic set of ‘good governance’ principles:

Visionary Governance®: Leaders must have foresight and a long-term perspective on governance and human development and a sense of what is needed for such development. In other words, they must work to provide for the needs of the world’s current population without damaging the ability of future generations to provide for themselves.

Participation & the Rule of Law: Those affected by a decision should have a voice in the decision-making process, either directly or through legitimate institutions that represent their interests. Legal frameworks should be fair and enforced impartially and all people should be equal before the law.

Transparency: Processes, institutions and information should be directly accessible to those concerned with them.

Responsiveness: Institutions and processes should endeavor to serve all stakeholders.

Consensus Orientation: Differing interests should be mediated to reach a broad consensus on what is in the best interests of those involved.

Equity: All individuals should have opportunities to improve or maintain their well-being.

Efficiency: Processes and institutions should produce results that meet needs whilst making the best use of resources.

Accountability: Decision-makers in government, the private sector, and civil society organisations should be accountable to the public and to institutional stakeholders.