The Environmental Law Institute invited Dr. Gerd Droesse to share his experiences in international organizations (including in setting up the Green Climate Fund (GCF) and the World Green Economy Organization (WGEO)) and celebrates his forthcoming book (TMC Asser Press, December 2019).
Dr. Droesse’s book proposes that fundamental concepts of institutional law need to be rethought and revised. Contrary to conventional wisdom, international organizations do not need to have members, and the members do not need to be exclusively states and international organizations. Private sector entities may also be full members. Furthermore, international organizations do not need to possess international legal personality, nor is their autonomy necessarily a corollary of their personality. Moreover, the notion of “subject of international law” needs to be reconsidered and the very concepts and definitions of “intergovernmental organization” and “international organization” need to change and be defined in a wider manner. It is propounded that the power of creation of new organizations has passed over to international organizations and other entities.
Dr. Gerd Droesse is a recognized specialist in institutional law, international administrative law, complex institutional and financial policy matters, and corporate governance issues, with over 30 years of experience working for international organizations in senior and management positions. He was a Director of the Asian Development Bank, Legal Counsel/Acting General Counsel of the GCF, and assisted the WGEO as General Counsel in preparing its transition to a new type of intergovernmental organization. Dr. Droesse teaches at the Paris School of International Affairs (SciencesPo).