The institutions, organizations and mechanisms by which humans currently govern all biological and physical systems of the planet are insufficient, poorly understood and ultimately require more effective governance systems. IHDP defines environmental governance as the interrelated and increasingly integrated system of formal and informal rules, rule-making systems and actor-networks at all levels of human society. They are set up to steer societies towards preventing, mitigating and adapting to global and local environmental change and, in particular, earth system transformation, within the normative context of sustainable development.