ABSTRACT
Governments and intergovernmental organizations (IGOs) perform an essential role in achieving sustainability. This chapter begins with summary information about governments and IGOs, followed by the role of systems thinking in both types of organizations. Methods of implementing systems thinking in both types of organizations are examined, along with the role of system leadership in government and IGO activities. Urban sustainability will be examined within the context of both types of organizations, along with a global perspective of system leadership for sustainability within these organizations and barriers to system leadership. Examples will be provided of how system leadership can be applied within the public sector to achieve sustainable outcomes. While examples of system leaders within existing literature are limited to the field of education, there are many examples of individuals demonstrating sustainability system leadership in the public sector, without awareness that the leadership method being used is system leadership. The chapter will conclude with a personal interview summary of a sustainability system leader from the IGO sector.
