In establishing a global public goods agenda, it is, therefore, important to ensure that the top priorities of different population groups are being considered equitably. Also, global public goods must not be allowed to further exacerbate existing inequities. Although public, some may not be accessible to the poor. The internet poses this challenge. If these concerns are neglected, people's and states' willingness to cooperate will suffer - and so will global public goods.
Equity is an important element of an effective global public goods strategy.
But beyond its instrumental value, equity is itself is a global public good. It is non-rival, in the sense that if one person is being treated equitably that does not diminish the chance of another person also to be treated in the same way. On the contrary, the more accepted the principle and practice of equity is, the more confident can other persons be that they will also benefit from fairness and justice. And once accepted as a norm like other global norms and principles such as human rights, equity is non-excludable. Once accepted as a norm, it must, by definition, apply to all peoples in all places.