Climate diplomacy
Climate diplomacy refers to the use of diplomatic channels and strategies to address global climate change and its impact on international relations. It involves negotiating and implementing climate-related policies, treaties, and agreements at the international level, as well as cooperation between countries and other stakeholders to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, adapt to the impacts of climate change, and promote sustainable development.
The European Commission defines four strands of climate diplomacy at the political level:
1. Commitment to multilateralism:
This involves promoting global cooperation and supporting the implementation of the Paris Agreement. Multilateral climate diplomacy works through established forums, such as the United Nations and the annual Conferences of the Parties (COP), to drive collective action against climate change.
For instance, the recent success at COP 28, where significant progress was made on transitioning away from fossil fuels, demonstrates the potential of multilateral diplomacy to tackle difficult challenges. At this summit, negotiators reached an agreement on fossil fuel reduction strategies, signalling a positive development amid the often-contentious negotiations.
2. Addressing peace and security implications (Barnett & Adger, 2007; IPCC, 2014)
3. Accelerating domestic action and raising global ambition:
While international negotiations are crucial, effective climate diplomacy also entails accelerating domestic action and encouraging countries to raise their climate ambitions. This involves leveraging diplomatic pressure, sharing best practices, and using peer mechanisms to create a global culture of climate leadership. (European Court of Human Rights, 2023).
4. Enhancing international climate cooperation:
Climate diplomacy also focuses on building alliances and partnerships beyond formal negotiation settings. This involves advocacy, outreach, and public diplomacy to enhance the global narrative around climate action. For example, the European Union has worked extensively with African and Asian countries to support renewable energy initiatives, thereby building trust and ensuring that climate action is inclusive and equitable. Such initiatives ensure that developing nations have the resources and technologies to effectively address climate challenges.
Climate diplomacy also includes emphasizing climate action with global partners through diplomatic talks, public diplomacy, and external policy tools.
Climate Building Illustration
This is how DiploFoundation illustrates the complexity of climate change.
The first version of the Climate building was released at the time of the Copenhagen Summit in 2009. Since then, it has been regularly upgraded based on comments from diplomats, experts, and the general public. You can also find climate change buildings in multiple languages.
International processes on climate diplomacy
International processes on climate diplomacy include various informal and formal platforms aimed at bridging gaps and enhancing cooperation between countries.
The Kyoto Protocol, adopted in 1997, was the first international treaty that set legally binding targets for reducing greenhouse gas emissions for developed countries. It marked a significant milestone in international climate action, establishing mechanisms such as carbon trading to support emission reductions (Kyoto Protocol, 1997).
The Paris Agreement, adopted in 2015, represents a more inclusive and flexible approach to climate action. Unlike the Kyoto Protocol, the Paris Agreement allows countries to set their own climate targets through nationally determined contributions (NDCs), regularly reviewed and updated (United Nations, 2015). This agreement has been a key success of multilateral climate diplomacy, bringing nearly all countries together to address climate change collectively.
The Cartagena Dialogue, which aims to reduce the divide between developed and developing countries in climate negotiations. This informal grouping of countries fosters collaboration and common ground, helping to overcome the traditional divisions that have often stymied progress in climate talks.
Another significant process is the Friends of Fossil Fuel Subsidies Reform (FFFSR), a coalition of countries advocating for the reform of subsidies for traditional fossil fueIls. This grouping brings a closer nexus between global energy geopolitics, national interests, and climate actions, encouraging nations to reduce their reliance on fossil fuel subsidies and shift towards sustainable energy practices.
Training in Climate Diplomacy
The online course on Climate Diplomacy provides an introduction to climate change policy and governance. The course underlying themes are graphically summarised in the Climate Building Illustration. They include scientific, economic, social, legal, ethical and developmental aspects of climate change. This online course is normally offered two times per year, with a limited number of scholarships provided by the government of Malta for participants from small islands and developing states.
The Capacity Development for Climate Change Governance and Diplomacy Programme aims to help small and developing states to participate meaningfully in climate change negotiations on global and regional levels. The programme includes online training, policy research and policy immersion.
The Climate Change Online Community gathers Diplo alumni and others interested in informally sharing knowledge and discussing climate change governance and diplomacy.
By tweeting about climate change we engage with a worldwide audience to further dialogue at the nexus between climate change, small and developing states, and diplomacy.
Other Diplo activities on Climate Change Diplomacy:
- Climate Change Diplomacy Conference (Malta, February 2007)
- Climate Change Diplomacy event at the United Nations (New York, June 2008)
- Video recording from the Second Life Conference on Climate Change Diplomacy (Second Life, November 2008)
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