Climate Diplomacy

1. What is Climate Diplomacy?

Climate diplomacy refers to the use of diplomatic tools and strategies to address
global climate change and its impact on international relations.

2. The Evolving Tapestry of Climate Diplomacy: A Story of

Science, Politics, and Hope

Climate
Change - 1970S
1980S
1700S Green Global Small 1990S
House Gas Warming - Major
Industrial number of large sacle
Emission + Risking the Environmen
Revolution bilateral conventions
Pollution af human tal disasters
/ use of and (Multilatera
all types existence and deaths
fossil fuels miltilateral lism)
and natural (Club)
agreements
resources
It's a tale marked by scientific advancements, shifting political landscapes, and a
growing sense of urgency in the face of a global crisis. Let's unravel the threads
of this story, tracing its transformation from initial skepticism to shared solutions:

a) Early Seedlings: Sowing the Seeds of Awareness (1970s-1980s)

 1972: The Stockholm Conference on the Human Environment marks the
first major international recognition of environmental concerns.

 1979: The World Meteorological Organization establishes the World

Climate Programme, focusing on research and monitoring of our changing
climate. This crucial step laid the groundwork for understanding the
science behind climate change.

 1985: The Vienna Convention for the Protection of the Ozone Layer is
adopted, showcasing the potential for international cooperation on
environmental issues for the first time. This agreement, seen as a stepping
stone, demonstrated that nations could unite to tackle complex
environmental challenges.

b) Taking Root: From Skepticism to Action (1990s-2000s)

 1992: The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
(UNFCCC) is signed by 154 countries, establishing a global framework for
addressing climate change. This landmark agreement, illustrated below,
laid the foundation for international climate negotiations and action.

 1997: The Kyoto Protocol, under the UNFCCC, sets emissions reduction
targets for developed countries, marking a significant advancement.
 However, challenges with participation and compliance highlighted the
complexities of international cooperation.

 2005: The Kyoto Protocol enters into force, but concerns about
effectiveness due to limited participation cast a shadow on its impact.

c) Branching Out: A Turning Point and Renewed Hope (2010s-Present)

 2009: The Copenhagen Accord acknowledges the need for ambitious
action, but fails to reach a binding agreement, exposing the difficulty of
forging consensus on a global scale.

 2015: The Paris Agreement emerges as a watershed moment. Nearly 200

countries pledge to limit global warming and support developing nations,
injecting renewed hope into the fight against climate change.

 2021: The Glasgow Climate Change Conference (COP26) emphasizes the

urgency of increased ambition and concrete action plans, underscoring the
need for continued progress.
 2022: COP27

Contemporary Nature CD: A Broader and More Inclusive, from

Club to Multilateral
Today, climate diplomacy paints a richer and more inclusive picture:
 Broadened scope: It encompasses mitigation, adaptation, finance,
technology transfer, and loss and damage, reflecting the multifaceted
nature of the challenge.
  Multi-stakeholder engagement: Governments, businesses, NGOs, and civil
society increasingly participate, enriching the discourse and fostering
innovative solutions.

 Regional and sectoral initiatives: Regional collaborations and sectoral

agreements complement global efforts, providing a more nuanced
approach to tackling climate change. Bottom-up approach, that every
nation can make its own rules and regulations regarding their
circumstances to meet the global guidelines for combating climate change.

 Focus on implementation: Driving concrete action on the ground and

ensuring accountability is crucial for translating commitments into
tangible results.

3. Why it Important to Conduct Diplomatic Practices on the

Environmental Issues?
“To see the 21st century truly, one’s eyes must learn a different set of
aesthetics….” – Robert D. Kaplan

Back in 1994 when the Cold War had just ended and the United States was still
drunk in its unipolar moment, Robert D. Kaplan made a remarkable publication in
the Atlantic by the name of “The Coming Anarchy”. In it, he presented
outstanding research on how the 21st century was going to present security
challenges not because of nuclear weapons but because of overpopulation,
resource scarcity, and diseases, which would eventuate because of the
continuous degradation of the environment.
  Kaplan’s environmentalist approach to politics gave a glimpse of the
matters the 21st century politics was going to be based on. The 21st
century, with its traditional border disputes, expansionism, and military
takeovers, also began to debate about how and when one could save the
very lands that they fought over.

4. Challenges and Opportunities: Weaving Through

Obstacles
Challenges
 Geopolitical tensions: Power imbalances and conflicting interests can
impede progress. Building trust and finding common ground is essential for
effective collaboration.
 Equity and fairness: Ensuring developing nations receive adequate
support for adaptation and mitigation remains a critical issue. Addressing
historical responsibility and creating a just transition is crucial for
sustainable progress.
 Raising ambition: Current commitments fall short of what's needed to
keep global warming in check. Continuous pressure to increase ambition
and action is vital for staying on track towards a stable climate.

Opportunities
 Technological advancements: Innovations in renewable energy, carbon
capture, and other fields offer affordable solutions for mitigation and
adaptation, providing tools to weave a more sustainable future.
 Growing public awareness: Increased public pressure can drive political
will and action, empowering citizens to become active participants in the
change.
  Enhanced cooperation: Collaborative efforts, like international alliances
and partnerships, can overcome national limitations and accelerate
progress, strengthening the fabric of global cooperation.

5. Current Development: COP28

Key takeaways / Decisions: what’s new?
The 2023 United Nations Climate Change Conference or Conference of the Parties
of the UNFCCC, more commonly known as COP28, was the 28th United Nations
Climate Change conference, held from 30 November to 12 December at Expo
City, Dubai, United Arab Emirates.
The conference was widely criticised for its controversial president Sultan Al
Jaber (CEO of ADNOC) as well as its host country the United Arab Emirates,
which is known for its opaque environmental record and role as a major producer
of fossil fuels And its human rights record.

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6. Conclusion?
Despite of numerous challenges at hand, climate change diplomacy has been
successful in eroding many of the fundamental gap in addressing climate change.
It is due to the diplomacy that the world has seen transition from minilateralism
to multilateralism in terms of climate change combat. Advances in the diplomacy
will further ensures the equitable and fair treatment to all nation, which is one of
the biggest problem why nations often failed to implement climate policies. But,
all in all, climate diplomacy has put the climate issue from the back page to the
front page of the newspaper.