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:
- committing to multilateralism in climate policy, particularly to the implementation of the Paris Agreement;
- addressing implications of climate change on peace and security
Accelerating domestic action and raising global ambition; - enhancing international climate cooperation through advocacy and outreach
Climate diplomacy also includes emphasizing climate action with global partners through diplomatic talks, public diplomacy, and external policy tools.
Updates
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
The Cartagena Dialogue aimes to reduce divide division between developed and developing countries in climate negotiations. It is an informal grouping of countries.
The “Friends of Fossil Fuel Subsidies Reform” (FFFSR) gathers countries that work on search for subsidies for traditional fossil fuels. This interplay brings in closer nexus global energy geopolitics, national interests, and climate actions.
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)
From our blog
The Glasgow environment summit: A new paradigm?
01 November 2021
Two images capture the global environment talkfest, the 2021 UN Climate Change Conference (COP 26), which dominates the media for some 12 days, commencing 1 November 2021. A delightfully innovative 150-second video i...
Can an empty chair save COP26?
28 October 2021
Rights of future generations, Climate diplomacy, Future of meetings
Next week, heads of state, diplomats, and scientists from all corners of the globe will descend on Glasgow for the COP26, where they\'ll negotiate the next crucial steps in the worsening climate crisis. However, one i...
[WebDebate #27 summary] Arctic diplomacy: Approaches and lessons
13 February 2019
In our February WebDebate, we looked at Arctic diplomacy. We were joined by Dr Danita Catherine Burke (Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellow at the Center for War Studies at the University of Southern Denmark), Pr...
Climate scientists beat economists at predicting the future
20 March 2014
\'The public is constantly told by the media that climate science can’t be trusted, the models are flawed, and action on climate change is a costly gamble. But when you compare original predictions with what actuall...
Training and courses
Events
The recent climate negotiations: A perspective from the Global South [WebDebate #52]
07 Dec 21 - 07 Dec 21
