Climate Diplomacy
Climate Diplomacy
Climate Diplomacy
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:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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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.