Introduction
The United Nations set a goal for countries to limit the universal standard temperature rise to 2 degrees Celsius compared with pre-industrial level through their climate change agreement, which was signed within the 2015 Paris Agreement (Aronoff et al., 2019). According to Obergassel et al. (2016), this agreement will be achieved by the countries’ Intended National Determined Contributions (INDC), the primary reference to realize the target. Each country has its way of achieving its INDCs, but they can apply several ways, including reduction of carbon emission and technology transfer to developing countries.
There are three proposed ways for this agreement; technology transfer, financing, and capacity building. Technology Transfer refers to the process by which countries share knowledge and technology to reduce emissions. The idea is that wealthier countries with more developed economies can share their knowledge and technology with poorer countries in order to help them reduce their carbon footprints. It is a critical piece of the Paris Agreement, as it would allow developing countries to play a role in reducing climate change.
Financing is integral to achieving the goal of the Paris Agreement, as it will allow countries to finance climate-related projects and activities. It will be crucial for the achievement of the document’s bolder targets. The agreement states that the provision of scaled-up financial resources should aim to balance public and private finance.
On the other hand, Capacity Building is the process of building the technical and institutional capacity of countries to address climate change. The Paris Agreement uses the acronym CBDR+RC which stands for “Common But Differentiated Responsibility and Respective Capabilities.” It is a key principle of the Paris Agreement that states that developed countries must take the lead in reducing emissions while developing countries should continue to grow their economies in a sustainable way. The goal is to ensure that all countries share in the responsibility of fighting climate change while taking into account their different capacities and levels of development. (Obergassel et al., 2016). According to this theory, climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts will differ for developing and developed countries. Developed countries will need to continue to improve their institutional capacity and help developing countries strengthen theirs. Capacity building is essential for the success of the Paris Agreement.
However, according to the analysis by the Center for Climate Strategies, the technology transfer component of climate negotiations is highly uncertain in its ability to deliver results (Obergassel et al., 2016). There are no existing legal structures or financing mechanisms for this purpose, nor is there a body of experience to draw upon in developing these instruments (Sachs et al., 2019). According to the report, according to the Center for Climate Strategies, it may cause problems in terms of technology transfer. The capability to develop and deploy technologies exists primarily within industrial countries.
Conversely, developing country capabilities are highly constrained due to resource availability, capacity development needs, technical expertise, market access, and legal infrastructure (Obergassel et al., 2016). Based on this, it could not be easy to get technology to transfer smoothly and successfully, one of the critical aspects of reaching U.N. goals. Other problems come with this, such as developing countries’ capacity constraints and lack of finance. Nonetheless, international diplomacy strategy is still the best way to achieve the target despite these disadvantages.
Reasons for Selecting the Strategy and why it is Feasible
International diplomacy is the negotiation and discussion between countries to resolve disputes, agree on treaties or reach other resolutions. The international diplomacy strategy is the best way to achieve the goal because it has an extensive range of collaboration. If each country works alone, it would not be easy to achieve the target. However, countries can collaborate and exchange ideas to help reach the target with international diplomacy strategy. Obergassel et al. (2016) state that the Center for Climate Strategies report shows that Informal exchanges of information and perspectives about INDC implementation can be mutually beneficial, sharing best practices and facilitating adaptation.
Another reason why there is a need to adopt an international diplomacy strategy regarding climate change is developing a global carbon market. It would allow for both mitigation and adaptation. It could be part of future agreements made through international diplomacy (Aronoff et al., 2019). International diplomacy is a way of coordinating international efforts to confront climate change. Through this process, countries can reach agreements on goals and ways to achieve these goals.
Coordination between countries would enable global achievement of climate change mitigation sufficiently. For instance, there are some reasons why Beijing is likely to adopt the diplomacy strategy. These reasons include the Chinese government’s growing awareness of the need to tackle climate change and its desire to be seen as a global leader; the increasing amount of domestic pressure that is being placed on the government to take action on climate change; and China’s readiness to cooperate with other countries in order to achieve common goals (Shi et al., 2016). China is a good contender for adopting the Diplomacy strategy. Their willingness to lower emissions is already evident through their signing of the Paris Agreement and China’s promise to invest 100 billion dollars in clean energy (Sachs et al. 2019). Beijing also desires to be seen as a global leader, which will make it relatively easy for them to work with other countries and adopt the diplomacy strategy.
The Diplomacy strategy is seen as a feasible solution to reaching the U.N.’s target for climate change mitigation because it considers the social and political challenges that come with climate change. By addressing these challenges, the Diplomacy strategy creates a more cooperative environment in which countries can work together to reduce emissions. Additionally, the Diplomacy strategy is a sensible solution. It focuses on and aims to rectify the root cause of climate change: the inequalities that spring from an unsustainable global economy. This third section explores how the Diplomacy strategy can help countries lower their emissions while also considering social and political challenges through several case studies.
By their very nature, diplomatic negotiations are supposed to be flexible and allow countries to compromise. It is an effective solution because it addresses both the root causes of climate change due to global inequalities and some of the difficulties of climate change. It would lead to a more equitable development model as the demands of developing countries, such as providing for their expanding populations, growing economies, and rising living standards would no longer go unheeded. Moreover, this revised economic model could balance out the ecological impact that current forms of development have on the planet. It, in turn, would pave the way for more sustainable forms of development that take into account social and political factors while also maintaining ecological balance (Agarwal & Narain, 2012).
Crucial Social Movements for Building the Momentum
The best-known movement in the international sphere is probably the Climate Justice movement, which brings together people from many different countries. The Climate Justice movement is composed of people from all walks of life. It includes environmentalists, scientists, students, farmers and Indigenous communities. Examples include Greta Thunberg and sunrise movements, which united and committed to tackling climate change and creating a better world for future generations. The demands on this movement are relatively radical, however, demanding an end to capitalism and a new form of society that does not depend on fossil fuels (Obergassel et al., 2016). An example of more moderate movements that seem to have potential is concerned citizens groups (350.org, the Citizens’ Climate Lobby, and the Sunrise Movement), who have sprung up worldwide in response to the climate crisis.
While varied in their demands, these groups share a common goal of pressuring their governments to do more on climate change. According to McGoldrick et al. (2012), one challenge for these groups is that they often lack an international voice. Another challenge is that they may be competing with other priorities, such as economic development or national security (McGoldrick et al., 2012). Many of these groups are also relatively new and have not yet had a chance to show their effectiveness. Nonetheless, they offer a promising avenue for building momentum on climate change.
Several large international organizations can work on climate change mitigation, primarily through the international diplomacy strategy. Probably the most well-known is the United Nations, which has sought to build international consensus about stopping climate change through annual conferences (Taylor, 2000). Unfortunately, these meetings have not yet yielded much in the way of results, but they are still significant for creating a space where countries can come together to talk about climate change. Another central U.N. agency that has helped draw attention to change in climate is the Intergovernmental board on Change in Climate, which releases reports on the state of climate science every few years. International Organizations have not been successful in their missions. First, many countries are hesitant to sign climate change treaties because they feel that the economic impact of doing so would be too significant. Second, even if a country does sign a treaty, it often fails to live up to its commitments.
One solution to these problems is for the United Nations to take the lead in negotiations and enforce commitments that member countries make. For example, the Paris Agreement included provisions for both developed and developing countries, to help get more countries on board in achieving the global climate change resolutions. Creating a more equitable treaty to feel more comfortable signing would also help bring more countries on board in achieving the mitigation strategies.
Another significant international organization is the World Bank, which has pledged to stop funding fossil fuel projects and to invest in renewable energy. The World Bank has also been a major funder of climate change mitigation projects, both through its initiatives and partnering with other organizations (Eric 2021). These organizations often work on various issues related to climate change, which can make them substantial and influential organizations.
The international environmental movement is also a significant player in political debates about climate change, but it does not have an official membership or leadership structure in most cases. Instead, environmentalists are scattered throughout various countries and organizations, with no one leader to unite them into a single entity. However, when these disparate groups come together on an issue, they can be very influential. According to TAYLOR (2000), an example of such a coalition is the Climate Action Network, which brings together over 1100 NGOs worldwide to fight climate change by pressuring governments and corporations to take action on this issue.
While many different social movements and organizations are working on climate change, the most important ones for building momentum for the “International diplomacy Strategy” are probably the Ecology groups, International Organizations, and Climate Justice Groups. These groups have already demonstrated their ability to mobilize people around climate change and affect change locally, nationally, and internationally (Mary Annalise Heglar, 2019). They will be crucial in building momentum for climate action in the years to come.
Key Challenges to Overcome
One of the critical challenges is finance since a large chunk of the money required to meet the U.N.’s target will come from the private sector. It could be difficult, as many businesses are still reluctant to invest in clean energy projects due to concerns about profitability. Another challenge is governance. Many countries lack the necessary infrastructure to measure carbon emissions accurately, making it difficult to determine how much each country should reduce its emissions. The lack of clean energy technology is also a key challenge (Eric 2021). Green technologies are often expensive because they are still under development and cannot yet compete with fossil fuels on price alone.
Among the most challenging worldwide issues is reconciling environmental protection with economic development and wellbeing by separating ecological damage from wealth creation. Despite this fact, the world also needs to make changes to other areas of society to achieve the U.N.’s target, such as transport, agriculture, and manufacturing (McGoldrick et al., 2012). It could be difficult, as these sectors are often highly regulated and resistant to change. Ultimately, the success of any international diplomacy strategy for climate change mitigation will hinge on the willingness of countries to cooperate and compromise. So far, this has not been easy to achieve. The Paris Agreement, for example, was a step in the correct direction, though it will only succeed if all countries abide by their pledges to reduce carbon emissions going forward.
As a solution to the finance challenge, one option is to create or strengthen existing financial institutions, for example, multilateral development banks. Another solution is to create a new financial instrument, such as a green bond.Lack of clean energy technology is another challenge in mitigating climate change. It was recognized in the Paris Agreement, which calls for increased investment in clean energy technology. Several solutions have been proposed, including public-private partnerships, research and development funding, and technology transfer.
Comparison with Other Strategies
An alternative strategy for this mission is a cap-and-trade system. A cap-and-trade system limits the number of greenhouse gases emitted, and companies are allotted permits based on how much they need to emit. Companies that can reduce their emissions more cheaply than the permit price can sell their permits to companies that cannot (Eric 2021). It creates an incentive to reduce emissions as the price of permits rises. However, a cap-and-trade system has several disadvantages. First, it is not easy to set a global limit that effectively reduces emissions. Second, it is difficult to enforce compliance with the limit. Third, the permit price may not be high enough to incentivize companies to reduce emissions. Moreover fourth, the benefits of reducing emissions may not be evenly distributed.
International diplomacy Strategy can fix the disadvantage of other strategies by helping to set a global limit that will effectively reduce emissions and enforce compliance with the limit. The price of permits can also be increased with the help of diplomacy, ensuring that companies reduce their emissions. This strategy can create some benefits, lessening the unevenness of benefits. Likewise, if the strategy of electrifying everything is chosen, it would not be easy to electrify all of the world’s transportation systems. It would create much pollution and add to the problem of climate change. The International diplomacy Strategy can fix the disadvantage of this strategy by helping other countries to electrify their transportation systems. It will help reduce the amount of pollution created by transportation and help fight climate change.
The strategy of International diplomacy Strategy is also essential for fixing the disadvantage of another strategy. If the strategy of electrifying everything is chosen, it would be difficult to electrify all of the world’s buildings (Eric 2021). It would create much pollution and add to the problem of climate change. The International diplomacy Strategy can fix the disadvantage of this strategy by helping other countries to electrify their buildings. Electrifying buildings will help reduce the amount of pollution created by buildings and help fight climate change in the countries. The strategies have the potential to help reduce the amount of pollution created by transportation and buildings, and they both have the potential to help fight climate change in countries (Agarwal & Narain, 2012). Choosing either of these strategies is essential for helping to achieve the U.N.’s target for climate change mitigation.
Finally, the strategy of “Curbing consumption” is disadvantageous because it would require a large-scale change in the lifestyle of people around the world (Shi et al., 2016). It could be challenging to achieve, especially if there is resistance from unwilling people to change their ways. International diplomacy Strategy can help overcome this disadvantage by providing a forum for negotiating agreements that would lead to the agreed-upon changes.
Another strategy that may be more feasible than “curbing consumption” is “efficiency.” The advantage of this approach is that it does not require people to change their lifestyles but instead allows them to continue at their current pace while using energy more efficiently. The disadvantage of this approach is that it does not reduce gas emissions and would therefore fail to reduce climate change (Eric 2021). The International diplomacy Strategy can help overcome this disadvantage by negotiating agreements that require countries to adopt energy-efficient technologies and practices and provide funding for these activities.
Conclusion
Climate change is among the most pressing global issues, and it is not easy to find a solution that will work for everyone. However, there may be hope if we can find an approach where all parties are satisfied enough with their contribution. International diplomacy is the best strategic solution for reaching the U.N.’s target for climate change mitigation. The advantages of international diplomacy are its feasibility and ability to build momentum by convincing countries on both sides of the issue equally about what needs to happen next and how feasible it would be to achieve goals set out by COP21 agreements. It means any given nation could adopt policies without being pressured by its citizens to use international agreements as a guide. Considering this strategy and social movements or other organizations might help us move closer towards meeting the U.N. target for climate change mitigation.
References
Retrieved from Class Schedule References
Agarwal, A., & Narain, S. (2012). Global warming in an unequal world: A case of environmental colonialism (selected excerpts). In N.K. Dubash (Ed.), Handbook of Climate Change and India (pp. 105-112). Routledge.
Aronoff, K., Battistoni, A., Cohen, D. A., & Riofrancos, T. (2019). A planet to win: Why we need a Green New Deal. Verso Books.
Mary Annalise Heglar. (2019). Climate change: I work in the environmental movement. I do not care if you recycle. Vox. Web.
McGoldrick, W., Feaver, D., & Maver, A. (2012). Fiduciary Duty and Climate Governance: Challenges for International Diplomacy and Law. Fiduciary Duty and the Atmospheric Trust, 20-1. Web.
Obergassel, W., Arens, C., Hermwille, L., Kreibich, N., Mersmann, F., Ott, H. E., & Wang-Helmreich, H. (2016). Phoenix from the ashes—an analysis of the Paris agreement to the United Nations framework convention on climate change. Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment, and Energy, 1, 1-54. Web.
Sachs, J. D., Schmidt-Traub, G., Mazzucato, M., Messner, D., Nakicenovic, N., & Rockström, J. (2019). Six transformations to achieve the sustainable development goals. Nature Sustainability, 2(9), 805-814. Web.
Shi, L., Chu, E., Anguelovski, I., Aylett, A., Debits, J., Goh, K., Schenk, T., Seto, K. C., Dodman, D., Roberts, R., Roberts, T., & VanDeveer, S. D. (2016). Roadmap towards justice in urban climate adaptation research. Nature Climate Change, 6(2), 131-137. Web.
Taylor, D. E. (2000). The Rise of the Environmental Justice Paradigm. American Behavioral Scientist, 43(4), 508–580. Web.
Wang-Kaeding, H. (2021) China goes green: Coercive environmentalism for a troubled planet. Environmental Politics, 30(4), 678-680, Web.
Class notes File
Eric (2021)”Class Notes”