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The Global Governance of Climate Change

4 August 2015

With just four months until the next climate summit (COP 21) kicks off in Paris, this policy brief takes stock of what is likely to be the biggest global governance challenge of the 21st century.

Loss and Damage

By Liam O'Flaherty, GGI Research Assistant

Climate change governance is in a state of flux; the multilateral architecture that has dominated for the last two decades is gradually being replaced by a more fragmented and decentralised regime composed of less clear-cut institutions. The top-down, treaty approach has been infused with a bottom-up logic of voluntary pledges, and now shares the stage with a diverse range of characters such as bilateral agreements, subnational and non-state initiatives, and national courts.

The intergovernmental system has repeatedly failed to take the necessary action to protect humanity from the effects of dangerous climate change. The negotiations in Paris this winter seem unlikely to break this pattern, failing to address some of the key issues and once again kicking the can of meaningful emissions reduction firmly down the road. It is therefore unsurprising that many climate experts are now pinning their hopes on developments outside the multilateral regime, be they in the fields of technological development, CSR, regulation, or domestic law.

To access the full Policy Brief: The Global Governance of Climate Change (PDF)