Climate diplomacy: Seeing the bigger picture

Abstract

This policy brief explores the potential for Least Developed Countries to use ‘climate diplomacy’ to promote more ambitious international action on climate change, both inside and outside the formal, global talks. It urges the leaders of Least Developed Countries (LDCs) – which are most vulnerable to climate change – to integrate climate messaging into many aspects of foreign and diplomatic affairs. By so doing, the authors argue, ‘climate diplomats’ are more likely to catalyse ambitious, collective action both outside the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and within. They draw on recent experiences from the Republic of the Marshall Islands and the Least Developed Country negotiating group in the UNFCCC, where diplomatic resources have been well organised to promote poor countries’ climate-related concerns.

Citation

Kiran Sura; Schweimler, N. Climate diplomacy: Seeing the bigger picture. Climate and Development Knowledge Network (CDKN), (2013) 4 pp.

Climate diplomacy: Seeing the bigger picture

Updates to this page

Published 1 January 2013