Climate Diplomacy in a Messy World

The geopolitical landscape is becoming more complex and contested just as climate change poses ever greater risks to global security, stability and prosperity. Revitalized approaches to international diplomacy and cooperation on climate issues are urgently needed. 

Geopolitical friction, industrial competition, shifting power dynamics and energy security concerns are reshaping how nations engage. Countries are prioritizing strategic autonomy, but climate change presents a challenge that cannot be solved in isolation. How nations cooperate must evolve to be relevant and effective in this era of disruption. 

For many years, the Paris Agreement—and the multilateral process under the UNFCCC more widely—defined much of the diplomatic space on climate. Paris has delivered real progress, establishing a critical framework that continues to catalyze national climate planning and set global climate objectives. But it's clear that diplomatic efforts to address the climate crisis are evolving and must do so even more to remain effective. 

Today's landscape requires more diverse arenas and avenues to tackle the economic, trade, security and other issues, sitting across a spectrum: from bilateral to multilateral, from single to multi-issue in scope and influence.

Operating in this new “multi-focal” environment will be more complex, but it need not be confusing. It will be essential to consider not only the particular roles of specific arenas and avenues, but also how different channels can complement one another as part of an integrated system—and to know which stakeholders, levers and conversations are essential to achieving any specific aim.

While the multilateral system remains essential, coalitions of the willing (and doing), regional cooperation, and trade diplomacy are increasingly critical, and it’s already clear that, to succeed, climate diplomacy and cooperation must be oriented towards addressing broader economic and security challenges and be responsive to people’s lives.