adelphi

adelphi will hold four roundtables in major European cities to better understand the future landscape of climate diplomacy in a time where populists agitate against the globalized world – be it migration, the free flow of goods, of information, or institutions of international cooperation.

Populists agitate against the globalized world – be it migration, the free flow of goods, of information, or institutions of international cooperation. Yet, climate change and sustainable development – among many other topics – are challenges that cannot be tackled by any single country alone. The Western world finds itself at a crossroads – with political drawbridges rising – and time is running short for the international community to develop a coherent strategy in the fight against climate change.

Berlin, Brussels, London, Paris - climate diplomacy in times of populism in focus

What are the implications for climate diplomacy resulting from the rise of populism in Europe? What will the consequences be of a new US president with an agenda that does not recognize the realities of a changing climate? How can climate and energy policy strengthen the vision for the EU? How will Brexit impact climate and energy policy and cooperation in Europe, and the EU’s leadership role in climate negotiations? What impact will the elections in Germany and France have on energy relations?

In order to find answers to these and other questions, adelphi will hold four roundtables in major European cities to better understand the future landscape of climate diplomacy and energy relations given changing international political circumstances. adelphi partners with the Institute for European Studies in Brussels, the Institute for Sustainable Development and International Relations (IDDRI) in Paris, and the Grantham Institute for Climate Change at Imperial College in London. The series Drawbridges up, climate policy down - decarbonization without leadership? is supported by the German Federal Foreign Office. Each of the roundtables will address a specific theme, namely:

  • The Future of Decarbonization and EU Cooperation (Brussels)
  • Implications for Climate Policy and Ambitions (London)
  • Implications for International Climate Negotiations (Paris)
  • Implications for the Climate Science-Policy Interface (Berlin)

adelphi and our partner institutions will summarize the key findings from the four-part discussion series in a single policy brief that will be disseminated to policy-makers. A public discussion will take place during this year’s Climate Diplomacy Week (19-25 June) in Berlin.

Keep yourself updated by following us on Twitter: @ClimateDiplo.


Climate Diplomacy
Global Issues
Dhanasree Jayaram, MAHE

As we step into 2020, time has come to implement the Paris Agreement and raise climate ambition, but the geopolitical tide seems to be against it. The best way forward at this crucial juncture might be to forge a ‘climate coalition of the willing’ – recognising and streamlining actions of all actors at all levels.

Climate Change
Early Warning & Risk Analysis
Global Issues
Lauren Anderson, IISD

For the first time in the survey’s 10-year outlook, the top five global risks in terms of likelihood are all environmental. They are: extreme weather events, failure of climate change mitigation and adaptation, major natural disasters, major biodiversity loss and ecosystem collapse, and human-made environmental damage and disasters.

Climate Change
Land & Food
Sub-Saharan Africa
Issa Sikiti da Silva, SciDev.Net

Millions of people across Sub-Saharan Africa could face grave hunger in the first half of 2020 because of armed conflict, political instability and climate change-linked disasters, a report says.
The report published by the UN World Food Programme (WFP) this month says that the countries affected will require life-saving food assistance and investment to prevent humanitarian catastrophes.

Climate Change
Forests
Oceania & Pacific
Daisy Dunne, Josh Gabbatiss and Robert McSweeney, Carbon Brief

Australia is currently experiencing one of its worst bushfire seasons, with swathes of the southern and eastern coastal regions having been ablaze for weeks.  As the fires have spread, there has been extensive media coverage both nationally and internationally documenting – and debating – their impacts. This Carbon Brief overview summarises how the fires – and the political response to them – have been covered by the media.