2015 ended on a very positive note in terms of climate diplomacy efforts. The adoption of the Paris Agreement is widely considered to be a great success. It hasn’t all been easy, but it’s been necessary for 2016 to keep the pace. Thankfully, numerous people, institutions and countries have stepped forward to ensure the debate hasn’t run dry.
The Climate Diplomacy platform has also been dedicated to monitoring and supporting this debate, by gathering and promoting stories, which touch on different aspects of climate diplomacy. Thus, to again end the year on a positive note and maintain the motivation for 2017, we’ve compiled our top ten climate diplomacy stories published on our platform over the past year:
By Benjamin Pohl
Why do some measures which address the causes of migration still ignore climate change? Do we need a policy revolution to achieve integrated, long-term solutions? Benjamin Pohl looked at recent action by the EU.
By Kaj Fischer
Most of the progressive policies and significant challenges with regard to climate change are found in cities. A study by adelphi looks at ways of integrating urban actors in international climate governance to find more effective climate solutions. Kaj Fischer summed up the results.
By Dhanasree Jayaram
In the run up to and during the COP21 negotiations, many eyes were on India, as it was perceived to be a potential “bridging” nation, but also as a “challenge”. Dhanasree Jayaram sheds some insight on what India’s aspirations might be after the Paris Summit.
By Johannes Ackva
Mission Innovation is an initiative by twenty leading countries to double their research and development (R&D) budgets for clean energy innovation in the next five years. In this opinion piece, Johannes Ackva lays out why this initiative is essential in order to complement carbon pricing and deployment policies, and, thus, should receive far more attention.
By Stephan Wolters and Dennis Tänzler
The success of the landmark Paris Agreement ultimately hinges on sustained efforts in the years to come. Stephan Wolters and Dennis Tänzler suggested five elements for EU Climate Diplomacy to keep up the positive momentum.
By Lukas Rüttinger
What are the links between climate change and extractive industries and why is this relevant for international politics? Lukas Rüttinger summed up the findings of a 2016 report and highlights four entry points for foreign policy.
By Sabine Blumstein
Climate change is expected to intensify droughts and other water-related challenges in many international river basins, making adaptive capacity building crucial. Sabine Blumstein summarised the findings of a report by adelphi that outlines different water policy tools used in many river basins to support climate change adaptation, but also explains a number of deficiencies.
By Stephan Wolters
The new EU Global Strategy “Shared Vision, Common Action: A Stronger Europe” recognises the strategic importance of climate change. This is an important step to integrate climate diplomacy into the EU's overall foreign policy thinking, according to Stephan Wolters.
By Jonathan Rozen
The realization of the SDGs, and with them the conditions for peaceful societies, is directly threatened by worsening climatic conditions. Climate change directly impacts socio-economic development outcomes, such as food and livelihood security. Author Jonathan Rozen argues that efforts on sustaining peace and advancing sustainable development require bold climate action that looks beyond short-term political constraints.
By Stephan Wolters
How to deal with the impacts of climate change on peace and stability? What are the key climate-fragility risks to development in Africa and how can integrated policy responses be designed and implemented? Two side events at COP22 discussed entry points for addressing climate-security risks on the ground.
Until recently, impressive economic growth, stable leadership and its attractiveness as a foreign investment hub put Ethiopia in a positive spotlight. However, the country still ranks low in human development and is highly dependent on rainfed agriculture, making it particularly vulnerable to climate change impacts. Combined with existing tensions and inequalities, climate vulnerability can exacerbate security risks. To mitigate these linkages, Ethiopia’s leadership should support implementation of conflict-sensitive climate change adaptation policies and include climate security in its conflict mitigation strategy.
On 19 November in Dhaka, adelphi partnered with the International Centre for Climate Change and Development (ICCCAD) to hold a roundtable and discussion on climate change and fragility risks in South Asia.
One of the world’s lowest-lying countries invited international experts to discuss the security challenges related to climate change.
Nepal and Afghanistan face a number of serious climate-fragility risks, so adelphi brought together regional government officials and NGO experts for a training in Kathmandu on 9 November 2019.