Climate Diplomacy: Need for a Holistic Geopolitical Approach

Climate action and de-carbonization processes require a commitment on the part of developed countries and developing nations. The onus of making the world ‘Carbon Zero’ or ‘Carbon Free’ lies on the shoulders of developed nations more than the developing nations or underdeveloped nations.

The task of decarbonisation demands the reduction in the oil and other fossil fuel dependency which influenced the geopolitics. Climate Action plans have a tendency to disrupt the bilateral relations and influence foreign policies of nations as the economic relations of the countries are going to be influenced majorly. 

A multi-pronged approach

Climate Action Commitments and plans are likely to have a broader effect on trade relations, finance and investment flows, scientific cooperation, official development assistance and other developmental cooperation among the nations.

Developed nations might benefit from their climate commitments directly as they have well – structured developmental capabilities but how the supplier countries of fossil fuels who’s around 10 to 50 percent of GDP depends on the supply of oil and gas, can comply with such commitments of high level such as the Paris Climate Deal. It has been observed that most of the oil rich nations are still far from developing their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Deal.

The question is now how such countries can be made to comply with the climate change mitigation actions. The answer lies in the responsibility of the ‘Developed World’. By adopting a multi way approach, they can handle the situation at hand.

1. Reducing their dependency on oil and gas by investing in renewable energy capacity.
2. Building sustainable and fruitful partnership with the oil rich nations by investing in their sustainable energy capacity building through technology and financial transfers.
3. Helping fossil fuel dependent countries to diversify their economic options and develop a low-carbon economy.
4. To adopt measures such as Free Trade Agreements; Partnership and Cooperation Agreements or other forms of high-level dialogue for making relations less disruptive.
5. Helping volatile and conflict prone countries to stabilize their economies for harnessing their potential.