Impact of climate diplomacy on international relations: Modern trends

Khayala Namig Gasimova

Impact of climate diplomacy on international relations: Modern trends

Khayala Namig Gasimova

Abstract

The relevance of studying the impact of climate diplomacy on international relations is due to the intensification of the global climate crisis and geopolitical tensions, which create unprecedented challenges for the world community. The purpose of the article was to identify and analyse the modern trends of the impact of climate diplomacy on international relations in the context of geopolitical confrontation. The methodological basis of the study was the historical method, comparative analysis, and tabular modelling, which allowed for tracing the evolution of the international legal regime of climate diplomacy, studying the impact of conflicts on the implementation of climate initiatives, and comparing the features of climate policy of key geopolitical players. The main results of the study indicate the growing role of climate diplomacy as an integral component of modern international relations, which, however, faces serious challenges caused by geopolitical rivalry and the conflict of interests between states. It has been found that the contradictions between the USA, China, and Russia significantly complicate the achievement of the ambitious goals of the Paris Agreement, while trade wars, sanctions, and military conflicts divert attention and resources from pressing climate problems. The analysis showed that these geopolitical factors lead to the fragmentation of global efforts to combat climate change, undermine trust between key actors, and create obstacles to mobilising the necessary financial and technological resources. Particularly destructive to international climate policy is Russia’s war against Ukraine, which has not only caused a large-scale energy crisis but also called into question the effectiveness of existing global governance mechanisms. At the same time, the research showed that the unprecedented nature of the climate crisis can become a catalyst for transforming traditional models of interstate competition towards multilateral cooperation in the face of common threats. In particular, there is a growing potential for climate diplomacy as a tool for mitigating geopolitical tensions, finding common ground between competing states, and forming new coalitions focused on achieving sustainable development and climate neutrality goals. The practical significance of the study lies in its establishment of a conceptual basis for developing scientifically grounded recommendations for building effective climate diplomacy as a critically important tool of global governance and adapting the international system to the imperative of mitigating climate change

Keywords

geopolitical confrontation; economic sanctions; military conflicts; renewable energy sources; decarbonisation; global warming

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Suggested citation

Gasimova, K.N. (2024). Impact of climate diplomacy on international relations: Modern trends. Foreign Affairs, 34(3), 111-123. https://doi.org/10.46493/2663-2675.34(3).2024.111