Climate Diplomacy After COP26: Shifting Focus from Negotiations to Action

Climate Diplomacy After COP26: Shifting Focus from Negotiations to Action

The completion of the rulebook and the extensive negotiations at COP26 in Glasgow marked a significant milestone in climate diplomacy. However, despite these achievements, global emissions continue to rise, signaling the need for a fundamental rethink in the approach to addressing climate change. It is clear that the focus must now shift from negotiations to domestic action.

The UNFCCC process, which has been the backbone of climate diplomacy, must reorient itself to support governments and other stakeholders in delivering maximum action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and support adaptation efforts. The annual negotiations to find consensus on symbolic COP decisions are no longer adequate. Instead, the emphasis should be on strengthening the transparency and accountability systems of the UNFCCC, making them more public to incentivize governments to fulfill their commitments and pledges.

This shift in focus should not be about enforcing compliance, but rather ensuring accountability and comparability while leveraging public pressure. Monitoring the implementation of nationally determined contributions (NDCs) and enhancing support for developing countries in implementing their NDCs are crucial steps in this direction. Climate finance will also play a significant role, with key tests being the delivery on the promise of mobilizing $100 billion a year by 2025 and increasing finance for adaptation.

To avoid greenwashing and ensure genuine progress, a more structured and rigorous system of tracking and reporting progress, as well as accountability for promises made, is necessary. This will require a concerted effort to prevent the manipulation of data and ensure transparency in reporting. Additionally, the space for climate action should be expanded to include coalitions of frontrunner governments and businesses aiming for greater ambition. Consensus is not required in these coalitions, allowing for faster progress and the potential to change economic systems and realities.

The urgency of the climate crisis demands a departure from the insistence on consensus, which often hampers swift action. The advantages of coalitions of the willing, particularly when led by major economic actors, cannot be ignored. These coalitions can contribute to accelerating climate action and driving the necessary changes in economic systems. Furthermore, new institutional arrangements should be contemplated to address complex, multi-sectoral emergencies with the same level of urgency and authority as the UN Security Council.

In this new phase of climate diplomacy, a concerted diplomatic effort is needed to provide maximum support to developing countries in their climate action efforts. Governments must keep the pressure on each other and support one another in accelerating climate action domestically and through coordinated international initiatives. The leadership of the US, China, and the EU will be crucial in setting the tone and driving progress in this new era of climate diplomacy.

Actionable Advice:

1. Strengthen Transparency and Accountability: Governments should work towards strengthening the transparency and accountability systems of the UNFCCC, making them more public to incentivize compliance with commitments and pledges. This will help prevent greenwashing and ensure genuine progress.

2. Expand Coalitions of the Willing: Governments and businesses should form coalitions of frontrunners to drive greater ambition in climate action. Consensus is not required in these coalitions, allowing for faster progress and the potential to change economic systems and realities.

3. Support Developing Countries: Developed countries should deliver on their promise of mobilizing $100 billion a year by 2025 and increase finance for adaptation. Additionally, they should provide maximum support to developing countries in their climate action efforts, both financially and technically.

In conclusion, climate diplomacy must evolve to prioritize domestic action over negotiations. Strengthening transparency and accountability, expanding coalitions of the willing, and providing support to developing countries are key steps in accelerating climate action. The leadership of major economies, particularly the US, China, and the EU, will be instrumental in driving progress and inspiring others to take decisive action. The time for talking is over; now is the time for action.