Global Climate Change Negotiations and Interest-Based Positioning of Countries

Anu Unny

《Tamkang Journal of International Affairs》 24卷2期 (2020/10) Pp. 55-98

https://doi.org/10.6185/TJIA.V.202010_24(2).0002

摘要

Making consensus in climate negotiations is always a complicated process as countries have varied aspirations and interests. Based on the theoretical model proposed by Sprinz and Vaahtoranta, the two most important determinants which guide the interest-based negotiating position of a country in global climate negotiations are vulnerability factor and the abatement cost. According to this theoretical strand, the US is a dragger state in climate negotiations with low vulnerability and high abatement cost. At the same time, India and China, which have high climate vulnerability and high abatement cost fall under the category of intermediary states. The small Island Developing States which have high vulnerability to climate change but low abatement cost are classified as 'pushers' in climate negotiations. Countries like Germany, which has relatively low abatement cost and low climate vulnerability is an example of a bystander state in climate politics. Because of the varied interest positioning of countries in climate negotiations, addressing the climate crisis is becoming more difficult. This paper tries to analyse countries' interest-based positioning in climate negotiations with the help of the theoretical model proposed by Sprinz and Vaahtoranta. This paper has employed a qualitative method in conducting this study. The nature of this paper is descriptive and analytical.

關鍵字

Climate Negotiations ； Interest-based Positioning ； Abatement Cost ； Climate Vulnerability ； Small Island Developing States

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