Paris Knowledge Bridge: Unpacking International Climate Governance
The world of international climate change governance is a maze of policies, acronyms and jargon. The complexity of the current negotiations is unparalleled among multilateral environmental agreements.
Never before is it more important to cut through the complexity. The world looks to Paris in December 2015 where countries are to adopt a new climate change agreement. This agreement, if successfully agreed to by 195 states, will guide the future of climate governance and our planet.
These four videos are an introduction to the history, issues, actors and dynamics in global climate governance. We bring you the story of climate governance by those who make, implement and remake institutions for climate change. The videos contain interviews with 60 people, from Assistant Secretary General Janos Pasztor and UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner, to frontline delegates drafting the new agreement’s text and civil society working to influence policy.
You can watch these videos in any order to learn more about how the world addresses climate change.
The History of Climate Governance
(#1 of 4)
Efforts to address climate change have a long history. To understand the future of climate change governance, as we look to Paris in December 2015, we need to understand the history.
The Pillars of Climate Governance
(#2 of 4)
Modern international climate governance is organized around three pillars: mitigation, adaptation and means of implementation. Under each pillar are many issues and policies, illustrating the many ways climate change affects our lives.
The Science and Economics of Climate Governance
(#3 of 4)
There are many actors involved in international climate governance. Two key communities are those researching and disseminating climate science and those working to build low-carbon economies. This video takes a closer look at these communities working for climate action. It also picks up on climate finance, which is one of the means of implementation introduced in video two (The Pillars of Climate Governance).
The State of Play in the UNFCCC Negotiations
(#4 of 4)
Countries gather in Paris in December 2015 to finalize and agree to a new agreement to address climate change. After twenty five years, many hope that the future of climate action will be brighter than the past. For these negotiations to be successful, countries must address many thorny issues to catalyze climate action that is meaningful, and lasts into the future.