Engineering the Planet: the issue of biodiversity in the framework of climate manipulation and climate governance

The 2015 Paris climate Agreement established a ‘bottom-up’, pledge and review process as international climate governance’s central framework. The European Union’s governance framework – the Energy and Climate Governance Regulation (EUGR) – uses a similar architecture. Both require states to regularly create, revise and update national plans while ramping up ambitions towards meeting the collectively agreed commitments and sharing features of Experimentalist Governance. This paper contributes to the debate on experimentalist climate governance’s effectiveness. It assesses systematically the implementation of EUGR based on documentary analysis and expert interviews. We find that the process has been partially effective in raising ambitions but has remained incremental, technocratic and depoliticised. Experimentalist processes such as the EUGR and Paris Agreement require a high level of public and stakeholder engagement to operate but politicisation can have, in turn, adverse effects. This raises questions regarding the ability of experimentalist climate governance to deliver, alone, rapid emission reductions.

This study advances the narrative that active participation of local communities is essential for sound climate governance and aligns with the paradigmatic shift from New Public Management (NPM) to New Public Governance (NPG). A qualitative methodological approach, which is an explorative and multi-district case study, examines the stakeholder perspectives on climate governance in Zimbabwe. The architecture for climate governance in Zimbabwe includes a myriad of policy and institutional frameworks, cascading from the national to the village level. Public-Private-Community Partnerships (PPCPs), which entice collaborative action and input of local communities, are relevant in the wake of complex and unprecedented climate extremes. Informed by literature, the Governance Network Theory (GNT), and experiences in selected Zimbabwean Districts, this study proposes a PPCP framework for sound climate governance. In line with the NPG paradigm, commitment towards citizen engagement and society-centred policymaking in climate governance is essential.

All research begins with questions, so here are three: (1) How does the European Green Deal, as a revamped growth strategy of the European Union, foster energy and climate governance in Southeast Europe? (2) What are the key legal instruments and their characteristics of a potential regionalisation of energy and climate governance in the Energy Community Contracting Parties? And (3), to what extent do extra factors of the Green Deal-related legislation expediate the development of a framework for such regional energy and climate governance? Tackling these questions, the research first conceptualizes the Green Deal by unveiling its ‘just transition’ dimension and legal implementation structures. Upon identifying EU’s ex post Green Deal external energy and climate competence, the paper further examines stringency of EU energy and climate governance mechanisms within the Energy Community. In doing so, it gauges the insights of the Governance Regulation and provides the rationale of soft instruments of network cooperation in the areas where blackletter law is somewhat cryptic and complex. Finally, this article outlines the perspectives for future research specifically focusing on the policy fields arising from the EU’s Fit-for-55 package.

This article introduces a conceptual framework for climate governance. It provides an insight into how a system of governance can cope with the uncertainty and pluralism that are prevalent in climate governance. In our framework, we combine polycentric climate governance, procedural climate justice and directed technical change policy. We show that following norms of procedural justice can enhance the desired properties of polycentric systems. In turn, polycentric systems are a suitable environment for fulfilling procedural justice norms. As to the policy dimension: There is reason to assume that innovation and adaptation policies work well in polycentric systems, while carbon pricing relies more strongly on a global treaty to be effective. And innovation and adaptation profit from procedural justice norms being followed. Polycentrism, procedural justice, and innovation and adaptation policy all possess specific properties that can cope very well with a complex environment where there is positive uncertainty about the future and many parties with different normative outlooks. They combine to a system that is flexible and adaptable over time. This constitutes the particular strength of our conceptual system as a framework for climate governance, policy, and research.

INTRODUCTION. The article examines the historical establishment of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and its role as the foundational framework for the international climate legal regime. The study highlights the importance of the choices made during the drafting of the Convention, analyzing their long–term impact on global climate governance. The research explores the events leading up to the Earth Summit (Rio Conference) in 1992, where the UNFCCC was adopted, and investigates how its fundamental principles and obligations shaped subsequent climate policies, including the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement. The study aims to contextualize the Convention within the broader historical and legal developments in international environmental law.MATERIALS AND METHODS. The research follows a qualitative legal–historical approach, utilizing primary sources, including treaty texts, General Assembly resolutions, advisory opinions from international courts, and official conference proceedings. Additionally, secondary sources, such as academic commentary, environmental law textbooks, and journal articles, provide insights into the evolution of international climate law. The study is divided into two key phases. 1. Historical Analysis: A chronological examination of the negotiations preceding the UNFCCC, focusing on the Stockholm Conference (1972), the Montreal Protocol (1987), and scientific reports from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). 2. Legal Framework Analysis: An evaluation of the legal principles enshrined in the UNFCCC, such as sustainable development, common but differentiated responsibilities (CBDR), and intergenerational equity, as well as an assessment of its institutional mechanisms, including the role of the Conference of the Parties (COP).RESEARCH RESULTS. The UNFCCC as a Normative Framework: Despite being considered a “framework convention” with broad and non– binding commitments, the UNFCCC introduced fundamental legal principles that later became the cornerstone of climate governance. Legal Innovations and Institutionalization: The Convention established a system of cooperation among states, creating institutional mechanisms such as the COPs, which facilitated continued legal evolution in climate governance. The establishment of the UNFCCC Secretariat further institutionalized climate negotiations. Enduring Influence on International Law: The Convention remains a reference point for climate litigation and international advisory opinions, particularly in recent cases before the Inter–American Court of Human Rights and the International Tribunal for the Law of the Sea. These legal bodies have increasingly drawn upon UNFCCC principles to determine states' obligations concerning climate change.DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION. The article concludes that the UNFCCC, despite its perceived initial weaknesses, has proven to be a resilient and foundational legal instrument in international climate governance. The Convention's principles and procedural mechanisms have enabled the development of binding legal commitments, such as those found in the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement. Moreover, its flexible institutional design has allowed it to adapt to emerging challenges, such as climate litigation and advisory proceedings in international courts. Looking forward, the UNFCCC is expected to continue shaping future legal obligations related to climate action, particularly as climate disputes become more prominent in international judicial bodies. The study underscores the ongoing relevance of the UNFCCC in the face of evolving environmental challenges, reaffirming its status as the standard framework for global climate governance.

Abstract: This study contributes to developing a framework for climate change adaptive governance by studying a Pakistani case. Pakistan is ranked one of the most vulnerable countries due to climate change. On the heels of the 18th constitution amendment in 2010, the subject of climate change has been devolved and the responsibilities of formulation and implementation of climate change policies rest with subnational/provincial governments in the country. However, it is yet to fully investigate how effective are subnational governments in dealing with climate change. This study is conducted to investigate the case of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) province, assessing its institutional preparedness and identifying the major climate governance actions in the province. The study also focuses to identify major drivers behind the climate governance actions and the major handles in implementing the identified governance actions. The study finds that the KPK government has taken some initiatives such as establishing a provincial climate change policy, setting data centers for multiple locations of the province to assess the climate patterns, dedicated climate budget, and engaging academics and civil society organizations in policy formulation. The drivers behind these initiatives are identified: climate vulnerability, political will, and regular occurrence of climate-related events damaging human lives and property and economic losses in the province. However, local institutions are not well prepared due to a lack of expertise and financial constraints. Moreover, it is found that there is a lack of coordination among institutions vertically and horizontally. The findings are helpful for policymakers in revising climate policy and action plans in the province in addition to understanding the actual challenges of climate governance at the subnational level. Moreover, the study will be helpful in improving intergovernmental relations and relations with international organizations which are key for effective climate governance and implementation of climate change policies. The established framework will be used to conduct similar empirical studies in other provinces in Pakistan and beyond for effective climate governance at subnational levels.

Aiding or undermining? The military as an emergent actor in global climate governance

Global climate governance in the new era: Potential of business actors and technological innovation

As nations agreed on a bottom-up approach to establish the Paris Agreement in 2015, Non-state Actors (NSAs) became increasingly acknowledged as key players in the implementation of Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs). In a mostly urbanised world, local governments have a major part to play in designing and implementing climate policies that will help overcome carbon lock-in and enable the transition to a sustainable low-carbon future. Transnational municipal networks (TMNs) have a well-documented history of contributing to multilevel climate governance and supporting experiments in local climate action in many countries. In Brazil, urban climate experimentation has increased since 2005 and accelerated after 2015. Based on empirical evidence from a national survey and two Brazilian metropolises, the study demonstrates that TMNs have been drivers of the municipal climate agenda in Brazil, but there is no evidence so far that urban governance experiments have resulted in significant greenhouse gas emission reductions. Furthermore, the collective impact of cities' experimentation on the national climate agenda is yet to be verified. In light of multilevel climate governance and the urban experimentation conceptual framework, we contend that while there is no documented evidence that local climate action has affected Brazil's ability to meet its mitigation goals, cities' paradiplomacy and policy experiments have strengthened a multilevel approach to climate governance and contributed to positive change towards a sustainable transition. Furthermore, a closer look at policies across scales and their interactions will help our understanding of how to improve t'he institutional framework for climate governance in Brazil and secure GHG emission reductions, thus contributing to global goals beyond 2020.

The complexity of climate governance at multiple levels leads to fragmented approaches and there is a mismatch between international agreements and commitments that leads to delays in progress. Climate governance requires a great amount of dialogue, action and financing, and strengthening institutional frameworks for climate governance is desirable. Developing and widely disseminating technologies and methodologies for securing food and eradicating climate-induced health risks, that especially targets poorer communities, is crucial. Empowering poorer communities in this aspect will help alleviate the problems faced by the most vulnerable. Also crucial to creating a resilient community is the implementation of adaptation measures and poverty reduction approaches, both of which need to be integrated into national development plans. Given the urgency for capacity building to improve climate responses, enhanced efforts in collaboration with national institutions and international partners, including the private sector, is needed. In the longer term, establishing international funding and technology transfer mechanisms based on a comprehensive climate agreement is desirable.

There is growing evidence that the impacts of climate change have the potential to trigger or amplify many risks and vulnerabilities with the possibility of increasing the likelihood of tensionsand conflicts in many fragile countries. This may also undermine the ability ofsomegovernmentsto provide the conditions necessary for human security. Such evidence has recently pushed numerous actors from political, academic and public spheres toward framing climate change as a security issue due to the perceived advantages of establishing such a link. In line with this trend, this introductory chapter aims to address the linkages between climate change and its multiple security implications and the different benefits of mainstreaming climate security in key responses to global warming. After presenting the key economic, human, and geopolitical impacts of climate change and their security implications, this chapter discusses the extent to which these impacts are currently well-managed. Following this, the usefulness of ‘climate security’ as a framework for improvingclimate change policy and governance is examined. The analysis leads to the conclusion that if we underestimate climate-security concerns, new security challenges – in addition to existing challenges –are to be expected and must be appropriately managed. Therefore, a climate security framework can help to adopt preventive and security-sensitive responses to climate risks, thus creating a new dynamic within climate policy and governance.

In a globally urbanizing world, interactions between individuals and nature are progressively decreasing. In this context, it is not uncommon that the presence of some remaining animal species in cities causes problems to urban citizens and results in conflicts among stakeholders. Here, we propose a novel vision of the relations between urban citizens, local authorities and urban nature, taking the example of urban pigeons. We combined ecological and sociological concepts as well as data to propose a new working framework to build an integrative governance of urban nature. We showed how effective it is to change the focus on elements of nature only by including the interrelations between humans and nature. We highlighted the importance of institutional messages when dealing with biodiversity issues. We conclude by calling for a holistic vision in the implementation of policy on urban nature.

This article investigates the institutional design of scientific advisory bodies (SABs) on climate change across three levels of governance: intergovernmental Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), national (UK's Climate Change Committee (CCC)), and supranational (European Scientific Advisory Board on Climate Change – ESABCC). Drawing on original empirical data and comparative analysis, the paper examines how institutional features (mandate, composition, autonomy, capacity, and knowledge provision) shape the potential roles and influence of these bodies in climate governance. The ESABCC, established in 2021, represents a novel institutional innovation within the EU's climate policy architecture. As the first supranational advisory body of its kind, it navigates a complex political space, balancing scientific independence with embeddedness in European Union's (EU) policymaking structures. Through a comparative lens, the analysis shows that while all three bodies aim to provide credible scientific input, their design reflects different governance logics and degrees of proximity to policy. The paper argues that institutional design is a critical determinant of how effectively SABs contribute to legitimate, evidence‐informed climate policy. By mapping the ESABCC's position within the EU's multi‐level governance framework, the study highlights its evolving role and outlines the implications for the broader use of expert knowledge in turbulent policy environments.

Accounting guidelines exist for the recording of carbon flows in terrestrial and coastal ecosystems. Shelf sea sediments, while considered an important carbon store, have yet to receive comparable scrutiny. Here, we explore whether effective management of carbon stocks accumulating in shelf seas could contribute towards a nation’s greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets. We review the complexities of carbon transport and fate in shelf seas, and the geopolitical challenges of carbon accounting in climate governance because of the transboundary nature of carbon flows in the marine environment. New international accounting guidance and governance frameworks are needed to prompt climate action.

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a pressing global health crisis rooted in complex collective action problems. Despite the urgency, policy responses have not kept pace with the escalating threat of drug resistance. By recognizing the similarities between AMR governance and other shared-resource challenges in environmental governance, this article examines potential strategies for AMR governance. An analysis of 12 environmental governance frameworks identified three main approaches to collective action: market-driven, state-led, and community-centered strategies. From these strategies, we purposively selected three case studies to illustrate how each approach could inform AMR policy, focusing on: (1) market-based mechanisms in climate governance, (2) state-led initiatives in water management, and (3) community-led efforts in biodiversity conservation. We propose nine policy options for AMR governance, drawing inspiration from established strategies in environmental governance. These include Pigouvian taxes, cap-and-trade systems, enhanced public-private partnerships with performance metrics and technology transfer, and access-and-benefit sharing agreements. Framed as adaptable strategies, we emphasize the importance of tailoring each option or a blend of options to the economic, political, and health care contexts unique to AMR challenges worldwide. Although environmental governance has not fully resolved the global issues it addresses, its lessons offer valuable guidance for designing adaptive, equitable, and collaborative AMR governance frameworks. Our analysis highlights the importance of a balanced approach, combining state, market, and community engagement to achieve sustainable AMR solutions. Recognizing the limits of environmental governance, we emphasize that effective AMR strategies should integrate ongoing evaluation, international collaboration, and inclusive stakeholder engagement to foster global commitment and meaningful action.