Global Initiatives on Climate Change Governance

Abstract

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) functions as the global climate regime’s centerpiece. Yet, innovative climate policy initiatives have proliferated within and beyond this institution. This chapter provides an overview on central actors in this broadened global climate governance landscape. It discusses the Kyoto Protocol and its transition to the Paris Agreement, touching upon the challenges of these accords. The text also introduces the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Further, when describing the Under2 Coalition and the G20, it provides some examples for initiatives that have only recently become active in climate change. The Under2 Coalition represents a more innovative alliance for subnational governments and the G20’s climate focus demonstrates the spillover of the climate topic into other policy domains. The chapter introduces the development of these different forms of global climate governance and ultimately provides some suggestions of what their roles can be for achieving the common goal of a healthy planet.