UN Climate Negotiations: catalyst, orchestrator, or empty institution?
More than 30 years of international climate negotiations have not led to decline in global greenhouse gas emissions, nor have they kept the year 2024 from breaking new temperature and extreme weather records around the world. There is a sense of growing frustration among policy makers, citizens and academics alike. In response, the study of global environmental politics has brought to the forefront new critical concepts, such as empty institutions and performative governance. Both suggest that neither faulty design nor inefficient implementation are to blame for the lack of progress. States may deliberately create institutions that are unable to produce policy output. They may not be effective in solving the problem, but in the meantime, highly effective in performing action. Are we currently witnessing this phenomenon in the UN climate negotiations? If so, what is the way forward?
Programme:
Introduction:
Antto Vihma, Research Professor, FIIA
Keynote: “Empty Institutions in Global Environmental Politics”:
Radoslav Dimitrov, Professor, Simon Fraser University (SFU)
Panel Discussion:
Marjo Nummelin, Head of Delegation to the UNFCCC, Finland
Oras Tynkkynen, Member of Parliament, former climate advisor to the PM
Radoslav Dimitrov, Professor, SFU
Chair:
Antto Vihma, Research Professor, FIIA
