Climate Change and Foreign Policy

There is an increasing realization in the international community that achieving the consensus and commitment needed to dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the next few decades, while preparing for unavoidable climatic impacts, requires positioning climate change in a broader foreign policy context. Addressing the climate change challenge requires new thinking in foreign policy—thinking that considers engagement on climate change not only in the sphere of environment, but also outside the environment box.

IISD is supporting the development of this approach by examining how climate change concerns can be more fully integrated into: diplomacy and international relations; energy security; peace and security; trade and investment; and development cooperation. Our work in this area began with an initial exploration of how climate change issues link to and could be more fully integrated into foreign policy. Outcomes of this research were captured in the publication Climate Change and Foreign Policy: An exploration of options for greater integration.

IISD's current phase of research focus on two issues:

IISD's work related to Climate Change and Foreign Policy is supported by Denmark's Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Publications