Building Consensus in the UNFCCC

The document explains the mechanics of consensus in the UNFCCC, where agreement is defined as the "absence of any formal objection." It provides practical guidance for negotiators to build trust, understand national and substantive issues, and balance ambition with compromise. Additionally, it outlines the structural components of the UNFCCC, including the Conference of the Parties (COP), subsidiary bodies, and various negotiating blocs such as the G77&China and the European Union.

• In the context of the UNFCCC and other multilateral environmental agreements, consensus is not defined as general agreement but rather as the "absence of any formal objection."
• The document advises negotiators to establish clear "red lines"—boundaries that cannot be crossed during negotiations—while remaining open to areas where their country can yield to the greater needs of others to foster goodwill.
• Effective facilitation in the UNFCCC requires building trust through transparency, treating all stakeholders with respect, and avoiding the use of pressure or the resurrection of past conflicts.
• The UNFCCC structure includes the Conference of the Parties (COP) as the "supreme body," supported by the Secretariat and two permanent subsidiary bodies: the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA) and the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI).
• Negotiators often operate within blocs to increase leverage and support smaller delegations; these include the G77&China (comprising 131 State-members), the European Union (27 States), the Umbrella Group, and the Environmental Integrity Group (EIG).
• The document highlights the 'ambition gap' identified at the 2011 Durban COP, which led to the creation of the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action (ADP) to develop a legal instrument applicable to all Parties by 2015.

APA

La Viña, A. G. M., & Guiao, C. T. T. (2013). Building Consensus in the UNFCCC. Climate and Development Knowledge Network. https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/Background-Paper-Tony-La-Vina-Consensus-building-in-the-UNFCCC.pdf

Chicago

La Viña, Antonio G. M., and Cecilia Therese T. Guiao. Building Consensus in the UNFCCC. Climate and Development Knowledge Network, 2013. https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/Background-Paper-Tony-La-Vina-Consensus-building-in-the-UNFCCC.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=La Viña |first1=Antonio G. M. |last2=Guiao |first2=Cecilia Therese T. |title=Building Consensus in the UNFCCC |publisher=Climate and Development Knowledge Network |date=2013 |url=https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/Background-Paper-Tony-La-Vina-Consensus-building-in-the-UNFCCC.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{lavia2013building, author = {La Viña, Antonio G. M. and Guiao, Cecilia Therese T.}, title = {{Building Consensus in the UNFCCC}}, institution = {Climate and Development Knowledge Network}, year = {2013}, url = {https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/Background-Paper-Tony-La-Vina-Consensus-building-in-the-UNFCCC.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }