Climate diplomacy: Seeing the bigger picture

The document outlines how climate diplomacy can advance multilateral action beyond the UNFCCC and identifies barriers and strategies for countries, especially LDCs, to build their diplomatic capacity. It recommends a 'whole-government approach' to integrate climate change across ministries and the development of specialized skills for diplomats and climate experts.

• Climate diplomacy can drive progress both within and outside the UNFCCC process, and governments that link climate action to national-level benefits are more likely to push for progressive outcomes in UNFCCC negotiations.
• Least developed countries (LDCs) face acute barriers to effective climate diplomacy, including limited financial and technical resources, institutional silos where climate is relegated to Ministries of Environment, and restricted access to influential non-UNFCCC forums like the Major Economies Forum or the OECD.
• Effective climate diplomacy requires a 'whole-government approach' to break down institutional barriers, integrating climate change across various ministries and sectors to align it with national interests such as security and competitiveness.
• Building diplomatic capacity involves two primary tracks: securing high-level political signals, such as appointing a climate envoy or issuing a diplomatic directive, and bridging the gap between the technical knowledge of climate experts and the negotiation skills of seasoned diplomats.
• The Republic of the Marshall Islands (RMI) provides a model for 'New Climate Diplomacy' by placing climate change at the center of its foreign policy through a national Climate Change Roadmap, a National Committee on Climate Change, and engagement in non-traditional forums like the UN Security Council.
• LDCs can increase their international influence by forming strategic multilateral alliances, as demonstrated by the LDC Group's partnership with AOSIS and the EU to launch the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action.

APA

Sura, K., & Schweimler, N. (2013). Climate diplomacy: Seeing the bigger picture. Climate and Development Knowledge Network. http://cdkn.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/CDKN_Climate_diplomacy_PolicyBrief_final_web.pdf

Chicago

Sura, Kiran, and Nadia Schweimler. Climate diplomacy: Seeing the bigger picture. Climate and Development Knowledge Network, 2013. http://cdkn.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/CDKN_Climate_diplomacy_PolicyBrief_final_web.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Sura |first1=Kiran |last2=Schweimler |first2=Nadia |title=Climate diplomacy: Seeing the bigger picture |publisher=Climate and Development Knowledge Network |date=August 2013 |url=http://cdkn.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/CDKN_Climate_diplomacy_PolicyBrief_final_web.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{sura2013climate, author = {Sura, Kiran and Schweimler, Nadia}, title = {{Climate diplomacy: Seeing the bigger picture}}, institution = {Climate and Development Knowledge Network}, year = {2013}, month = aug, url = {http://cdkn.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/CDKN_Climate_diplomacy_PolicyBrief_final_web.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }