Climate Audit of German Foreign Policy

The executive summary evaluates the 'traffic light' government's efforts to mainstream climate as a crosscutting theme in German domestic and international work. It identifies a need for greater coherence among government agencies, the development of a comprehensive foreign climate policy strategy, and the institutionalization of coordination structures to ensure long-term consistency. Key suggestions include the creation of a climate cabinet, the transformation of diplomatic missions into 'climate embassies', and the implementation of third-party scrutiny to ensure compliance with international pledges.

• The current German government has made a promising start in some areas of climate diplomacy and has announced reforms, but significant potential for improvement remains in others.
• Germany requires a unified, coordinated approach across government agencies to ensure that international pledges, including climate finance and the phase-out of fossil fuel support, are fulfilled.
• The document recommends the creation of a formal foreign climate policy strategy for the entire Federal Government, developed through a participatory process involving ministries, civil society, academia, the private sector, and international partners, and adopted by the Federal Cabinet.
• To increase accountability and credibility, Germany should promote third-party scrutiny of its goals and establish formal dialogue forums for exchange between ministries, authorities, and civil society.
• Climate goals should be institutionalized in foreign policy through permanent coordination structures, such as a climate cabinet with foreign policy dimensions and the conversion of all diplomatic missions into 'climate embassies'.

APA

NewClimate Institute (2022). Climate Audit of German Foreign Policy. http://www.newclimate.org/resources/publications/climate-audit-of-german-foreign-policy

Chicago

NewClimate Institute. Climate Audit of German Foreign Policy. 2022. http://www.newclimate.org/resources/publications/climate-audit-of-german-foreign-policy.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=NewClimate Institute |title=Climate Audit of German Foreign Policy |date=6 October 2022 |url=http://www.newclimate.org/resources/publications/climate-audit-of-german-foreign-policy |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{newclimateinstitute2022climate, author = {{NewClimate Institute}}, title = {{Climate Audit of German Foreign Policy}}, institution = {NewClimate Institute}, year = {2022}, month = oct, url = {http://www.newclimate.org/resources/publications/climate-audit-of-german-foreign-policy}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }