Building climate diplomacy back better: imagining the UNFCCC meetings of tomorrow

The document examines the opportunities and barriers to moving UNFCCC climate negotiations online. While digital tools could disrupt outdated and opaque practices, the transition is hindered by a lack of trust among Parties and concerns that virtual formats might exacerbate structural inequities or reduce transparency for media and NGOs. The author recommends the creation of a taskforce to design future session formats and calls for leadership from the UN Secretary-General and the UNFCCC Secretariat to modernize multilateral diplomacy.

• There is general support for digital UNFCCC activities, but the transition lacks a clear champion and faces opposition from those advocating for a full return to in-person meetings.
• The primary obstacles to a digital transition are a lack of trust between Parties and fears that online formats could worsen structural inequities within the UNFCCC, with some Parties potentially using these concerns as tactical delays.
• A digital transition offers a chance to reform outdated and opaque negotiation practices, such as 'huddles' and 'late-night marathons', provided the process is designed for transparency and inclusion rather than simply replicating existing formats online.
• Virtual meetings present specific risks to accountability, including more difficult coverage for journalists and potential restrictions on the access and advocacy activities of NGOs.

APA

Stockholm Environment Institute (2021). Building climate diplomacy back better: imagining the UNFCCC meetings of tomorrow. https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/oncline-seifactsheet2021.pdf

Chicago

Stockholm Environment Institute. Building climate diplomacy back better: imagining the UNFCCC meetings of tomorrow. 2021. https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/oncline-seifactsheet2021.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Stockholm Environment Institute |title=Building climate diplomacy back better: imagining the UNFCCC meetings of tomorrow |date=October 2021 |url=https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/oncline-seifactsheet2021.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{stockholmenvironmentinstitute2021building, author = {{Stockholm Environment Institute}}, title = {{Building climate diplomacy back better: imagining the UNFCCC meetings of tomorrow}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, year = {2021}, month = oct, url = {https://www.sei.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/10/oncline-seifactsheet2021.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }