Climate Change and International Relations

This assignment delves into the intersection of climate change and international relations. It analyzes how climate change impacts global politics, including security, cooperation, and legal frameworks. The assignment references various scholarly articles and reports to illustrate the multifaceted challenges posed by climate change in the international arena.

Running head: INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS
International Relations
Name of the Student
Name of the University
Author Note

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1.0 Introduction
According to the NASA source, climate is a usual weather that is found in a place like the
amount of rain in a nation, amount of ice fall in a geographical region and usual temperature of a
particular location (Nasa.gov 2017). In recent times, scientists found that the climate of the earth
is changing and the temperature of the earth is raised up to two degree Celsius. The major
adverse consequence of the climate change is the loss of forest that results in landslides and loss
of life. Moreover, another impact of climate change is that agriculture affected a lot due to
decrease in monsoon and increase in water level due to melting of ice (Climate.nasa.gov 2017).
There are some other adversity like change ecosystem, extinction threats and air pollution.
In this essay, details of international relations (IR) regarding the understanding of climate
change are highlighted through which the exact scenario of the adversity can be attained. Burke
et al (2016, 500) mentioned that rules should be formulated for overcoming the problem and in
politics also, the problem of climate change should be addressed. It is believed that not only the
technological advancement can overcome the problem but the initiatives taken by common
people can also make a difference. The theory of realism, neorealist and liberalism will be
explained along with the limits and potential of these international relations.
2.0 Discussion
Mingst and Ivan Arreguín-Toft (2013) stated that the international relations represent a
set of ideas that illustrates the working system of the planet. In recent times, there are many
initiatives are taken into consideration like Paris climate change agreement and Kyoto protocol

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on climate change. Laws like food safety and endangered animal protection regulations are also
formulated so that people can get relief from the adverse effect of the problem of climate change.
Burke et al. (2016, 500) highlighted that the Paris climate change agreement frames the
main objectives of keeping a global temperature rise below 2 degrees Celsius and pursue efforts
to limit the increase the temperature to 1.5 degrees Celsius (Unfccc.int 2017). The positive
aspect of this agreement is that all the nations are agreed to provide appropriate financial flow, to
enhanced capacity building framework and new technology framework. The international
relation theory of multilateralism has been witnessed in this case as different world leaders like-
Barrack Obama, Xi Jinping- president of China and others come together to take effective step
for fighting against climate change (Lacy and Mark, 2012). 196 governments agreed on the need
to limit global warming to 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels and this also shows the radical
realism about climate change However, Bulkeley, Harriet, and Michele (2013, 136-154) argued
that Paris agreement can never be the milestone in curbing the problem of climate change and
global warming. The criticism illustrates that Paris Agreement, target of achieving net-zero
emissions based on decarburization or emissions; however, it is not clear through which
initiatives the real emissions reductions will be attained. The technology for reduce carbon
production mentioned in the Paris agreement is not feasible for the poor countries due to high
cost.
On the other hand, Kyoto protocol is an extension of United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) that aims for the reduction of anthropogenic that is
human-emitted greenhouse gas emissions (Bulkeley and Vanesa Castán Broto, 2013 361-375).
The main strength of this agreement is that total of 38 industrialized counties have involved
themselves to reduce the GHG emissions and the technology that they have agreed to use

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translated all the GHG gases into carbon-dioxide that reduces the overall emissions. However,
alike Paris Agreement only the Anex-I countries participated in this protocol are well-developed
countries; while, the rest countries are poor countries. De Stefano et al. (2012, 193-209)
moreover highlighted the strength of this agreement that the non-listed low-income developing
countries can participate in the Kyoto Protocol through their Clean Development Mechanism.
Thus, this protocol also define three flexibility mechanism- International Emissions Trading
(IET), Joint Implementation (JI) and Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) (Unfccc.int
2017). The JI and CDM combined known as “project-based mechanisms”. Bulkeley and Heike
Schroeder (2012, 743-766) highlighted that the project mechanism IET illustrates quantitative
restriction of emissions; whereas, JI and CDM are the projects for giving ideas for reduction of
the emission reduction. The only difference is that the JI projects are for the Annex I Parties;
while, the CDM projects are designed to encourage non-Annex I Parties. Thus, all developing
and developed countries are addressed under Kyoto protocol.
In addition to that, in international relations the concept of realist and neorealist
perspectives is present. (Tingley and Michael (2014, 344-368) stated that realism illustrates the
perception of reign supreme in international relations that is powerful nations can adopt
necessary technology and steps to fulfill their interests; while, the poor nations have to accept
their inferiority. In context of climate change, there are several realists, who stated that
appropriate global climate negotiations can be approached (Burke et al. 2016, 500). However,
the major problem in this case is the issues of power and interests. Realists stated that it is not the
responsibility of any state to take initiative for overcoming the climate change and it is the sense
of necessity that they have to realize the fact. Burke et al (2016, 499-500) stated that realists
consider the principal actors to be state or a notion who are liable for their own security and act

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in pursuit of their own national interests. These realists often fight for their power. In this case, a
politician will do or adopt strategy to fight against climate change but for their nation only. Thus,
in this case, realists from all over the world often reach different conclusions about how
Americans should deal with climate risks (Terhalle and Joanna 2013, 572-588). The realist
politician also values the facts and against of declaring all the natural ill as a consequence of
climate change adversity. According to this theory, even if all the Annex-I states would lead to
absolute gains, the occurrence of the gain not given equally to all the nations. Thus, it can be
stated that the realism theory of the international relations shows the accurate reason why the
climate negotiations often fail (Burke et al. 2016, 500).
Moreover, another theory of international relations is Neorealism that is an extension of
the realism theory. In this theory, Terhalle and Joanna (2013, 572-588) depicted that there is no
monopoly on the legitimate use of laws that is proposed by the domestic politics. According to
that neorealist perspective, they recognize systematic constraints but they address international as
well as domestic factors together. De Stefano et al. (2012, 193-209) called this perception as a
‘two-level game’. Neorealism Politicians take initiative concerning climate funds and carbon
markets. Climate funds are largely drawn from existing official development assistance budgets
in spite of other international commitments, which is an international approach to solve the
problem of climate change. These budgets are used for protecting animals and their habitats and
saving the water reservoirs for agricultural fields. On the other hand, carbon markets concept is
for domestic level that state government taken into consideration Carbon market engages a
relatively broader number of states and thus politicians should take the approach of collaborating
with other states. Burke et al. (2016, 500) stated that all the politicians and political leaders
should make aware their people regarding the problem of climate change. Okereke et al. (2012,

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7-30) furthermore portrays that neorealist theorists focused on the structural factors and this
works as a driving force of the international relations. Burchill et al. (2013) affirms that in this
theory, special institution is needed that can appropriately identify the mitigation approaches for
the climate change. Thus, it can be stated that since all the states will be benefited by adopting
the technology and procedure of climate change, all the nations will find it in their interests to
reduce the emission.
Liberalism represents a contradictory perception compared to realism. De Stefano et al.
(2012, 193-209) stated that liberals tend to see optimistic relations in terms of international
relations. Unlike realists, liberals also see international system as anarchic but also believe that
security dilemmas can be escaped. Liberals believe that with the correct international institutions
and increasing interdependence any adversity can be resolved. However, the problem that
politician faced in this case in anger, frustration, sadness and outrage. This is the reason that
Obama’s 2010 climate legislation in the US failed. Expert believed that the initiative failed
because the GOP refused to support it and democrats didn’t support it enough (Theguardian.com
2017). Burke et al. (2016) also highlighted that liberals interacts with other nation through the
means of economy, finance and culture and they do not focus on security and military force as a
primary goal in state-to-state interactions. Terhalle and Joanna (2013, 572-588) moreover added
that humankind is the only aspect that liberals can see and hence rejects the realist assertion that
is warfare between states is inevitable. This is the aspect where the liberal fails as they want the
humankind issues to be related with climate change and not the exact consequence of the issue.
Taken for instance, Hance (2017) in The Guardian publishes that liberals care particular about
economic inequality, racism, sexism, injustice and war and assess whether or not climate change
has an impact on those factors. However, climatologists have linked the civil war in Syria in part

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to water stress, which is another consequence of climate change (Terhalle and Joanna 2013, 572-
588). Thus, issue like rising price of food, water scarcity, mass extinction, increase amount of
hurricanes, rainstorms, wild fires are also rises and liberist have to admit that these adverse
results does not affect selected people and affects all humankind. Thus, these issues should also
be addressed by these politicians
Furthermore, Urry (2015) also raise questions on the ability of democratic systems for
dealing the problem of climate change and global warming. Bulkeley and Vanesa Castán Broto
(2013, 361-375) argued that for the reason of short election cycles of liberal democratic political
systems, the liberal democracy may be incapable of responding to climate change. The argument
also highlighted that corruption of a state and democracy by the powerful nation is also a reason
of global environmental problems. This is the reason China have the advantage over the liberal
democracies for making rapid and decisive policy decisions compared to the Japan and South
Korea. Moreover, Mingst and Ivan Arreguín-Toft (2013) stated that in context of global
environmental politics, autonomy and hegemony are the two faces of power. In this case, the
nations adapt the agreement that contains legislation individually for radioactive waste, fish
conservation and whaling so that other environment issues can be overcome. Moreover,
Swyngedouw (2013, 1-8) that greater economic resource derived from the degradation of the
environment. Thus, it can be said that international relations helps in understanding the situation
of the climate change by addressing the intention of the government, technological development,
flow of the financial resources and capability of the nation. All leaders have the potential to
formulate a financial budget for treating the adversity of climate change and implement
technologies that are required to overcome the raised adversity. Moreover, the politician and also
create collaboration with other states so that the risk for terrorism can reduce (Theguardian.com

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2017). This step plays a crucial role as scientists and climate expert believe that issues like
immigration, the economy, debt, kind of jobs, terrorism are the factors for climate change
(Theguardian.com 2017). The scientists should also create awareness videos and campaigns for
making the politicians and leaders aware of the problem of climate change.
3.0 Conclusion
Climate change is the current issue in the world and due to this adversity several problem
arises like shrinkage of ice lands, extinction, deforestation and increase in earth’s temperature.
Two climate change program is highlighted that is Paris climate change agreement and Kyoto
protocol for climate change. It is also found that, the nation that are prosperous in financial
resources are capable to adapt necessary climate change technology and approaches for the
benefit of the planet and not the under-developed nations. Realists believe that it is not possible
to develop a unique climate change framework as different nations have different capabilities to
mitigate a problem. On the other hand liberal nation believes that humankind is the main aspects
and security concern can also be avoided. Thus, it can be stated that, politicians have the
potential to reduce or control the impact of climate change but they have to collaborate with the
scientist and consider the perception of their nation’s people on climate related problems.
Politicians should address the financial budget for the nation by utilizing their power so that
industry can reduce their impact on climate change.

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