Daily Mains Question – GS 3 – 23rd July 2025
- TPP
- Jul 23
- 4 min read
Welcome to your daily Mains Model Answer — designed to dissect the operational dynamics of global climate governance, as demanded in GS Paper 3. Today’s question critically assesses the institutional fragilities within the UNFCCC process and explores pathways to reform global climate negotiations for enhanced transparency, equity, and accountability.
As the cornerstone of multilateral climate action, the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) has overseen key agreements like the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement. Yet, it now stands at a crossroads, facing a deepening credibility crisis due to consensus deadlocks, unfulfilled finance promises, and rising concerns over procedural opacity. With COP30 on the horizon and the urgency of the IPCC’s 1.5°C target intensifying, this question holds direct relevance for GS Paper 3 (Environment: Conservation, Climate Change, and International Agreements), while also intersecting with themes of global governance, multilateralism, and sustainable development—areas that frequently appear in Essay and Ethics papers as well.
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QUESTION
In the context of the ongoing credibility concerns facing the UNFCCC process, critically examine the institutional and structural shortcomings that hinder effective global climate action. Suggest key reforms that can strengthen the inclusivity, transparency, and accountability of the climate negotiation framework.
Answer: The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), established at the 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, has served as the principal platform for global climate negotiations. Despite landmark agreements like the Kyoto Protocol (1997) and Paris Agreement (2015), the process is now undergoing a credibility crisis, as it struggles to deliver binding and ambitious climate action. Failure to ensure accountability, fulfil finance commitments, and respond equitably to the needs of vulnerable nations has undermined trust in the multilateral process.
Underlying Causes of the Credibility Crisis
1. Consensus-Based Decision Making
UNFCCC operates on consensus, requiring agreement from all 190+ Parties for any decision.
This grants de facto veto power to individual countries, often resulting in watered-down or delayed outcomes.
Example: Prolonged disagreements have stalled decisions on climate finance targets and loss and damage mechanisms.
2. Weak Implementation and Accountability Mechanisms
There are no binding enforcement tools to penalize countries that fail to meet their Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs).
Developed countries have repeatedly missed finance targets, such as the $100 billion/year by 2020 goal promised in Copenhagen (2009), still unmet as of 2025.
3. Inequity in Representation and Participation
Smaller and least developed countries (LDCs) face structural challenges, such as limited delegation size, logistical barriers, and technical capacity gaps, reducing their effective participation.
The growing complexity of climate agendas has further marginalized vulnerable voices.
4. Inadequate Climate Finance
The needs of developing countries are estimated at $1.3 trillion annually, yet developed countries have committed only $300 billion per year from 2035, far short of the requirement.
Finance for adaptation, as opposed to mitigation, remains severely underfunded.
5. Influence of Fossil Fuel Interests
The growing presence of fossil fuel lobbyists in COP meetings has raised concerns over conflict of interest and policy dilution.
Hosting of COPs in major oil-exporting countries has amplified the perception of institutional capture.
6. Fragmented Agenda and Duplicative Discussions
Negotiations are often bogged down by overlapping and lengthy agenda items, delaying decisions and reducing negotiating time.
Procedural inefficiencies limit the substantive progress of climate talks.
Suggested Structural and Procedural Reforms
1. Adoption of Qualified Majority Voting (QMV)
Introduce majority-based decision-making for select areas (e.g., procedural issues, non-financial items), to prevent consensus deadlocks.
Similar models are used in the EU Council and WTO’s Plurilateral Agreements.
2. Independent Review and Accountability Mechanism
Establish a compliance and review mechanism to track the implementation of NDCs, finance pledges, and technology transfer obligations.
This can be modeled on the UN Human Rights Universal Periodic Review (UPR) mechanism.
3. Equitable Participation and Support for LDCs
Fund and support capacity-building programs to strengthen negotiation abilities of smaller delegations.
Implement a rotational speaking order and simplified documentation to ensure inclusivity.
4. Reform of COP Hosting Criteria
Adopt objective criteria for host selection, excluding countries heavily reliant on fossil fuels without credible transition plans.
Encourage regional rotation and preference for vulnerable countries, enhancing representation.
5. Limit Role of Fossil Fuel Industry in Negotiations
Impose transparency and participation norms, similar to the WHO’s Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) which bars tobacco industry participation in policy-making.
6. Mainstreaming Climate Action Across Multilateral Platforms
Climate action must be integrated across forums like the UN General Assembly, World Bank, IMF, and World Trade Organization, promoting climate-finance-aligned trade and development policies.
7. Supplementary Climate Mechanisms
Encourage the development of regional climate coalitions, carbon markets, and plurilateral climate clubs (e.g., Coalition of Finance Ministers for Climate Action) to supplement UNFCCC efforts.
Way Forward
The upcoming COP30 summit in Brazil (2025) offers an opportunity to restore credibility by focusing on procedural reforms, delivering on climate finance, and reinvigorating trust. Brazil has proposed to address overlapping themes, scheduling constraints, and inclusive participation. It has also encouraged integrating climate governance into other multilateral mechanisms and drawing up an action list for accelerated implementation.
The recent BRICS declaration on climate finance also reflects the growing collective voice of developing nations demanding a just and accountable global climate regime.
The UNFCCC remains a cornerstone of global climate diplomacy. However, to maintain its relevance and efficacy in the face of escalating climate risks, structural and procedural reforms are imperative. A credible, inclusive, and results-oriented negotiation process is essential to deliver on the goals of the Paris Agreement and keep the global temperature rise below 1.5°C, in line with IPCC recommendations. Without transformative change, the risk of institutional redundancy and climate injustice looms large.
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