International Climate Policy after Copenhagen: Towards a ‘Building Blocks’ Approach
| Published date | 01 October 2010 |
| Author | Hannes Stephan,John Vogler,Robert Falkner |
| DOI | http://doi.org/10.1111/j.1758-5899.2010.00045.x |
| Date | 01 October 2010 |
International Climate Policy after
Copenhagen: Towards a ‘Building
Blocks’ Approach
Robert Falkner
London School of Economics and Political Science
Hannes Stephan
Keele University
John Vogler
Keele University
Abstract
This article reviews the options for future international
climate policy after the 2009 Copenhagen conference.
It argues that a major reassessment of the current
approach to building a climate regime is required. This
approach, which we refer to as the ‘global deal’
strategy, is predicated on the idea of negotiating a
comprehensive, universal and legally binding treaty
that prescribes, in a top-down fashion, generally
applicable policies based on previously agreed
principles. From a review of the history of the ‘global
deal’ strategy from Rio (1992) to Kyoto (1997) and
beyond we conclude that this approach has been
producing diminishing returns for some time, and that
it is time to consider an alternative path – if not goal –
for climate policy. The alternative that, in our view, is
most likely to move the world closer towards a
working international climate regime is a ‘building
blocks’ approach, which develops different elements of
climate governance in an incremental fashion and
embeds them in an international political framework.
In fact, this alternative is already emergent in
international politics. The goal of a full treaty has been
abandoned for the next climate conference in Mexico,
which is instead aiming at a number of partial
agreements (on finance, forestry, technology transfer,
adaptation) under the UNFCCC umbrella. For this to
produce results, a more strategic approach is needed to
ensure that – over time – such partial elements add up
to an ambitious and internationally coordinated
climate policy which does not drive down the level of
aspiration and commitment.
Policy Implications
•The current approach to negotiating a comprehen-
sive, universal and legally binding ‘global deal’ on
climate change is unlikely to succeed. A strategic
rethink is needed on how to advance global climate
protection in the current global political and eco-
nomic environment.
•An alternative approach is the ‘building blocks’
strategy, which develops different elements of cli-
mate governance in an incremental fashion and
embeds them in a broader political framework. In
fact, such an approach is already emergent in post-
Copenhagen international climate politics.
•The building blocks approach offers the hope of
breaking the current diplomatic stalemate but
remains a second best scenario. It promises no swift,
short-term solutions, risks strengthening the logic
of free-riding and may lead to excessive regulatory
fragmentation.
•A more strategic, long-term vision is required for
the building blocks model to lead to the creation of
an ambitious international architecture for climate
protection and prevent the slide into a purely de-
centralised, ‘bottom-up’ approach.
How should governments respond to the apparent failure
of the 2009 Copenhagen conference on climate change?
Initial reactions by diplomats and observers were domi-
nated by profound disappointment, even despair, at the
inadequate outcome of the two-week-long negotiations.
For many, the Copenhagen Accord represents what is
wrong with international climate diplomacy: cobbled
Global Policy Volume 1 . Issue 3 . October 2010
Copyright 2010 London School of Economics and Political Science and John Wiley & Sons Ltd. Global Policy (2010) 1:3 doi: 10.1111/j.1758-5899.2010.00045.x
Research Article
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