MULTILATERAL DIPLOMACY OF THE SOUTH: THE G77 + CHINA IN THE CLIMATE CHANGE NEGOTIATIONS
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.25159/0256-6060/429Abstract
The G77 + China represents a multilateral group, engaged in multilateral diplomacy, across multiple fora. While the group has negotiated positive outcomes in terms of trade through its role in the UNCTAD, environmental negotiations have demonstrated the challenges facing the group in maintaining unity, and in turn, raised questions concerning its relevance. This review article considers the divisions that have emerged within the group, as well as those that have emerged between the G77 + China and developed countries within the context of the climate change negotiations. What is significant is that multilateral diplomacy within the group has seen the continuance of unity, despite considerable difference, yet there has been less success in bridging the divide between developed and developing countries as talks move towards the twenty-first Conference of the Parties (COP) in 2015.
Metrics
References
This review article is based on an earlier policy brief written for the Institute for Global
Dialogue (IGD) Policy Brief, Global Insight Issue 111/October 2014.
So called because China is not a full member but a ‘special invitee’ and an associate member.
N. Dlamini Zuma. 2006. Statement by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of South Africa, Chair of the Group of 77, to the 30th Annual Meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Group of 77. New York, 22 September 2006. Available at http://www. southafrica-newyork.net/speeches_pmun/view_speech.php?speech=5021736(accessed 14 July 2014).
UNFCCC. 2013. Input from the G77+China in preparation for COP19 on loss and damage associated with climate change impacts in developing countries that are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change. Available at https://unfccc.int/files/ adaptation/application/pdf/ld_g77_submission_nov_2013.pdf (accessed 19 October 2015).
L. Masters. 2010. Africa, climate change and Copenhagen. Global Insight Issue 91/February 2010: 4. Institute for Global Dialogue.
Ibid.
K.A. Hochstetler. 2012. The G77, BASIC, and global climate governance: a new era in multilateral environmental negotiations. Revista Brasileira de Politica Internacional, 55 (special edition): 59. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1590/S0034-73292012000300004
L. Masters. 2012. What future for BASIC? The emerging power dimension in the international politics of climate change negotiations. Global Insight, Issue 95 March: 3.
Hochstetler (2012: 57).
Ibid.: 66.
J.I. Allan and P. Dauvergne. 2013.The global south in environmental negotiations: The politics of coalitions in REDD+, Third World Quarterly, 34(8): 1310. DOI: DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/01436597.2013.831536
1080/01436597.2013.831536.
Ibid.
X. Qi. 2011. From G-77 to BASIC: China in global climate change negotiations. The global south and the international politics of climate change. Proceedings Report of the International Workshop: Negotiating Africa and the Global South’s Interests in Climate Change, 22. Compiled by L. Masters. November 2011. Pretoria: Institute for Global Dialogue.
Hochstetler (2012: 58).
Allan and Dauvergne (2013: 1311).
J. Vidal. 2013. Poor countries walk out of UN climate talks as compensation row rumble on. The Guardian. 20 November 2013. Available at http://www.theguardian.com/globaldevelopment/
/nov/20/climate-talks-walk-out-compensation-un-warsaw/print (accessed 10 July 2014)
A. Najam. 2004. Dynamics of the southern collective: Developing countries in desertification negotiations. Global Environmental Politics 4(3): 148.
Najam (2004: 131).
Ibid.: 134.
A. Makina. 2013. Managing climate change: The Africa Group in multilateral environmental negotiations. Journal or International Organizations Studies Vol 4(1). Available at http:// journal-iostudies.org/sites/journal-iostudies.org/files/JIOSfinal_4_2.pdf (accessed 10 July 2014).
N. Dlamini Zuma. 2006. Statement by the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of South Africa, Chair of the Group of 77, to the 30th Annual Meeting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs of the Group of 77. New York, 22 September 2006. Available from http://www. southafrica-newyork.net/speeches_pmun/view_speech.php?speech=5021736 (accessed 14 July 2014).
J. Ashe sets out the key issue areas for the G77 and China in his statement on behalf of the
G77 and China. See J. Ashe. 2008. Statement on behalf of the Group of 77 and China at the Thematic Debate of the General Assembly on ‘Addressing climate change: The United Nations and the world at work’. New York 12 February 2008. Available at http://www.g77. org/statement/getstatement.php?id=080212 (accessed 10 July 2014).
Najam (2004: 128). DOI: https://doi.org/10.1162/1526380041748100
D. Lesolle. 2014. The Group of 77 and China’s participation in climate change negotiations.
February 2014. Heinrich Böll Stiftung. Available from https://za.boell.org/2014/02/03/ group-77-and-chinas-participation-climate-change-negotiations-publications (accessed 19 October 2015).
Najam (2004:142).
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
Accepted 2015-10-29
Published 2016-10-13
