Environment and Climate Change

Climate change is one of the most significant global threats. Unfortunately, the international climate regime is failing and does not contribute to reducing greenhouse gas emissions. However, erosion of the state-centric model has paved the way for regions, cities, and local authorities to become more involved in global climate governance. Climate paradiplomacy fills the governance gap, and sub-state entities are becoming more critical actors within the international climate regime. This chapter aims to analyze paradiplomatic activities related to the environment and climate change and indicate what role sub-state governments play in global climate governance. The main research questions are: Why is paradiplomacy relevant in climate change and the environment? What role do sub-state governments play in global climate governance? The initial argument indicates that climate paradiplomacy is crucial, especially concerning norm sustaining, as sub-state governments take ownership of the international climate obligations. The chapter is divided into three parts. The first focuses on climate paradiplomacy's evolution and its theoretical aspects. The second presents the main determinants of the involvement of sub-state governments, and the last indicates their role within global climate governance and the practical dimension of such activities.