A Study On China’s Climate Change Diplomacy

This thesis traces the origins of China’s climate change diplomacy to1972when China participated the UN Conference on Human Environment. It setsup a theoretical framework based on national interests theories and analyzesthe variations of national intests that China’s climate change diplomacy haspursued and emphasized in different periods of time. The thesis also examinesand explains the driving forces in the development of China’s climate changediplomacy highlighting the interaction of international order changes, China’sdiplomatic strategic adjustments and milestones in the UN Framework onClimate Change Conventions. The author argues that the primary driving forcein China’s climate change diplomacy is its economic development goals.International pressure on China’s responsibility to limit its greenhouse gasemission played a much lesser important role. The thesis also argues thatChina’s changing foreign policies on climate changecan be interpreted as aresult of the changing nature of national interests. The thesis concludes withseven policy recommendations for China’s climate change diplomacy,including a better decision making mechanism, a great role for the parliament,investment in basic scientific research and proposal to host Conference ofParties of United Nations’ Framework Convention of Climate Change. Thethesis also summarizes the experiences and lessons for China’s climatechange diplomacy.China has taken advantage of its early and constructiveparticipation in the international environment and climate change governancemechanism, which is regarded as China’s diplomatic asset. China has alsomade full use of the status as the world’s fastest growing and largestdeveloping country to realize its national interests as part of the collectiveinterests of the developing countries. In addition to that, China has been veryconstructive to use its status as a mediator between the developed and thedeveloping world to promote the progress of UNFCCC. In terms of lessons,China could have been more flexible in fighting for its policy goals some ofwhich changed in just a few years.China can also improve the comprehensive arrangement of its diplomatic resources and means.