Fragmentation and Climate Diplomacy in the Global South

Muhammad Ibrahim; Hassan Nazir; Abdullah Gorsi; Muhammad Zeshan Ali

doi:10.71085/sss.05.01.509

Authors

Muhammad Ibrahim Independent Researcher, National Defense University, Islamabad, Pakistan
Hassan Nazir BS in International Relations, National Defense University, Islamabad, Pakistan
Abdullah Gorsi Student of BS- International Relations at National Defense University, Islamabad, Pakistan
Muhammad Zeshan Ali Student of BS- International Relations at National Defense University, Islamabad, Pakistan

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.71085/sss.05.01.509

Keywords:

Global South, Climate Diplomacy, Fragmentation, Collective Action, Climate Justice, UNFCCC, G77

Abstract

This study examines the paradox of the Global South’s numerical dominance in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) alongside its limited influence in securing meaningful climate commitments and finance from developed countries. It contends that collective bargaining power is weakened by internal fragmentation which is fuelled by divergent economic interests, unequal climate exposure, geopolitical struggles, institutional limits and external forces. Through the prism of Realist, Liberal Institutional, and Postcolonial theories, the paper examines the main Southern alliances, such as Group of 77 + China, BASIC, and SIDS. The study, based on case studies of COP27, Nationally Determined Contributions by the Paris Agreement and floods in Pakistan in 2022, demonstrates inconsistent approaches and results. It concludes that fragmentation undermines the ability to negotiate and perpetuates Northern dominance pointing to practical, issue-focused coalitions as a viable way to go.