Environmental Diplomacy and Non-state Actors

Since the mid-1980 the concern about the environment has been growing and diplomacy has played an important role in this issue. So, nowadays we can talk about environmental negotiations as a way to try to solve the problems caused by the humans/nations in the environment.

In environmental negotiations, states are not the only parties involved, non-state actors such as NGOs or International Organizations are also involved in the negotiations. Non-state actors are used as advisors by states, as representatives of poor countries and as sources of independent analysis of situations and problems. Moreover, due to the experience, legitimacy, independency and resources of non-state actors, they are also important setting the agenda and conducting debates.

However, even though non-state actors play an important role in environmental negotiations, states are still the only ones that can sign, accept and implement the agreements achieved in the negotiations. Therefore, the real power of non-state actors in this kind of negotiation is very limited. They can neither impose anything to any state, nor sanction states for not applying the agreements. They can only recommend and provide information and analysis.

During the environmental negotiations in Copenhagen in 2009, there were hundreds of NGOs accredited and they were very active trying to engage everyone to: 1) a huge reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and; 2) to a solution to the climate change. But, in the end, states were the only ones signing the agreement and the national interest of some states was before any solution to the problem.

Thus, can we talk about non-state actors as key players in environmental negotiations or is it just an illusion?

Carles Reina Tortosa