International Climate Policy in Transition: the Global South is Gaining in Importance

The UN climate conferences not only discuss emissions targets, but also fundamental norms: Who should do what, under what conditions – and who bears the costs? Countries of the Global South have long been regarded as mere "norm takers" – in other words, as states that should follow international standards but do not play an active role in shaping them. However, this image is currently changing: countries such as India are increasingly introducing their own ideas into the global negotiation process and successfully influencing internationally agreed interpretations of standards.

This is shown by Dr. Chris Höhne, Senior Researcher in the Research Unit Global Climate at the Wuppertal Institute, in his article "Exporting norm interpretations from the Global South: Explaining India's reasons for contesting and reshaping international climate norms", which has recently been published in the in the open access journal Earth System Governance. Höhne uses two case studies to show how India successfully submitted proposals for change to the international climate negotiations at the UN Climate Change Conference in Bali in 2007. The Indian representatives not only rejected proposals from other countries, but also acted as so-called counter-proposers with alternative interpretations of norms.

In his article, Höhne identifies four central domestic political factors that explain India's behaviour:

• Cultural path dependence: India wanted to preserve its independence and pre-existing domestic policies.
• Economic goals: The country wanted to preserve its freedom to maximise economic growth.
• Financial support: India demanded that industrialised countries provide more money for climate protection in developing countries.
• Sense of community: India sees itself as an independent actor and spokesperson for the Global South.

Höhne concludes that countries such as India are no longer just acting passively, but are actively shaping international climate rules. The article thus illustrates why the voices of the Global South are becoming increasingly important in international climate negotiations.

The article "Exporting norm interpretations from the Global South: Explaining India's reasons for contesting and reshaping international climate norms" has been published in the journal Earth System Governance and is available for free download via the following link.