EU climate diplomacy in a (post) Covid-19 world

In June 2018, the European Parliament issued a resolution calling for more ambitious, integrated and strategic climate diplomacy. The three subsequent years have seen several political milestones: the EU is implementing a whole-of-economy transformation with the Green Deal and has a progressive policy framework for sustainable finance. Upon taking office in 2019, the Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has proclaimed a “geopolitical Commission”. Since 2020, the EU is coping with dire impacts of the Covid-19 pandemic inside and outside its borders. What are the implications of these trends for the Union’s climate diplomacy? Were the 2018 requests of the European Parliament addressed, or has the complexity outgrown the existing capacities for external action? What are the most challenging tasks today?

adelphi on behalf of A.R.S. Progetti assessed the progress of climate diplomacy since 2018 in a study for the European Parliament. The analysis scrutinised policy developments in the areas of climate security, trade, development cooperation, sustainable finance, gender equality and science, research and innovation. The study outlines four task areas for a European climate diplomacy of the future and highlights the role of the European Parliament in shaping it.