Chapter 6. Climate action: from multilateral negotiations to implementation

A multilateral climate action approach enables national efforts to progress concurrently with, mutually agreed, global climate goals, and is a first step toward a global transition to a green economy. Climate change is a very complex socioeconomic challenge that cannot be resolved solely with policy changes and climate pledges; an entire infrastructure transformation is required. With the continuous globalization of the world’s economies (and cross-border interdependence), it is critical that all stakeholders are convened toward common climate goals, beyond national interests and ideologies. Approaching climate change from both a scientific and policy perspective, the intent of this chapter is to review the current global landscape and outline important aspects of climate change on human society and economy, and the many challenges associated with a multilateral and cross-border approach. This includes reflecting over the core objectives of a multilateral approach, previously negotiated agreements, and the importance of multi-stakeholder partnerships in order to deliver quantifiable and sustainable climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies.