A Strategy for International Climate Negotiations

For International Climate Negotiations

Christiana Figueres confirms pledges are just self-interest

In an interview with CBS News, 2 October 2015, Christiana Figueres, Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC, said

The United States or China or Tuvalu … none of them are doing this to save the planet. All of these countries are putting their best foot forward because they understand it’s good for their economies. And that is the most powerful driving force — the self-interest of every country is what is behind all of these measures. It’s not because they want to save the planet. Maybe it surprises you that I say that. Let’s be realistic here.

This confirms our analysis of December 2014 regarding China’s pledges. The countries are not to blame for this. The structure of the pledge-and-review agreement induces this behavior.