Abstract: Climate change is one of the greatest challenges of our time. While the first World Climate Conference took place as far back as 1979, discourse on Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction has only gained momentum in recent years, particularly following the Earth Summit held in Rio De Jainero, Brazil in 1992. The resultant adoption of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, and the putting in place of the Conference of Parties to move the climate agenda forward, particularly marked key milestones. This paper examines the progress made, the challenges met and the prospects in the international community’s efforts in climate diplomacy and Disaster Risk Reduction since 1992. Whereas important achievements have been made, especially in raising global awareness on climate change and disaster risk reduction, bottlenecks remain on the journey towards a safer planet. International efforts have particularly been constrained by a general lack of consensus between the developed and the developing nations on issues such as cutting Green Gas Emissions, limited local-level implementation of the commitments agreed upon at the international level, and a resurgence of voices challenging the legitimacy of climate science. By implication, transforming global consciousness on climate change into practical action such as climate change adaptation at the local level still poses significant challenges. Nonetheless, the momentum that the climate discourse has gained in recent years presents an unprecedented opportunity for the international community to finally translate rhetoric into practical action for climate change and reduction of climate-accentuated disaster risks.
Keywords: Climate Change; Climate Change Action; Disaster Risk reduction.
Title: Beyond Rhetoric: What has changed from 26 Years of International Diplomacy on Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction?
Author: A. Enyipu, J. Mwine, M. Masanza
International Journal of Interdisciplinary Research and Innovations
ISSN 2348-1218 (print), ISSN 2348-1226 (online)
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