The Institutionalisation of Climate Justice in the Global Governance Architecture: A dynamic network analysis of climate justice norms in intergovernmental and transnational institutions

Abstract

The architecture of global climate governance consists of norms that are intended to shape state actions on mitigation and adaption of climate change. A key norm is justice. Climate justice norms determine the fairness and equity of the outcomes of multilateral agreements, as well as their effectiveness, legitimacy and acceptability. Yet, climate justice can be defined on the basis of different philosophical traditions, that invite different courses of action in practice. For example, defining climate justice from a liberal egalitarian perspective would invite transferring resources to the poorest segments of the human population in order to address climate change concerns. In contrast, defining climate justice from a libertarian perspective would invite entrepreneurial activities in order to address climate change through the market. This thesis analyses how justice norms have been institutionalised in intergovernmental and transnational institutions for climate change over time. Specifically, the thesis aims to identify which norms have gained centrality, how this has changed over time and which are the implications for climate governance. To do so the thesis employs an analytical framework which delineates different conceptualisations of justice, including cosmopolitanism, critical perspectives, liberal egalitarianism, libertarianism and the capabilities approach. Methodologically, the thesis conducts a dynamic discourse network analysis of climate justice norms in the global climate architecture. Specifically, the thesis identifies interlinkages between different climate justice norms and intergovernmental and transnational institutions between 1991-2015. Based such interlinkages the thesis constructs dynamic networks which shows the connection between intergovernmental and transnational institutions and specific climate justice norms. The thesis also examines the relations among the institutions, as a function of their reference to the same norm. On the basis of network analysis values, such centrality, the thesis then measures the degree of institutionalisation of particular justice norms over others, revealing which norms have gained traction and which have become marginalised. The overall findings provide crucial insights for the evolution of climate justice norms in intergovernmental and transnational institutions concerning climate change and carry important implications for the overall performance of the global climate architecture.