Climate negotiations are an incessant diplomatic dispute between blocks of countries grouped by interests and, sometimes, divided by international geopolitical tensions.
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) groups countries into five blocks for administrative purposes: Africa, Asia, Latin America and the Caribbean, Eastern Europe and Western Europe and other countries, which includes the United States, Canada, Australia…
In terms of responsibilities, the UNFCC has three categories: developed countries (Annex 1), developed countries with special financial responsibilities (the richest) and developing countries.
But the themes under negotiation are transversal and do not follow geographic or economic criteria: mitigation, adaptation, financing, losses and damages, among others.
Countries with “special responsibilities” can join a negotiating bloc alongside a developing nation.
Some negotiating blocs are a legacy of the past (G77), but others were created for climate negotiations.
Many countries, particularly among developing nations, are part of several groups simultaneously.
Within the UN system, COPs are long (13 days scheduled for COP28 in Dubai, from November 30 to December 12, with the possibility of extension) and alliances between blocs and individual countries are established and dissolved depending on the proposals presented, as well as obstacles.
– Rarely a united front –
“For a long time there was the impression that climate negotiations were somehow immunized (…) as if they were somehow so important that they would be safe from the frictions of today. It’s not like that anymore,” political scientist François Gemenne, member of the UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), told AFP.
“Developing countries rarely present a united front. The fact that they remain united on the issue of loss and damage is unusual”, explains Jennifer Allan, an expert at the International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD).
“Even when they use the same words, such as justice or accountability, countries mean very different things, based on their respective points of view,” he adds.
Below is a list of the main negotiating groups at the COP.
G77 (and China):
The Group of 77 countries was created in 1964. From the initial number it rose to the current 134, usually allied with China. It is the largest negotiating bloc and operates not only within the UNFCC, but in many other UN forums. It has an annual rotating presidency and this year it is led by Cuba for the first time.
Least developed countries (LDC):
It has 46 countries and, as the name suggests, brings together the poorest nations. Chaired by Nepal.
Thematic negotiation leaves the G77 and the LDC on different sides on some occasions.
Climate Vulnerability Forum (CVF)
It brings together 58 countries that declare themselves particularly affected by climate change, with a total population of 1.5 billion people. Founded in 2009, currently chaired by Ghana.
Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS)
Founded in 1990 by developing islands or archipelagos that consider their existence threatened by rising sea levels. It brings together 39 States that, although they have a small structure, are very active during climate conferences. Chaired by Samoa.
European Union (EU):
It brings together the 27 countries in the bloc, but does not have a separate vote. The European Council is chaired by Spain until December.
Coalition created after the approval of the Kyoto Protocol (1997) by some developed countries: Australia, Canada, United States, Iceland, Israel, Japan, Kazakhstan, New Zealand, Norway, United Kingdom and Ukraine. It usually faces the G77 and the LDC during negotiations.
It brings together emerging powers: Brazil, South Africa, India and China. Created in 2009, at COP15 in Copenhagen.
Independent Association of Latin America and the Caribbean (AILAC):
Floating coalition created in 2012, which usually presents a conciliatory stance between the North and the South. It is currently made up of Colombia, Costa Rica, Guatemala (which presides over the group), Honduras, Panama, Paraguay, Peru and Chile.