The Evolving Trajectory of India’s Climate Diplomacy: From Reaction to Positive Leadership

Abstract

One of the most pressing challenges of the 21^st century is to address the negative consequences of climate change. The severity of the problem has given rise to a coordinated global response and as such, has expanded the domain of diplomacy to address climate related concerns. India has always been the voice of the developing world in climate negotiations. This paper examines the evolution and shifts in India’s climate diplomacy. The paper is divided into three sections. The first section established a conceptual framework for the term climate diplomacy. The next section examines the salient features of India’s climate diplomacy since its inception in the second half of the 20^th century.  The final section posits that, since 2014, India has transitioned from being a reactive participant to an active norm creator in global climate governance. It therefore examines the major climate-related initiatives undertaken under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, highlighting India’s strategic repositioning as an initiator of climate change related actions

Key Words: Climate Change, Climate Diplomacy, LiFe, Indian Solar Alliance, UNFCCC.