Construing Climate Change Adaptation as Global Public Good Under International Law: Problems and Prospects

Area of Science:

• Climate Change Adaptation
• International Cooperation
• Global Public Goods

Background:

• Article 7 of the Paris Agreement outlines a global goal for adaptation, emphasizing enhanced adaptive capacity, resilience, and reduced vulnerability to climate change.
• The formulation and implementation of climate change adaptation strategies are hindered by a lack of international cooperation, particularly between the global North and South.
• Adverse climate change impacts, such as climate-induced global migration, are recognized as global public bads.

Purpose of the Study:

• To introduce the concept of global public goods (GPGs) into climate adaptation discourse.
• To establish a normative and practical foundation for international cooperation on climate adaptation.
• To address the challenges in formulating and implementing adaptation strategies due to insufficient global collaboration.

Main Methods:

• Conceptual analysis integrating the theory of global public goods with climate change adaptation.
• Examination of Article 7 of the Paris Agreement and its implications for international cooperation.
• Analysis of climate-induced global migration as a global public bad and adaptation measures as global public goods.

Main Results:

• Climate adaptation measures that enhance resilience and reduce vulnerability can be construed as global public goods.
• The universality of global public goods offers a framework for understanding and strengthening international climate adaptation actions.
• Addressing climate-induced migration through adaptation strengthens collective resilience and delivers universal benefits.

Conclusions:

• The concept of global public goods provides a robust framework for enhancing international cooperation in climate change adaptation.
• Recognizing adaptation as a global public good can overcome North-South divides and foster collaborative strategies.
• Effective climate adaptation, viewed as a global public good, is crucial for sustainable development and global resilience.