Foreign Policy and Climate Diplomacy: Addressing Challenges and Regulating Key Actors in Global Climate Governance

The inadequacy of commitment towards real actions of reducing the emissions has been an old profile of global climate governance mainly because of inequity arguments, disjointed enforcement, and the national interest profile. In this paper, the author explains the influence of foreign policy on climate diplomacy and governance amongst major state and non-state actors, using the example of the region of Jordan. The study is informed by interpretivism and is based on qualitative analysis of documents and comparative analysis of international treaties (UNFCCC, Kyoto Protocol, and Paris Agreement), policy reports and sources related to Jordan, the Fourth National Communication (2023), Second Biennial Update Report (2022), and Updated Nationally Determined Contribution (2023). The results show that the energy industry has been the major source of greenhouse gas emissions, with an approximate figure of 79% of the cumulative emissions. The current target of Jordan is to reduce emissions by 31% by 2030 (5% unconditional and 26 percent conditional), an important step up in ambition. The study recommends a stronger regional cooperation in MENA, a solar climate financing and technology transfer framework, legal framework harmonization, transparent frameworks of monitoring, reporting, and verification (MRV), and stronger involvement of non-state actors. The results are consistent with the National Climate Change Policy 20202050 and National Adaptation Plan (2023) of Jordan, as it is suggested that mutually reinforcing relations between foreign policy and climate governance can lead to an increase in credibility, compliance, and equity in the delivery of sustainable climate results. The analysis also highlights the significance of non-state and community-level involvement in strengthening national strategies. In this regard, the Al-Munther Al-Monakhi Initiative, which is the effort of the author to translate the global agreements into local, inclusive, and culturally related action, which was also voluntary, can be used as an applied concept of how climate diplomacy can be society-centric.