A new kid in town? The evolution of EEAS headquarters’ involvement in EU climate diplomacy
(2023) The European Union in International Affairs 2023 — Location: Brussels (3.May.2023)
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- Authors
Earsom, Joseph 
- Abstract
- Despite a general consensus in the literature that the European External Action Service (EEAS) headquarters acts as a coordinator and mainstreamer of climate-related issues within the European Union’s (EU) foreign policy, relatively little is known about its precise diplomatic activities, especially in the years since the Paris Agreement at COP21 in 2015. This paper therefore qualitatively compares the climate diplomacy activities undertaken by EEAS headquarters with respect to COP21 in 2015 and COP26 in 2021. Based on a triangulation of 20 semi-structured interviews and official documents, the paper finds that although the EEAS headquarters continues to coordinate and mainstream EU climate diplomacy, it has also become more outwardly-involved and entrepreneurial, as demonstrated by it seeking out and facilitating the EU’s involvement in the Global Methane Pledge and Just Energy Transition Partnership with South Africa – both announced at COP26. This entrepreneurship can in part be explained by the creation within the EEAS of an Ambassador at Large for climate diplomacy, the working style of the appointed ambassador, Marc Vanheukelen, increased resources at EEAS headquarters dedicated to climate diplomacy, and a favourable institutional context within the EU. These findings provide a detailed and updated insight into the involvement of EEAS headquarters within EU climate diplomacy. In doing so, they not only improving our understanding of the EU as a climate actor but also demonstrating the importance of individuals in shaping how the EU pursues its climate objectives internationally.
- Affiliations
Citations
Earsom, J., & Delreux, T. (2023). A new kid in town? The evolution of EEAS headquarters’ involvement in EU climate diplomacy. The European Union in International Affairs 2023, Brussels. https://hdl.handle.net/2078.5/28713