The Role of Certificates and Labels for Cocoa in the Face of Climate Change: A Scientific Review

Climate change threatens cocoa quality, raising concerns regarding sustainable premium cocoa production. Evaluating the effectiveness of certification standards is imperative to address this concern effectively. A multi-stage method was employed for a systematic review of 39 peer-reviewed articles to highlight the impacts of climate change on the biophysical environment of cocoa and its implications for adapting Geographical Indications (GIs). Additionally, a comprehensive review was conducted on climate-relevant standards of certificates in Ecuador, Indonesia, and Ghana. The findings of this study provide practical insights into possible difficulties that cocoa-producing countries may encounter in maintaining the distinctive flavours and quality trademarks of cocoa in the face of changing climate. Moreover, the findings emphasize the need for producer countries to prioritize viable adaptation and product differentiation strategies that meet sustainable marketing standards to protect GIs or place-based intellectual property. Furthermore, the findings indicate certificates require effective multi-level climate change management and environmental-social-governance principles that promote scientifically proven mitigation strategies, such as increasing soil organic carbon, zero deforestation, and reducing emissions while striving to leverage local adaptation policies to reduce location-specific vulnerability. Finally, certificates can accelerate the expansion, intensification, and redistribution of sustainable production for gains that outweigh the inconveniences caused by climate change.

Enhancing coastal areas governance for sustainable tourism in the context of urbanization and climate change in eastern Thailand

Coastal areas in the eastern sub-region of Thailand,a popular destination in Southeast Asia,are facing rapid tourism-related urbanization and associated consequences of environment and climate change(CC).Thus,this study aims to analyze the relationships between tourism,coastal areas,the environment,and CC in the context of tourism urbanization;and recommend strategies for enhancing the governance of coastal areas.Three popular destinations were selected as study areas,Koh Chang,Koh Mak,and Pattaya.Group discussions,questionnaire surveys,in-terviews,and observation were used for primary data collection together with secondary data.The results show that the development of these destinations has been incompatible with the coastal environment and CC patterns.Rapid urbanization from tourism development is the main driver of environmental changes and makes the areas vulnerable to CC-related risks.While water scarcity and pollution are found the most critical environmental issues of the destinations,coastal areas are negatively affected in terms of increased air and water pollution and resource degradation.They have also been exposed to different CC-related problems while the risks of accumulative impacts of both environment and CC have not been adequately recognized or addressed.Although some measures have provided synergies of improved environment and increased climate resilience,possible conflicts and gaps were also found.Public infrastructure integration and optimization to enhance coastal areas'environment and climate resilience are suggested.

The withdrawal of the U.S. from the Paris Agreement and its impact on global climate change governance

The global community has prepared for the withdrawal of the U.S. from the Paris Agreement since Donald Trump was elected as the president of the U.S. However, Trump's formal declaration of withdrawal still caused worldwide reaction. Trump will use the withdrawal to build his political reputation and to renegotiate the Paris Agreement despite its negative effects on the political credibility, international relationships, and potential long-term economic growth of the U.S. In general, the withdrawal of the U.S. from the Paris Agreement will not change the development of low-carbon technologies and the transformation trend of the global climate governance regime. However, the long-term goals and international cooperation on climate change will be affected by budget cuts in American climate change research and the cancelation of donations from the multilateral environmental fund of the U.S. If the Paris Agreement is renegotiated, the common but differentiated principle of responsibility of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change will be challenged again. Nevertheless, climate change governance remains a main theme of future sustainable development. Instead of national governments, local governments and non-governmental organizations will develop strategies for technical innovation and emphasize pragmatic cooperation, thus expanding their roles in climate change governance. The capacity building on climate change research and public awareness should be enhanced as a long-term objective of global climate change governance.

Global climate governance in the new era:Potential of business actors and technological innovation

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change(UNFCCC)has established a climate governance mechanism with intergovernmental negotiations among sovereign states as the core.After nearly 30 years,progress in combating climate change has remained very modest compared with the numerous challenges raised.The global climate governance has entered a new era,such that incorporating other factors into the governance process is timely.Therefore,the study emphasizes technological innovation and business actors in climate governance after the Paris Agreement.Technological innovation can provide effective solutions for combating climate change and has been a crucial driving force in climate governance's evolution.Business actors are significant because they are actual implementers of technological innovation and can apply different types of power and influence on climate governance processes at various levels.In summary,business actors,as well as technological innovation in line with governments and the UNFCCC governance frameworks,create a new potential for climate governance in the new era.

Cooperation and Divergence between China and the United States in the Governance of Global Climate Change

China and the United States are two key players in global climate governance.What about their relations in the field of climate change and how should we view these relations? An analysis of their relations in global climate governance is of great significance both for global multinational negotiations and their bilateral relations. The two parties have enhanced their cooperation on climate change since 2009 in terms of increasing willingness, broader scale, more diverse mechanisms and higher effectiveness. With the U.N. Paris Climate Conference 2015 approaching, China-US cooperation will inject much momentum into the multilateral process of reaching an ambitious agreement. However, there are also sharp divergences between China and the U.S. regarding principles, rules, and legal means. These divergences might become prominent during the Paris Conference and need to be addressed at the bilateral level.

Key global climate governance problems and Chinese countermeasures

Presently,the full implementation of the negotiations and collaborations under the Paris Agreement faces new key problems and severe challenges.These problems and challenges include the following:how to honor the principle of“common but differentiated responsibilities”to facilitate a comprehensive,balanced,and effective implementation of the key elements of the Paris Agreement,such as adaptation,mitigation,finance,technology,capacity building,and transparency;how to uphold and maintain the status of China and other emerging countries as developing countries in light of the requirements of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the historical responsibilities of these countries;and how to assess the goal of limiting the global temperature increase to 1.5℃and what constitutes an equitable carbon mitigation pathway for different types of countries.Developed countries and developing countries have drastically diverging views on carbon border adjustment measures for trade with developing countries proposed by several developed countries such as the European Union.Developed countries have demonstrated obvious intentions and actions designed to weaken and neglect the principle of“common but differentiated responsibilities”,to impose mitigation pressure on developing countries,to shift the responsibilities for emissions onto others,and to pass on the costs of mitigation.The maneuvering among different types of countries and interest groups has become increasingly intense.In response,China must maintain its strategic focus,adhere to the goals and principles established by the Paris Agreement,stick to its strategic positioning as a developing country,solidify strategic support from the developing world,and safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of developing countries.China played a conducive role in facilitating the Paris Agreement and has become an active participant,contributor,and leader in global climate governance.China must continue to follow Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and its conception of ecological civilization and the concept of building a community of common destiny,to actively lead the cooperation process in the construction of a global climate governance system characterized by equity,justice,and win-win collaborations,and to promote compliance with the Paris Agreement.At the same time,China should accelerate the green,low-carbon,circular transformation of its economy;accelerate the coordinated governance of the economy,environment,and climate change;and formulate and implement a long-term low-carbon development strategy.By the middle of the 21st century,while achieving the goal of building a great modern socialist country,China can also achieve a deep decarbonization development path that is in line with the goal of limiting the global temperature increase to well below 2°C and pursuing efforts to limit the increase to 1.5℃.

The gap report of global climate change mitigation, finance, and governance after the United States declared its withdrawal from the Paris Agreement

On 1 June 2017, the US President Donald Trump officially announced the withdrawal from the Paris Agreement, thus the study on the reasons of withdrawal, the potential impacts, and coping strategies has become a focus among policy circles and of the international community. Based on the self-developed US Policy Assessment Model, this paper systematically evaluates the three potential "major deficits" in terms of mitigation, climate finance, and global climate governance, as a result of the US withdrawal from the Paris Agreement and puts forward policy suggestions for coping with such transformations accordingly. The study shows that the United States 'withdrawal from the Paris Agreement will affect the existence and implementation of successive climate policies and result in an additional 8.8-13.4% increase in the global emissions reduction deficit.The United States' withdrawal will also deteriorate the existing climate finance mechanism. The Green Climate Fund(GCF)'s funding gap will increase by US$2 billion, while the gap of long-term climate finance will increase by about US$5 billion a year. Either the China-EU or the "BASIC plus" mechanism could fill the governance deficit caused by the United States and the lack of political momentum may continue for a while in the future.

Impacts, risks, and governance of climate engineering

Climate engineering is a potential alternative method to curb global warming, and this discipline has garnered considerable attention from the international scientific community including the Chinese scientists. This manuscript provides an overview of several aspects of climate engineering, including its definition, its potential impacts and risk, and its governance status. The overall conclusion is that China is not yet ready to implement climate engineering. However, it is important for China to continue conducting research on climate engineering, particularly with respect to its feasible application within China, its potential social, economic, and environmental impacts, and possible international governance structures and governing principles, with regard to both experimentation and implementation.

Addressing the trade-climate change-energy nexus: China's explorations in a global governance landscape

We have arrived at a critical juncture when it comes to understanding the numerous ways in which trade interacts with climate change and energy(trade-climate-energy nexus).Trade remains crucial for the sustainable development of the world's greatest trading nation:China.After clarifying the linkages within the trade,climate change and energy nexus,this article delves into China's specific needs and interests related to trade,climate change and energy.Then it explores the ways in which trade can contribute to China's needs,to sustainable energy development and to the goals of the global climate agreement that is under negotiation.One main findings are China is a key participant in negotiations on trade liberalization of environmental technologies and services.These negotiations are in China's interests in terms of innovative industries,technological upgrading,employment and public health.China could stand up for the interests of other emerging and developing countries and serve as an example in terms of transitioning to a low-carbon economy.Beyond trade barriers issues of domestic(energy)regulation such as fossil-fuel subsidies as well as investment,competition-policy,tradefacilitation and transit issues related to clean energy need to be addressed.Building trust between relevant actors across sectors and national borders will be of the essence in order to foster long-term cooperation on technological innovation.As a way forward,different approaches towards the governance of trade and climate change will be highlighted.Besides discussing the specific aspects of Chinese participation in global trade and climate change governance,this paper aims at offering broader insights into the nexus between trade,energy and climate governance in China.

Integrated Climate Change Risk Governance in China under the Background of Global Climate Governance

Climate change in the past one hundred years has brought important influence to the natural ecosystem and social-economic system of the world and China.The impact of future climate change is also long-term and huge,and many effects are negative or adverse.Therefore,from now on we must take measures adapting to climate change to overcome the adverse effects of climate change on social-economic-ecological system.In this paper,starting from the urgency of integrated climate change risk governance,the risk of natural disasters intensifying caused by climate change is briefly described,and engineering and non engineering measures of the integrated climate change risk governance in China's high risk region are proposed,as well as recommendations on integrated risk governance in the eastern,middle and western China.

Climate Governance Initiatives: Snapshots from Bangladesh

Bangladesh is often cited as one of the most vulnerable countries to the effects of climate change. The impacts of climate change are exacerbating the existing poverty and inequality challenges in Bangladesh. Adaption and mitigation to climate change are now unavoidable demands and considered as realistic actions to help the survival of humans. The objective of this paper is to explore the role of “governance” to promote mitigation of, and adaptation to human induced climate change. The study considers “governance” as a mechanism of the effective policy measures and implementation, responsible state and non-state institutions and the active civic participation in this process.

Analysis of gender equality in climate governance

Gender equality is a yardstick for measuring the progress of social civilization and an important goal for mankind to achieve sustainable development.The importance of women in the global governance of climate change is self-evident.During the global climate change governance,it is very crucial to focus on achieving gender equality.Under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change,which is the main channel of global climate change governance,the gender-specific climate change agenda started later than other topics and the progress is limited.This article summarized the progress,deficiencies and future directions of gender issues under the main channels of global climate governance,analyzed the current status of gender equality in Chinese climate response actions,and pointed out the progress and deficiencies of women in the fundamental scientific research and the participation in global governance and decision-making.Our research finds that in the current process of international climate change governance,gender issues have received adequate attention.While in China,despite the attention paid to gender issues,the practical action on gender equality is still out of the mainstream agenda.In the past few decades,Chinese women have made gratifying progress in basic scientific research on climate change and global climate governance,but there are still great insufficiencies in the field of decision-making.In the future,China needs to pay more attention to emphasize gender equality at the strategic level,and promote the formulation of policies and regulations in the field of gender and climate change.Increasing the proportion of women participating in decision-making and management in the field of climate change and disaster prevention and mitigation is also important.China also needs to focus on enabling a gender friendly environment and strengthening research on gender and climate change,support women's participation in relevant work,strengthen capacity-building,and enhance women's access to resources,funds,knowledge and information related to climate adaptation or mitigation.

Chinese science diplomacy in Arctic climate governance based on a survey and interviews with Chinese scientists

Science diplomacy is attracting increasing attention in the international relations literature.This study investigates how Chinese scientists understand this term and explores China’s dynamic praxis in Arctic climate governance.It conducts a theoretical and practical examination of science diplomacy in terms of three dimensions—science in diplomacy,diplomacy for science,and science for diplomacy—thus achieving a high degree of consistency.A multi-method approach,combining qualitative and quantitative research methodologies and involving the adoption of a literature review,participant interviews,and questionnaires,is adopted.Data were collected from interviews with 16 Chinese scientists involved in Arctic climate governance and from 130 valid questionnaires collected from Chinese natural scientists working in the climate change field.Drawing on qualitative and quantitative findings,the study reveals that the three-dimensional framework of science diplomacy can provide insight into Chinese scientists’understandings of the topic.In contrast to the participants’vague theoretical responses,the outlines of China’s Arctic climate governance can be clearly identified within this framework.The study concludes by underlining the tension between theory and practice in terms of science diplomacy and highlighting the emerging challenges for China in developing its Arctic science diplomacy against the background of the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia-Ukraine conflict.Moreover,it is suggested that,to further develop China’s Arctic science diplomacy,it is vital to take account of the deficiencies in China’s science diplomacy.The study’s empirical results contribute to an understanding of the dynamic nature of science diplomacy in the Chinese context.

The Belt and Road Initiative and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development:seeking linkages for global environmental governance

Global environmental cooperation serves as an important part in the Chinese ideal of building a Community with a Shared Future for all Human Beings. The report of 19 th CPC National Congress indicates that China is committed to proactive mitigation under the Paris Agreement and further participating in global environmental governance under the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and both of which are largely integrated to the Belt and Road Initiative(BRI). BRI are also closely linked with South-South environmental and climate cooperation proposed by China from previous UN summits. Based on shared ideas, intersected agendas, and compatible governance approaches, BRI and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development grow increasingly relevant and they might form synergies based on increasingly interactive relations. In sum,seeking and intensifying the linkages between BRI and 2030 sustainable development goals(SDGs) could address global environmental governance deficits and enhance cooperation among nations.

China's renewed perception of global environmental governance

China's idea of a community of a shared future for humanity(CSFH)has become the guiding principle and norm to be further embedded and integrated into the country's approach to environmental governance.Under the Paris Agreement and the UN Sustainable Development Goals,China strongly emphasizes the implementation of its national strategy to mitigate the global climate crisis,and construct international environmental institutions by advocating fair cooperation resulting in mutual gain.China's role as a responsible major country is expected to be more proactive in international process.In particular,the concept of CSFH exerts positive,far-reaching impacts on the greening of the Belt and Road Initiative and the construction of solid South-South relations.Based on the renewed perception,China shall undertake its responsibilities in the reform of the global environmental governance system by leading multilateralism to strengthen the capacity of relevant international institutions such as the UN.Driven by China's political will,this concept reflects China's more confident attitude toward global environmental governance.Most profoundly,mainstreaming the vision of CSFH will elevate China's role to a new level in the coming years in terms of norm creation in international environmental institutions.

Geopolitics of global climate change and energy security

Currently,the problem of climate change is already far beyond the category of scientific research,and it affects the economic operation mode,interests pattern,and geographical relationships and becomes the focus of global governance.During the transition period of the international economic and social development and the critical transformation period of the world geopolitical pattern reorganization,China's industrialization is still at the intermediate stage,and tackling with climate change is also China's internal demand under this development stage.With more influence of climate change on national competitiveness,climate change and geopolitics present complex multiple relations,and climate change in the era of geopolitical landscape gradually affected the national strategy and diplomacy.This article offered some relevant suggestions based on evaluating the new geopolitical characteristics of climate change:(1)weighing of interests and properly handling the complex relations among major powers during international climate negotiations;(2)strengthening risk judgments and actively cooperating with the United States and the European Union on energy and climate change;(3)relying on the"One Belt(Silk Road Economic Belt)and One Road(twenty-first century Maritime Silk Road)"to ensure China's energy security and actively participating in the global energy governance;(4)strengthening the"south-south cooperation"mechanism innovation and increasing the investment.

Econometric analysis of the impacts of climate change on the livestock production in Qinghai Province

This study aims to investigate the effect of the impact mechanism of climate change on the livestock production at small watershed level and county level with the Multi-level Model(MLM)in Qinghai Province.The result indicated that the gross livestock output value was greatly influenced by the climatic factors of the small watershed level.Higher temperature promoted also by the increase of precipitation,relative humidity and sunshine duration was found to be beneficial to the development of livestock production,except in some areas where temperature rise restrained the development of local livestock production to some degree when exceeding a certain level;besides,the impact of the socioeconomic factors on the livestock output value is obvious at the county level.The gross economic output measured with GDP has some inhibitory effects on the reinvestment of livestock production,while population growth promotes development of livestock production to some degree.The results not only provide scientific basis for the management of livestock production in Qinghai Province,but also provide reference for formulating the policies and adaptation measures targeted at climate change to promote the sustainable development of livestock production in other regions.

Resilience Building and Collaborative Governance for Climate Change Adaptation in Response to a New State of More Frequent and Intense Extreme Weather Events

The weather conditions of the summer of 2022 were very unusual,particularly in Eastern Asia,Europe,and North America.The devasting impact of climate change has come to our attention,with much hotter and drier conditions,and with more frequent and intense flooding events.Some extreme events have reached a dangerous level,increasingly threatening human lives.The interconnected risks caused by these extreme disaster events are triggering a chain effect,forcing us to respond to these crises through changes in our living environment,which affect the atmosphere,the biosphere,the economy including the availability of energy,our cities,and our global society.Moreover,we have to confront the abnormal consequences of untypical,rapid changes of extreme events and fast switches between extreme states,such as from severe drought to devastating flooding.Recognizing this new situation,it is crucial to improve the adaptation capacity of our societies in order to reduce the risks associated with climate change,and to develop smarter strategies for climate governance.High-quality development must be science-based,balanced,safe,sustainable,and climate-resilient,supported by the collaborative governance of climate mitigation and adaptation.This article provides some recommendations and suggestions for resilience building and collaborative governance with respect to climate adaptation in response to a new planetary state that is characterized by more frequent and severe extreme weather events.

Toward Paris:China and climate change negotiations

This article explains the challenges and evolution of climate change governance by linking governance and diplomacy. The challenges of climate change involve not only international competition for new energy but also related adjustments of global governance in this area. To be specific, the carbon emission reductions are still problematic, and negotiations surrounding financing mechanisms between developed and developing countries hang in doubt. Furthermore, the attitude of the two sides toward CBDRs(common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capacities) and INDCs(intended nationally determined contributions) is disparate. Finally, this article outlines some diplomatic policies for China's future developmental trend.

BRICS Climate Cooperation in the Post-Paris Agreement Era

As representatives of emerging economies,BRICS countries are increasingly prominent in global governance.The rapid economic development of BRICS countries is accompanied by a significant increase in greenhouse gas(GHG)emissions,and BRICS countries are paying increasing attention to climate change issues and actively participating in the construction of the international climate regime.The Paris Agreement was a historic breakthrough in international climate negotiations,and since then BRICS countries have strengthened multilateral and bilateral cooperation in energy efficiency,agricultural emission reduction and climate governance financing.Due to the constraints of technology,cooperation mechanism construction,financing,and other objective conditions,BRICS countries still face some challenges to further advance the global climate governance agenda with their group power in the short term.Whether BRICS countries can further advance the global climate governance agenda as a group in the post-Paris Agreement era depends on whether they can improve energy efficiency and optimize their energy mix,and whether they can deepen cooperation in agricultural emission reduction and climate finance.BRICS countries need to continue to promote clean energy development and low-carbon economic transformation,deepen the potential of climate cooperation in agricultural emission reduction,and give full play to the climate financing role of the New Development Bank,so as to further enhance the level of climate cooperation.At the same time,BRICS countries can widely involve developing countries in climate governance cooperation and strengthen dialogue and exchanges with other countries,so as to promote global climate governance in the post-Paris Agreement era.