CLIMATE CHANGE AS AN INSTRUMENT OF INTERNATIONAL POLITICS. THE KYOTO PROTOCOL AND THE PARIS AGREEMENT: SIMILARITIES AND DIFFERENCES
Keywords:
climate change, international politics, Kyoto Protocol, Paris Agreement, global governance, emissions, diplomacy, international cooperation, sustainability.Abstract
This paper explores the evolution of international climate policy and its transformation into a key instrument of global governance and diplomacy. Climate change has moved beyond an environmental challenge it has become a strategic domain of international politics where states negotiate, cooperate, and compete for influence. The study analyzes the historical development and mechanisms of the Kyoto Protocol (1997) and the Paris Agreement (2015) as the two central pillars of global climate regulation. By comparing their objectives, structures, and enforcement systems, the paper reveals both their similarities and fundamental differences. While the Kyoto Protocol represented a top-down legally binding framework focused on emission reductions by developed nations, the Paris Agreement introduced a bottom-up, universal model emphasizing voluntary national commitments, flexibility, and inclusiveness. The analysis concludes that climate governance has shifted from a regime of control to one of collaboration, reflecting broader trends in international relations, economic globalization, and environmental diplomacy.
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