The Role of China in Shaping Global Climate Governance Mechanisms: Evolution of Diplomatic Strategies

The subject of this study is an institutionally oriented analysis of the evolution of the climate diplomacy of the People’s Republic of China in the context of the transformation of global climate governance and contemporary international relations. The object of the study is the climate policy of China as a strategic component of its foreign policy and a tool for enhancing international influence. The aim of the research is to identify the specific mechanisms employed by China to adapt to global environmental challenges and the strategies it uses to shape a new architecture of global climate governance. The study examines the stages of China’s transition from limited participation in climate negotiations to institutional leadership. It analyzes China's foreign policy approaches, including the promotion of the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities, engagement in multilateral frameworks, and the development of partnerships with Global South countries amid intensifying geopolitical competition. The methodological framework combines institutional and comparative-historical approaches along with qualitative analysis of UN regulatory documents, international agreements, China’s official policy acts, and relevant expert sources. The scientific novelty of the study lies in its comprehensive assessment of the institutional evolution of China’s climate diplomacy as an independent direction of foreign policy in the 21st century. For the first time, key stages of the development of China’s diplomatic practice are systematized, mechanisms for shaping negotiation strategies, adapting to international norms, building coalitions, and promoting climate initiatives are analyzed in detail. The study demonstrates how China has shifted from a passive participant to an active norm-shaping actor and one of the leading architects of the international climate system. The findings contribute to a better understanding of China's growing role in shaping a fair, balanced, and multilateral model of global climate governance, where national interests are effectively integrated with global responsibilities.

climate diplomacy, global governance, China, Paris Agreement, international negotiations, environmental security, responsibility principle, South-South cooperation, energy transition, foreign policy