Climate Diplomacy in the Danish Foreign Policy Strategy: A Study of Danish Climate Diplomacy to Champion Human Rights in Saudi Arabia
Author
Karlsson, Lasse Hjermitslev
Term
4. term
Publication year
2022
Submitted on
2022-05-31
Pages
70
Abstract
This thesis examines why climate diplomacy is used by Denmark as a means to build on its role as a champion of human rights when operating in Saudi Arabia, a state widely criticized for human rights violations. Drawing on the Danish foreign policy climate strategy A Green and Sustainable World and related policy documents, it conducts a deductive, qualitative case study using discourse and policy analysis (the WPR approach) and the international relations theory of neoliberal institutionalism. The analysis finds that the strategy emphasizes trade, economic diplomacy, green exports, and nation branding; problematizes insufficient compliance with the Paris Agreement among major emitters, developing states, and emerging economies; and securitizes climate change by linking it to security. It promotes Danish soft power through a green leadership narrative and highlights development dimensions where sustainable development aligned with the SDGs can create synergies with human rights—yet it does not explain explicitly how climate diplomacy will champion rights. Using neoliberalism, the thesis argues that the EU’s growing, rules-based trade and partnership efforts with the Gulf Cooperation Council expand channels of dialogue beyond commerce to include human rights and regional responsibility. Through EU membership, Denmark can leverage climate diplomacy and increased cooperation to influence Saudi Arabia, for example by pressing for an end to bombing campaigns in Yemen and supporting a green transition. Overall, the thesis concludes that climate diplomacy can link climate and human rights agendas via trade, institutional agreements, and dialogue, although the direct mechanisms are only indirectly articulated in the strategy.
Dette speciale undersøger, hvorfor klimadiplomati bruges som et middel for Danmark til at bygge videre på rollen som forkæmper for menneskerettigheder, når landet opererer i Saudi-Arabien, der er kendt for alvorlige krænkelser. Med udgangspunkt i den danske udenrigspolitiske klimastrategi A Green and Sustainable World og relaterede politiske dokumenter gennemfører specialet et deduktivt, kvalitativt casestudie med diskurs- og policyanalyse (WPR-tilgangen) samt international politisk teori om neoliberal institutionalisme. Analysen viser, at strategien prioriterer handel, økonomisk diplomati, grøn eksport og nation branding, problematiserer den utilstrækkelige efterlevelse af Parisaftalen blandt store udledere, udviklingslande og vækstøkonomier, og securitiserer klimaforandringer ved at koble klima til sikkerhed. Strategien dyrker en dansk soft power-fortælling om grønt lederskab og peger på udviklingsdimensioner, hvor bæredygtig udvikling efter FN’s verdensmål kan skabe synergi med menneskerettigheder – men uden at forklare eksplicit, hvordan klimadiplomati skal fremme rettigheder. Via neoliberalisme argumenterer specialet for, at EU’s voksende handels- og partnerskabsindsats med Golf-samarbejdet i en reglerbaseret ramme udvider dialogkanalerne til også at omfatte menneskerettigheder og regionalt ansvar. Herigennem kan Danmark, som EU-medlem, bruge klimadiplomati og øget samarbejde til at påvirke Saudi-Arabien, for eksempel ved at presse på for at standse bombekampagnerne i Yemen og understøtte en grøn omstilling. Samlet peger specialet på, at klimadiplomati kan fungere som middel til at koble klima- og menneskerettighedsdagsordener gennem handel, institutionelle aftaler og dialog, om end mekanismerne kun indirekte fremgår af strategien.
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