Climate Diplomacy Amidst Shrinking Multilateralism

A session of The Global Awareness Programme (GAP) | Hosted by Gift.ed

On April 10, 2026, Surge Africa, in partnership with Gift.ed, hosted a session under its Global Awareness Program on climate diplomacy amidst shrinking multilateralism. The session, led by Nasreen Al-Amin, Director of Surge Africa, focused on how global climate action is evolving as cooperation between countries becomes less predictable.

The discussion began by situating climate diplomacy within the context of major global agreements such as the Paris Agreement and the Kyoto Protocol, which have historically guided coordinated international action. These frameworks reflected a period where climate, land, and biodiversity were addressed through structured multilateral cooperation. However, participants were prompted to reflect on what the current moment illustrates, and both the presentation and discussion pointed to clear shifts in how climate diplomacy is now taking place.

The session highlighted that climate action is increasingly moving beyond large multilateral systems. There is a growing presence of smaller, interest-based groupings, more blended approaches involving both governments and non-state actors, and a stronger role for finance and technology in shaping negotiations and outcomes. These shifts suggest that climate diplomacy is becoming more flexible, but also more complex.

To ground the discussion, practical examples were shared, including the U.S. withdrawal from the Paris Agreement, Nigeria’s fuel subsidy changes, and South Africa’s Just Energy Transition Partnership challenges. These cases illustrated how national priorities, economic pressures, and the conditions attached to climate finance can influence decisions and, in some cases, disrupt coordinated global efforts. Across these examples, a consistent pattern emerged: climate action is often shaped by domestic realities as much as by international commitments.

Participant poll responses reinforced these observations. Many described the current state of climate diplomacy as fragmented, uncertain, and evolving. When asked about what will drive future climate action, responses pointed to a combination of political will, finance, innovation, and trust. There was also strong agreement that non-state actors, including civil society and youth groups, are playing an important role in sustaining climate efforts.

The session concluded by encouraging participants to think about how climate action can continue in this changing landscape. This included exploring regional cooperation, engaging new spaces beyond traditional negotiations, and making more strategic use of finance and technology. Overall, the discussion showed that while global coordination is shifting, climate action is continuing through a wider range of actors and approaches.