Role in Changing: An Empirical Analysis of the European Union's Leadership Role in International Climate Change Negotiations under UNFCCC

Abstract: Since the 1990s considerable attention has been paid to the European Union and the role it played in international multilateral negotiations. Recognizing that the EU played a leadership role in international climate change negotiations under the UNFCCC since the beginning, this thesis set out to investigate the changes of the EU’s leadership role based on the role and leadership theories. With a particular attention on the current changes of the EU’s leadership role, this thesis further shed light on the effectiveness of the EU’s leadership role in the climate change negotiations. After a longitudinal study of the EU’s leadership role in the climate change negotiations, the author argues that the EU’s leadership role conception did not change much, however, its role performance and recognition has been fluctuating, which lead to a recent fragmented leadership landscape. Through comparing two cases (COP 15 and COP 17), the author further argues that if the EU wants to maintain as an effective leader in the following climate negotiations, it should cooperate with other recognized leaders (the US and China) and invest more sources in instrumental leadership to gain support from developing countries.