International Climate Policy and Politics

How do geopolitics, populism, and global power relations influence international climate politics? Our researchers analyse these interdependencies and examine how countries of the Global South can promote sustainable development to engender fairer and more effective climate policy worldwide. 

International Climate Policy and Politics

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    Current Research

    Countries and Regions


    • Negotiations and stakeholder dialogue, conflict management
    • Transformation to sustainability, governance of sustainability transitions
    • Care and human flourishing
    • Knowledge cooperation, knowledge/science diplomacy
    • Scenario-building and futures scenarios
    • Sustainable energy, Urban mobility, Food security
    • Climate change, climate governance, environmental and climate justice
    • Asia and Pacific: Philippines, Indonesia, India, Japan
    • Latin America and the Caribbean: Mexico, Brazil, Jamaica
    • Southern Africa: South Africa

    Research Project | 01/01/2026 - 31/12/2032

    Co-Creating Narrative-Based Near-Term Climate Predictions to Prepare for Volatile Future Climates (part of Excellence Cluster CLICCS / Phase II)

    The Cluster of Excellence “Climate, Climatic Change, and Society” (CLICCS), based at Universität Hamburg, is guided by the overarching question: "Which climate futures are possible and which are plausible?" This GIGA co-led project in the cluster's second phase aims to enhance the use of near-term climate predictions through the use of narratives, where effective narratives are not only founded in climate dynamics, but - through an iterative process - co-created with societal actors.
    DFG, Excellence Strategy, 2026-2032

    Research Project | 01/01/2026 - 31/12/2032

    Renewables and Carbon Offsets in the Global South: Impacts and Social Conflict (part of Excellence Cluster CLICCS / Phase II)

    The Cluster of Excellence “Climate, Climatic Change, and Society” (CLICCS), based at Universität Hamburg, is guided by the overarching question: "Which climate futures are possible and which are plausible?" This GIGA co-led project in the cluster's second phase investigates the socioeconomic and distributional impacts of renewable energy expansion and land-based carbon offsets in the Global South. It also scrutinises how these impacts lead to new or reinforce existing social conflicts.
    DFG, Excellence Strategy, 2026-2032

    Research Project | 01/04/2024 - 31/03/2027

    Leibniz Lab Systemic Sustainability

    The rapid loss of biodiversity and ongoing climate change are also the result of intensive agriculture. At the same time, they jeopardize agriculture and food security. The Leibniz Lab "Systemic Sustainability" brings together relevant knowledge in science and society on this fundamental challenge in order to promote the development and implementation of systemic solutions.
    Leibniz Association, 2024-2027

    Dr. Anette Ruml

    Former GIGA Team member


    Nature Climate Change | 10/2025

    Critical Intervention Points for European Adaptation to Cascading Climate Change Impacts

    A new study maps cascading climate risks to the European Union using stakeholder-driven impact chains and network analysis. It offers country-specific profiles and highlights key intervention areas—like water, livelihoods or violent conflict—to guide coherent, targeted adaptation policies.

    Environment and Development Economics | 09/2025

    The Poverty and Distributional Impacts of Carbon Pricing on Households: Evidence from Ghana, Nigeria and Uganda

    How do carbon taxes affect African households? Evidence from Ghana, Nigeria and Uganda reveals that domestic carbon pricing is progressive overall, yet low-income households remain vulnerable—unless compensated. Our findings highlight how targeted transfers can offset welfare losses and even reduce poverty.

    GIGA Focus Africa | 3/2025

    Global Carbon Markets and Rural Development in Madagascar

    Carbon offset projects promise to benefit both climate mitigation and rural communities in the Global South. Evidence from Madagascar, however, showcases that three key constraints pose a challenge to the development potential of nature-based offsets in the voluntary carbon market.

    Dr. Quentin Grislain

    Center for International Cooperation in Agricultural Research for Development / National Center for Applied Research in Rural Development

    Chapter in Edited Volume | 02/2025

    When Energy Transition Does Not Meet Energy Poverty Mitigation: The Case of Ceará State in Brazil

    Energy transitions should prioritize justice, ensuring universal and reliable energy access at an affordable price for lower-income groups. Our analysis focuses on the significant expansion of wind and photovoltaic energy in Brazil’s northeastern state of Ceará from 2012 to 2022.

    Cooperation Event | 27/02/2025

    From Promise to Practice: Assessing Global Carbon Markets

    The Digital Development Dialogue (3D) seminar explores the gap between the promises and realities of global carbon markets focusing in particular on REDD+ (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation) projects within the voluntary carbon market. While nature-based solutions, particularly conservation projects under REDD+, constitute a significant share of carbon credits, their effectiveness and social impact have been widely debated.

    University of Hamburg (UHH) | 19/01/2026

    Ölreichtumund Wasserknappheit: Ernährungssicherheit und Agrarpolitik in den Golfstaaten

    Organiser: University of Hamburg (UHH) Prof. Dr. Eckart Woertz (Speaker)

    Vortrag im Rahmen der Vortragsreihe "Die Arabische Halbinsel: Aktuelle Forschungsperspektiven" des Asien-Afrika Institutes der Universität Hamburg, organisiert durch Prof. Nora Derbal

    Conference | 02/12/2024

    Energy transitions and cooperation potential between Europe and the MENA region

    Social Impacts of Climate Change in Iraq, American University of Iraq, Baghdad Organisers: German Institute for Global and Area Studies (GIGA), GIGA Institute for Middle East Studies, American University of Iraq - Baghdad Prof. Dr. Eckart Woertz (Speaker)

    Prof. Dr. Eckart Woertz discussed climate change’s impact on food security in Iraq, highlighting a striking consensus: political crisis and poor governance were seen as the most critical threats to food security, even more so than water scarcity and climate Change.

    President (ad interim)

    Prof. Dr. Sabine Kurtenbach is President (ad interim) of the GIGA.

    Prof. Dr. Sabine Kurtenbach

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    Africa|Asia|Latin America|Middle East

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