The Adaptation and Development of Multilateralism from the Perspective of the Paris Agreement
Year: 2025
Type: article
Abstract: The Paris Agreement, as the core framework of global climate governance in the 21st century, has not only reshaped international cooperation models but also become a typical case for studying the adaptability and developmental pathways of contemporary multilateralism. By analyzing the institutional design, implementation effects, and future trends of the Agreement, this paper reveals the innovations and limitations of multilateralism in addressing global challenges. The findings indicate that: first, the Agreement has constructed a new cooperative model combining inclusivity and flexibility through the “Nationally Determined Contributions” (NDCs) mechanism and transparency framework, covering 97% of global carbon emissions; second, its practice has exposed structural contradictions such as insufficient enforcement of voluntary commitments, interference from major power politics, and the North-South fairness deficit; third, future multilateralism must achieve institutional innovation through differentiated cooperation in “climate clubs”, digital technology empowerment, and nested multi-level governance. This paper argues that the Paris Agreement reflects both the transformation of multilateralism from “rigid rules” to “flexible governance” and the adaptive dilemmas of the global governance system under the constraints of sovereign states. Its experience provides critical insights for the international community in addressing climate change and other transnational challenges: effective multilateral cooperation requires balancing national autonomy with collective action capacity while continuously promoting the synergistic development of technological empowerment and institutional innovation.
Author: Beijia Qiao
Institution: Tongji University
Language: English
Subfield: Management, Monitoring, Policy and Law
Field: Environmental Science
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: hybrid
OpenAlex ID: W4410619586