Collaborative Method for Discussing Climate Change Mitigation Strategies

Collaborative Method for Discussing Climate Change Mitigation Strategies

Christiana Figueres, the former Executive Secretary of the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and one of the architects of the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement, has shared key insights into her approach to collective leadership and momentum building. These insights, presented in a series of actions over several years, culminated in the historic agreement.

Figueres forged a new form of diplomacy by bringing together a wide range of actors—including national and subnational governments, corporations, activists, financial institutions, faith communities, think tanks, technology providers, NGOs, and parliamentarians—to jointly work toward a universally agreed climate framework. This inclusiveness was crucial in building broad-based momentum and trust among diverse stakeholders.

Rather than relying solely on scientific arguments, Figueres emphasized appealing to people's immediate benefits and responsibilities. She advocated for helping parties see how climate action can bring tangible benefits, such as reducing electric bills, improving public health, or enhancing urban transport, regardless of whether they start from accepting climate science. This "beyond climate science" approach helped motivate actionable commitments based on shared interests and values.

Following the failed 2009 Copenhagen conference, Figueres led successive UN climate conferences (Cancun 2010, Durban 2011, Doha 2012, Warsaw 2013, Lima 2014) to progressively build trust, establish frameworks, and prepare the ground for the historical breakthrough in Paris 2015. This steady process reinforced collective confidence and allowed ambitious diplomacy.

Figueres took a facilitative, integrative role to coordinate multiple parties rather than imposing top-down mandates. She encouraged ownership across actors and recognized the importance of shared responsibility for future generations, framing leadership as "leading from within"—an approach that nurtures collective momentum by inspiring intrinsic motivation and legacy-building.

In sum, Figueres’ key leadership insights are her emphasis on inclusive, multistakeholder collaboration, an approach driven by pragmatic benefits and shared legacy responsibility, and a careful, trust-building process that culminated in the legally binding and globally embraced Paris Agreement.

Recently, the Program on Negotiation (PON) presented its Great Negotiator Award to Christiana Figueres on April 14, 2022, recognising her unique approach to global agreement through collective leadership and momentum building. For students of negotiation, Figueres' approach offers valuable lessons. The Teaching Negotiation Resource Center (TNRC) provides materials to help students learn from her approach, including videos, books, case studies, and periodicals. These resources are designed for educational purposes, including for mediators, facilitators, and individuals seeking to enhance their negotiation skills. They are used in college and corporate settings and offer a wide range of effective teaching materials, including case studies and teaching videos on topics such as contract negotiation, identity and values-based disputes, international business acquisitions, critical leadership skills, and negotiating lease agreements for military bases.

The TNRC offers more than 30 videos on negotiation and conflict management, critical case studies for negotiation education, and over 250 negotiation exercises and role-play simulations. These exercises introduce participants to new negotiation and dispute resolution tools, techniques, and strategies. Operation Groundswell, a small team of strategic influencers working behind the scenes, played a significant role in building support for an ambitious outcome.

In a public interview as part of the award ceremony events, Figueres discussed her unique approach to collective leadership and momentum-building. She emphasised the importance of collective leadership, stating that it involves many voices working together and understanding that it doesn't mean individual irresponsibility.

Figueres personally underwent a transformation to let go of her identity as a Costa Rican diplomat and approach negotiations from a global perspective. Her leadership insights offer a valuable blueprint for navigating complex, global challenges, demonstrating that inclusive, collaborative diplomacy can drive meaningful progress towards a more sustainable future.

1. Christiana Figueres' leadership approach, recognized with the Great Negotiator Award by the Program on Negotiation (PON), emphasizes collective leadership and momentum building.
2. Figueres' approach to collective leadership involves many voices working together to address global challenges, without promoting individual irresponsibility.
3. She has demonstrated this approach's effectiveness in the context of climate-change negotiations, facilitating the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement.
4. Figueres' strategy includes an inclusiveness that spans various business sectors, including corporations and financial institutions, while maintaining a strong connection with scientific research in environmental-science.
5. Education and self-development resources, such as videos, books, case studies, and periodicals from the Teaching Negotiation Resource Center (TNRC), can help individuals learn from Figueres' approach.
6. The TNRC materials, designed for use in college and corporate settings, address various negotiation topics, like contract negotiation, leadership skills, and disputes in international business.
7. Figueres' leadership insights can serve as a valuable blueprint for managing complex, global issues, offering a pathway to more sustainable outcomes through collaborative diplomacy.

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