The Role of Diplomacy in Preventing Climate Conflicts

Abstract

Climate change has become a priority threat multiplier, which increases existing vulnerabilities and creates new conflict opportunities in the twenty-first century. The current research examines how diplomatic strategies can play the role of reducing the climate-based conflicts by using a systematic literature review that is performed following PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items to Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) recommendations. The study reviewed peer-reviewed articles, institutional reports, and policy documents that were published in 2020-2026 and were found in Google Scholar, PubMed, and institutional repositories. Out of the original identification of 847 records, 23 studies that met the strict inclusion criteria were included in the final synthesis after being screened and evaluated in a systematic manner. The study aims to trace how the framework of climate diplomacy has evolved, how effective the international institutions have been in dealing with the climate-security nexus, and what challenges and opportunities exist in dealing with the issue of the climate-security nexus through diplomatic intervention. The evidence suggests that climate diplomacy is no longer a peripheral issue, but it is becoming central to the concept of security, and that the international organizations are increasingly incorporating climate aspects into their peacebuilding and conflict-prevention policy. Some of the important diplomatic vehicles are the multilateral forums like the United Nations Security Council, regional organizations like the European Union and ASEAN, and specialized groups like the Arctic Council. This research contributes to the existing knowledge about the role of diplomatic instruments in strategic use to become the conflict prevention tool and the tool of sustainable peace during the time of rapid environmental change.