CLIMATE CHANGE AND GLOBAL POWER SHIFTS: HOW VULNERABLE COUNTRIES ARE CHANGING INTERNATIONAL POLITICS

Abstract

Climate change is an environmental issue and a transformative force in international politics. This study explores how the increasing vulnerability of certain countries to climate-related threats is reshaping global power structures. The research aims to investigate how climate-vulnerable nations, particularly in the Global South, influence international decision-making, diplomacy, and global governance by leveraging their shared vulnerability as a political tool. A qualitative research methodology was adopted, using content analysis of international climate negotiations, official policy documents, and expert interviews. The study also examined case studies of small island developing states and climate-vulnerable alliances, such as the Climate Vulnerable Forum (CVF), to understand their strategies and growing influence on global platforms like the United Nations and COP conferences. The findings suggest that vulnerable countries are successfully redefining their roles from passive recipients of aid to active agents of change, pressing for climate justice, equity in emission responsibilities, and increased climate financing. These shifts are gradually altering traditional power dynamics, encouraging more inclusive and participatory global governance. The study recommends strengthening the collective voice of vulnerable nations through regional and international coalitions, promoting capacity-building for climate diplomacy, and integrating climate vulnerability indices into global decision-making frameworks to ensure fair representation and policy outcomes.