Interlink of Geopolitics of Climate Change and Biodiversity Protection
Kumari Nisha Rani *
P.G. Department of Geography, B.D. College, Patliputra University, Patna, India.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Climate change and biodiversity loss represent two of the most formidable environmental challenges confronting the international community in the twenty-first century. These crises are not discrete phenomena; rather, they are deeply intertwined through complex ecological, political, and socio-economic dynamics that span national boundaries and demand coordinated global responses. This review article examines the geopolitical dimensions of climate change and biodiversity protection, with particular emphasis on the manner in which international power relations, multilateral governance frameworks, and national interests shape the effectiveness of conservation and emissions-reduction efforts. Drawing upon a broad corpus of peer-reviewed literature and authoritative institutional reports published predominantly between 2007 and 2026, the article explores how the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) assessments, the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the Paris Agreement, and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework interact with one another within the arena of global environmental diplomacy. Special attention is given to the asymmetric vulnerabilities experienced by developing nations, the tensions between economic development imperatives and ecological protection, the role of non-state actors, and the emerging nexus between climate security and biodiversity. The review further interrogates how land-use change, deforestation, ocean governance, and the politics of carbon markets simultaneously serve as sites of geopolitical contestation and potential cooperation. The article concludes that durable progress in both climate stabilisation and biodiversity conservation requires institutionalised interlinkages between governance frameworks, equitable burden-sharing mechanisms, and a reconfiguration of international political will that transcends historical North-South divides. The findings carry significant implications for the design of future international environmental agreements and the integration of biodiversity into climate finance architectures.
Keywords: Climate change, biodiversity loss, geopolitics, environmental governance, Paris Agreement, convention on biological diversity, Kunming-Montreal framework, ecosystem services, international relations, sustainable development