The evolving role of global climate agreements | Pete Betts memorial lecture
Speaker
Chair
Global climate agreements have successfully created a near-universal framework for cooperation, but they have not yet delivered emissions reductions at the scale and speed required to avoid the most dangerous impacts of climate change. A new phase of climate diplomacy is needed, and is likely to depend on a combination of strong multilateral institutions and complementary coalitions that can accelerate implementation, mobilize investment, and raise ambition.
This year's Pete Betts Memorial Lecture reflects on the evolution of the international climate regime from the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change through the Kyoto Protocol and Paris Agreement to the latest outcomes of COP28 and COP30, examining how climate diplomacy has adapted to changing political realities, economic opportunities, and scientific imperatives. While the Paris Agreement achieved near-universal participation and helped embed climate action into national policy frameworks, and while technological advances such as low-cost renewable energy and rapid growth in electric vehicles offer grounds for optimism, global emissions continue to rise and current commitments remain insufficient to achieve agreed temperature goals.
The lecture explores whether smaller, focused "coalitions of the willing" on issues such as methane, forests, cities, finance, and fossil-fuel transitions can complement the UN process. It argues that the most effective path forward is a pragmatic combination: maintaining the UN climate regime at the centre of international cooperation while building practical partnerships that can drive implementation, accountability, and accelerated action during this decisive decade for climate change.
Meet our speaker and chair
In this lecture, Jonathan Pershing, the Inaugural Dean of the LSE Global School of Sustainability, will share his memories of Peter Betts from many interactions over international climate policy. Professor Pershing has extensive experience at the highest level of US climate policy and has played a key role in creating international climate agreements. He has held significant positions in the US Department of State — including as the US Special Envoy for Climate Change — and at the US Department of Energy, as well as leadership roles in the World Resources Institute and the International Energy Agency.
Chairing this event is Professor Lord Stern of Brentford. Lord Stern is also Chair of of the Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment, and Chair of the LSE Global School of Sustainability.
More about this event
The Grantham Research Institute on Climate Change and the Environment was established by LSE in 2008 to create a world-leading multidisciplinary centre for policy-relevant research and training on climate change and the environment, bringing together international expertise from across LSE and beyond, including on economics, finance, geography, the environment, science, law, international relations, development and political science.
The Global School of Sustainability at LSE (GSoS) is the interdisciplinary centre for sustainability research impact at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). GSoS works in partnerships to advance pioneering sustainability research, global policy engagement and world-leading educational opportunities. Grounded in LSE’s interdisciplinary excellence across the social sciences, GSoS’s global networks target the systemic challenges to sustainability embedded in the world’s economies, politics and societies.
Any questions?
Contact us at Gsos@lse.ac.uk
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