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INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF LATEST TECHNOLOGY IN ENGINEERING,
MANAGEMENT & APPLIED SCIENCE (IJLTEMAS)
ISSN 2278-2540 | DOI: 10.51583/IJLTEMAS | Volume XV, Issue II, February 2026
(Mearsheimer, 2001). From this standpoint, climate commitments are constrained by national interest
calculations, energy security concerns, and economic competitiveness. Recent geopolitical analyses extend this
argument by suggesting that decarbonization itself is becoming a domain of great-power rivalry, particularly in
relation to renewable energy technologies, battery storage systems, and rare earth mineral supply chains
(Blackwill & Harris, 2016).
Constructivist scholarship offers a different lens, emphasizing the role of norms, identity, and discourse in
shaping climate diplomacy. Research demonstrates how climate change has evolved into a global normative
framework influencing state behavior and foreign policy rhetoric (Finnemore & Sikkink, 1998). The emergence
of concepts such as “climate justice,” “common but differentiated responsibilities,” and “net-zero commitments”
reflects the social construction of responsibility and legitimacy within global governance institutions. Norm
entrepreneurship by vulnerable states and transnational advocacy networks has been particularly significant in
advancing adaptation and loss-and-damage debates (Keck & Sikkink, 1998).
In parallel, the literature on climate security has expanded rapidly over the past two decades. Scholars have
examined the links between environmental degradation, resource scarcity, and conflict dynamics (Homer-Dixon,
1999). While early research posited a direct correlation between climate stress and violent conflict, more recent
empirical studies adopt a nuanced approach, highlighting indirect pathways mediated by governance capacity,
socioeconomic vulnerability, and institutional resilience (Barnett & Adger, 2007). The securitization of climate
change has also been analyzed as a political process through which environmental issues are framed as existential
threats, thereby legitimizing extraordinary policy measures (Buzan, Wæver, & de Wilde, 1998).
Another significant body of work is climate change within the international political economy (IPE). Scholars
argue that the global energy transition represents a structural transformation comparable to previous industrial
revolutions (Newell & Paterson, 2010). Green industrial policy, state subsidies, and technological innovation are
increasingly viewed as instruments of geoeconomic strategy. Meckling and Nahm (2019) contend that domestic
clean energy industries can reshape international bargaining positions by creating vested interests in ambitious
climate policies. Similarly, research on carbon border adjustment mechanisms illustrates how climate governance
intersects with trade policy and global market regulation (Bacchus, 2021).
The geopolitics of critical minerals has emerged as a central theme in recent scholarship. As renewable energy
systems depend heavily on lithium, cobalt, nickel, and rare earth elements, supply chain control has become
strategically significant (Overland, 2019). Studies suggest that while renewable energy may reduce traditional
hydrocarbon geopolitics, it simultaneously introduces new dependencies and resource competitions. This
evolving resource landscape has prompted debates over whether the green transition will mitigate or reproduce
existing patterns of geopolitical rivalry.
Climate finance constitutes another prominent research area. The literature highlights persistent North–South
tensions over historical responsibility, adaptation funding, and technology transfer (Roberts & Parks, 2007).
Developing countries emphasize equity and distributive justice, arguing that industrialized nations bear
disproportionate responsibility for cumulative emissions. The politics of loss-and-damage compensation further
underscores the moral and legal complexities of global climate governance (Calliari et al., 2020). Despite
institutional progress, financing gaps remain substantial, raising concerns about implementation deficits and
uneven transition pathways.
Technological innovation plays a critical bridging role between environmental governance and geopolitical
competition. Studies in innovation policy and sustainability transitions emphasize the importance of state-led
investment, research and development (R&D), and regulatory frameworks in accelerating decarbonization
(Geels, 2011). The concept of “green growth” has gained prominence as governments seek to align climate
mitigation with economic expansion. However, critics caution against techno-optimism, arguing that structural
inequalities and political constraints may limit the transformative potential of technological solutions (Scoones
et al., 2015).
While the literature provides substantial insights into climate governance, security, and political economy, gaps
remain in integrating these strands into a unified analytical framework. Much of the existing research either