Global climate governance in the new era: Potential of business actors and technological innovation

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change(UNFCCC) has established a climate governance mechanism with intergovernmental negotiations among sovereign states as the core. After nearly 30 years,progress in combating climate change has remained very modest compared with the numerous challenges raised.The global climate governance has entered a new era, such that incorporating other factors into the governance process is timely. Therefore, the study emphasizes technological innovation and business actors in climate governance after the Paris Agreement. Technological innovation can provide effective solutions for combating climate change and has been a crucial driving force in climate governance’s evolution. Business actors are significant because they are actual implementers of technological innovation and can apply different types of power and influence on climate governance processes at various levels. In summary, business actors, as well as technological innovation in line with governments and the UNFCCC governance frameworks, create a new potential for climate governance in the new era.