On the contested compliance of CBDRRC and the erosion of trust

Trust is necessary to ensure international cooperation between nation-states who negotiate responses to address the causes and effects of climate change. There is reason to believe that an erosion of trust has been happening since the Paris Agreement negotiations. Yet, it is unclear if and how trust started to erode. Interviews with twenty-two climate negotiators indicate that a contested compliance with CBDRRC is resulting in an erosion of trust in line with issues of reliance, unfulfilled responsibility, lack of reciprocity, and absence of recognition. Such issues include a perceived lack of compliance with the provisions of finance and other forms of support, lack of progress in reflecting the highest possible ambition in the implementation of NDCs, and challenges in increasing resilience and addressing loss and damage. An erosion of trust from contested compliance with organising principles has significant implications for climate negotiations, especially for the transition away from fossil fuels.