Abstract:On the international multilateral stage of climate change governance, the European Union (EU) is widely recognized as a proponent and defender of multilateralism. However, in recent years, the EU has frequently introduced unilateral climate change legislation with extraterritorial effects. Leveraging the convenience of unilateral legislation and the power of the EU's single market, it promotes its climate governance rules globally, engaging in unilateral extraterritorial governance. This practice, involving many areas of climate change governance, has become a trend. In essence, these unilateral legislative acts represent the EU's attempt to construct and globalize rules and systems in the field of global climate change governance. They also constitute an intentional blurring of the distinction between the obligations of developed and developing countries in climate governance, effectively negating the principle of“Common But Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities” established by the United Nations multilateral climate framework. Utilizing unique legislative techniques, the EU operates at the edge of international mechanisms under the banner of pursuing “effective multilateralism”. In reality, this serves as a covert means to protect its own industrial competitive interests, lacking adequate consideration for the adverse impacts on third countries. In response, China should formulate long-term strategic plans for coping at the macro level, remain vigilant against the potential evolution of EU unilateral climate measures into tools of green hegemony, uphold the core status of UN climate regulations in global climate governance, actively participate in the formulation of international rules concerning climate change and related issues, safeguard the interests of developing countries, revitalize the spirit of multilateralism, and explore new pathways for China-EU cooperation on climate change.

Keywords: European Union, Unilateralism, Multilateralism, Climate Change, Global Governance

 

Author:Jiang Xiaohong, research fellow, CASS Institute of International Law;

Source: 5 (2025) Chinese Review of International Law.