Document Type : Research Paper
Author
M.A. in French Studies, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
Abstract
The 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP21) in Paris brought together 195 countries to reach a consensus. Regardless of the environmental issues discussed and agreed in the conference, what seems significant is the global role France played as the conference hosting nation. The country managed to promote itself as "the" eligible place among many European cities to host the conference, creating a diplomatic prestige for itself, provoking new environmental ambitions worldwide and presenting Paris as the home city the name of which is attached to the agreement forever. Yet, environmental issues have not always been a driving force for diplomatic efforts and public policy initiatives in France. Indeed, environmental protection grew to appear in the national agenda throughout decades and developed as a notion worthy of political and diplomatic attention in a long-term process the study of which is noticeable in the European context. Utilizing Issue Ownership and Green Soft Power theories, the research employs Theory-Testing Process Tracing method to analyze France’s environmental contributions resulting in its role in the Paris agreement. Ultimately, this study seeks to illuminate how environmental concerns gained public and political attention in the French society and politics, leading up to the country
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