The analysis of Brazil’s position during the negotiation process of the Kyoto Protocol through the lens of neoclassical realism

The Kyoto Protocol was introduced during COP-3 of the UNFCCC convention in 1997 and was considered the first legally binding international climate agreement. The negotiations that pertained to the finalization of the Kyoto Protocol’s mechanism prior to its entry into force witnessed the urge for inclusive participation from all countries for environmental preservation. Accordingly, Brazil took a defensive position towards environmental governance in the Kyoto Protocol, as the assertion for participation contradicted Brazil’s and other developing countries’ needs and concerns on national and economic development. As a developing country, Brazil claimed that industrialized and developed countries should be the ones responsible for reducing carbon emissions and environmental conservation due to their intensive carbon emissions from the historical context until the Kyoto Protocol period. This study argues that domestic elements, including political beliefs and values, public – private relations, and government institutions, are the key elements shaping Brazil’s defensive position during the negotiation process of the Kyoto Protocol. Henceforth, as these elements are highlighted within the Neoclassical Realism framework, the study offers valuable insights by presenting an alternative theoretical approach to analyzing Brazil’s position in the negotiation, emphasizing the influence of domestic political dynamics in shaping its international position.