Bangladesh in the New Cold War: Major Leaps by a Minor Power
Relative power distribution is one of the key elements for understanding a country’s sphere and degree of influence within its own region and beyond. Although the concept is commonly used to comprehend the power dynamics between and among the great powers in a hypothetical multipolar world, it is also useful to understand the growing influence of different types of states. The Lowy Institute, a Sydney-based think-tank, uses this type of index to explore major shifts in power in the Indo-Pacific. The 2021 Asia Power Index names four countries that have shown improvement in over the past year: the United States, Brunei, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. Analysts of International Relations (IR) should note that despite the presence of the big league powers, what the index describes as “minor powers” are the ones achieving positive trends. An interesting case in this regard is that of Bangladesh. Over a short span of 50 years, the South Asian country has simultaneously developed diplomatic influence, cultural impact, economic ties, and defense networks as parts of its partnership model. These four factors are classified by Lowy as “influence measure” variables. The next group of variables are the “resource variables,” which might be more important in terms of the weight they carry in traditional IR (i.e. economic/military capabilities, resilience etc.). Nevertheless, in the case of Bangladesh, it will be more relevant to examine the “influence measure” variables, which are the prime sources of its growing power.
India targets net-zero carbon emissions by 2070, says Modi
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COP26: What climate summit means for one woman in Bangladesh
China's carbon emissions are vast and growing, dwarfing those of other countries. Experts agree that without big reductions in China's emissions, the world cannot win the fight against climate change. In 2020, China's President Xi Jinping said his country would aim for its emissions to reach their highest point before 2030 and for carbon neutrality before 2060. His statement has now been confirmed as China's official position ahead of the COP26 global climate summit in Glasgow. But China has not said exactly how these goals will be achieved.
Why China's climate policy matters to us all
China's carbon emissions are vast and growing, dwarfing those of other countries. Experts agree that without big reductions in China's emissions, the world cannot win the fight against climate change. In 2020, China's President Xi Jinping said his country would aim for its emissions to reach their highest point before 2030 and for carbon neutrality before 2060. His statement has now been confirmed as China's official position ahead of the COP26 global climate summit in Glasgow. But China has not said exactly how these goals will be achieved.
Deliver on promises, developing world tells rich at climate talks
A crucial U.N. conference heard calls on its first day for the world's major economies to keep their promises of financial help to address the climate crisis, while big polluters India and Brazil made new commitments to cut emissions. World leaders, environmental experts and activists all pleaded for decisive action to halt the global warming which threatens the future of the planet at the start of the two-week COP26 summit in the Scottish city of Glasgow on Monday. The task facing negotiators was made even more daunting by the failure of the Group of 20 major industrial nations to agree ambitious new commitments at the weekend.