Climate clubs: politically feasible and desirable?

The idea of a stringent climate club, once the reserve academic debates, is quickly gaining ground in international policy circles. This reflects dissatisfaction with multilateral UNFCCC process, but also hope that minilateral club could increase ambition, reinvigorate Paris Agreement and make future emissions pledges stick. With Biden Presidency renewing US commitment toward action European Green Deal proposal for carbon border tariffs, some are advocating creation transatlantic club. What approach to achieve, what do we know about its political feasibility desirability? In this article, seek conceptual clarification by establishing typology different models; inject greater sense realism into current debates on these consider their legitimacy context cooperation.Key insights Knowledge gaps confusion regarding nature clubs hold back intergovernmental can contribute policy.Club design matters: existing models vary terms proposed size, purpose, operational principles, legal strength, relationship UNFCCC.Clubs focused normative commitments face low barriers establishment. They lack strength help raise ambition.Clubs aimed at negotiating targets measures bargaining efficiency, struggle deal equity distributional conflicts.Clubs seeking change incentives via benefits sanctions highest hurdles implementation. Their promise tackle free-riding remains untested difficult achieve.Climate an deficit. Any needs how add to, not distract from, regime.