Explaining Subnational Participation in Global Climate Coalitions: A Comparative Analysis of Indian States
This project examines why some Indian states participate in the Under2 Coalition while others do not, despite having similar economic and environmental conditions. I argue that participation is not explained by climate vulnerability or state capacity alone, but is more closely related to political strategy and willingness to engage in international climate networks. To investigate this, I constructed a comparative dataset and conducted paired case analyses of Punjab and Haryana and of Chhattisgarh and Odisha, selecting states with similar structural characteristics but different membership outcomes. I compared factors including population, economic structure, environmental challenges, and political context. The results show that structurally similar states often make different decisions: Punjab joined while Haryana did not despite similar environmental pressures, and Chhattisgarh joined while Odisha did not despite Odisha’s higher climate vulnerability. These findings suggest that coalition membership functions less as a direct response to environmental need and more as a form of policy signaling and external engagement. This highlights the importance of political incentives and strategic positioning in shaping subnational participation in global climate governance.