Shaping REDD+: Interactions between Bilateral and Multilateral Rulemaking

Abstract

This article studies bilateral partnerships on reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD+), particularly those led by Norway, through the conceptual lens of legal diffusion. The article argues that rules created through such partnerships have significantly influenced rulemaking under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. It shows that bilaterally developed rules have spread to other countries beyond the original partners, particularly in respect of topics such as financial institutional structures and a results-based approach to REDD+. Reciprocal legal influence between multilateral and bilateral legal developments can further be seen in relation to other topics, such as monitoring, reporting and verification. The article shows that legal concepts related to REDD+ travelled in different directions, showcasing interactions between bilateral and multilateral arenas in the construction of international norms, as well as interactions between the law for environmental protection and development cooperation.