The transformation of global risks in the post-Cold War era: The rise of climate risk and the role of the European Union in global climate governance

This thesis examines the evolution of climate change from an environmental issue to a systemic global risk in the post–Cold War period and analyzes the European Union's role in governing this evolving global risk. Drawing on the risk society perspective and global governance literature, the research uses a qualitative content analysis of major international risk assessment reports (1990–2024) using NVivo 15 Software and a comparative examination of key EU climate policy initiatives. Through systematic coding of these documents, the study maps how climate change shifted from a peripheral concern to a central focus in global risk discourse over the past three decades. In parallel, it evaluates the EU's multi-level climate governance architecture, including flagship measures like the European Green Deal and the Emissions Trading System and its engagement in international climate diplomacy. The findings indicate that climate change has been reconceptualized as an urgent, transboundary threat, prompting the EU to position itself as a global climate leader. The EU has pioneered ambitious policies and framed its climate acts around leadership, resilience, and climate justice, aligning its strategy with the heightened risk perceptions. However, the analysis also reveals a gap between rhetoric and implementation: while EU initiatives reflect the evolving global consensus on addressing climate risks, practical constraints and the need for broader international cooperation temper their effectiveness. By bridging risk analysis with climate governance evaluation, this study concludes that the EU plays a crucial yet constrained role in managing the transformation of climate risks on the global stage.