The ways that external and internal dynamics influence intermediaries in the climate policy process

“Climate intermediaries” are important for climate governance, as they can strengthen mitigation efforts by drawing enable diverse insights into the policy process. However, actors wishing to intermediate may be stymied from assuming such a role; hence, there is a need for a greater understanding of whether and how, organizations can act as climate intermediaries. We investigate in what ways external governance dynamics surrounding an organization can influence their intermediation, and further, in what ways these external dynamics produce internal dynamics that influence intermediation still further. We find that externally, the presence of funding limitations, competition between intermediaries, and unwilling or inappropriate intermediation partners can influence nongovernmental organizations (NGOs’) pursuit of intermediation. Moreover, by examining internal dynamics, we see that these external dynamics challenge NGOs’ strategy-making, staff well-being, and maintenance of expertise, which impact their organization’s intermediation still further. Resultantly, we propose that despite intermediaries being a crucial component of the post-Paris Agreement climate policymaking process, the governance arrangements that surround NGOs impact their ability to assume this role, with attendant implications for limiting the diversity of insights into the policy process.