Internationale Klimaatstrategie: A Whole-of-Government Policy for a Whole-of-Planet Problem: Interministerial Coordination of the Dutch International Climate Policy

Climate change is no longer a challenge confined to the environment or a single policy domain; it is a cross-cutting issue affecting nearly every sector of society and demanding action beyond national borders. In this light, this study investigates how the Dutch government coordinates its international climate policy across multiple ministries. It addresses the research question: How does the Dutch government coordinate international climate policy across multiple ministries, and what factors influence such integration? Drawing on policy integration theory, the study uses framework analysis of parliamentary documents and 12 elite interviews with ministry representatives to examine integration across four dimensions: policy frame, subsystem involvement, policy goals, and policy instruments. The analysis reveals moderate to high levels of integration, supported by structured coordination mechanisms such as the Interdepartmental Taskforce on Climate Diplomacy, but also highlights challenges, including competing priorities and political shifts. This study offers a novel empirical contribution by applying policy integration theory to international climate governance and provides broader insights into how states internally organise their climate efforts across foreign policy and international engagement.