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BRIDGING LANGUAGES, BRIDGING NATIONS: TRANSLATION AS A TOOL FOR INTERNATIONAL CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION

Raul Pascalau, Sorin Mihai Stanciu, Laura Smuleac, Carmen Simona Dumitrescu, Adrian Smuleac

Abstract

International cooperation is essential for effective climate change mitigation, yet linguistic diversity remains an underrecognized barrier to equitable participation and knowledge exchange. This article examines translation as a critical yet overlooked tool for facilitating international climate action, arguing that language mediation enables the cross-border flow of scientific knowledge, policy frameworks, technological innovations, and civil society mobilization essential for global mitigation efforts. Drawing on interdisciplinary perspectives from translation studies, environmental communication, and international relations, we analyze how translation functions across multiple scales of climate cooperation: from multilateral negotiations and treaty interpretation to scientific assessment dissemination, technology transfer, and grassroots movement building. The study identifies key challenges including terminological inconsistency, cultural adaptation of climate concepts, power asymmetries between languages, and the resource disparities that limit translation capacity in vulnerable regions. Through case studies of successful translation initiatives, including multilingual IPCC report dissemination, community interpreting at COP conferences, and localized climate campaigns, we demonstrate that strategic language mediation enhances both the effectiveness and equity of international cooperation. The article concludes with recommendations for integrating translation into climate policy frameworks, investing in translation infrastructure, and recognizing language professionals as essential actors in the global climate response.

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