Global governance complex for climate change: a bibliometric analysis

Abstract

A global governance complex for climate change has emerged from the growing constellation of interdependent institutions and actors mobilized to address climate challenges. Managing this complexity to optimize effectiveness and efficiency poses a major challenge. Although previous studies have examined discrete elements of the global climate governance complex, bibliometric syntheses remain limited. This study applies CiteSpace and VOSviewer to 319 publications from 2005 to 2025 to map intellectual development and identify emerging trends. The analysis reveals four key insights: (1) the global climate governance complex research has experienced steady growth over the past two decades; (2) collaboration and knowledge production remain highly centralized in Europe and North America; (3) influential journals such as Global Environmental Politics and landmark works by scholars such as Keohane and Victor have provided theoretical underpinnings for this field; and (4) emerging research hotspots include climate action, impacts, and transnational governance. These findings show that the field is consolidating around core foundations while diversifying into debates on effectiveness and justice, offering insights for both academic research and the design of more inclusive governance actions.