Why International Climate Agreements Are Hard to Enforce

Lily Ricle Carrera is an Ecuadorian undergraduate student pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Economics and Political Science at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada. She is completing a minor in Environmental Economics and Sustainable Development, with academic interests focused on international economics, climate policy, and the institutional challenges of global environmental cooperation. Her research explores how economic incentives, political institutions, and international agreements shape collective responses to climate change.

Alongside her academic work, Lily is actively involved in leadership and public communication initiatives. She serves as Media and Communications Lead at CFBX 92.5 campus radio, where she researches and presents discussions on economic and policy issues for public audiences. She has also participated in the Bank of Canada Governor’s Challenge, collaborating with a student team to analyze macroeconomic conditions and develop monetary policy recommendations.

Through her academic studies and community engagement, Lily aims to contribute to policy discussions that connect economic theory with practical solutions for sustainable development and international cooperation.

Katherine Flores de Sanchez is an international student from El Salvador pursuing a Post-Baccalaureate Diploma in Economics at Thompson Rivers University in British Columbia, Canada. She previously earned a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations from the University of El Salvador. Her academic focus in Economic studies is deeply influenced by a perspective of environmental issues, sustainable and future-oriented development, natural resource management, and public policy.

Her research examines the barriers that countries face in implementing and complying with international climate agreements. In particular, she explores how structural economic incentives, institutional limitations, and global inequalities can undermine coordination and enforcement, helping to explain why many climate commitments fall short of their intended goals.

She is particularly interested in how environmental policies and international agreements are designed and implemented, as well as the economic and political dynamics that shape countries’ attitudes toward environmental commitments. She looks to contribute to the critical discussion around public policies, future design and implementation of international climate agreements and countries’ responses to the climate change crisis.