Obstruction has become a defining feature of the UNFCCC process, shaping both the pace and substance of global climate agreements. It is often subtle and context-specific, making it difficult for negotiators, observers, and civil society to identify obstruction tactics in real time and even harder to counter effectively.

This policy brief introduces a typology of 14 obstruction tactics, shows where they are most likely to appear during different stages of the UNFCCC negotiations, and highlights how they may emerge at COP30, with the aim of equipping actors to better recognize, anticipate, and respond to efforts that could undermine climate ambition.