Should unelected international bodies like the UN have binding authority over national climate policy?

Context

The question of whether international bodies like the United Nations should have binding power over national climate policies sits at the intersection of global environmental urgency and national sovereignty. Currently, most UN climate agreements (like the Paris Agreement) are non-binding frameworks that countries voluntarily implement, leaving enforcement to individual nations. The debate intensifies as climate impacts worsen: supporters argue coordinated global action requires enforceable rules, while critics worry binding international authority could override democratic decision-making and impose economically damaging policies on countries without consent.