Botswana’s government has positioned itself as an active participant in climate governance through international, regional, and national commitments. However, the effectiveness of these commitments at the local level remains unclear. This chapter examines Botswana’s policy positioning on participatory governance in its climate change response, with a focus on the role of the kgotla, an indigenous leadership forum. While the kgotla is formally recognised as a space for local engagement and the integration of indigenous knowledge, its actual influence in climate policy decision-making is limited. The government promotes decentralisation in theory but retains central control, often using the kgotla as a symbolic tool rather than a meaningful platform for local participation. Furthermore, while national policies emphasise the inclusion of indigenous knowledge, mechanisms for its implementation remain vague. The chapter argues that Botswana’s climate governance reflects a gap between policy rhetoric and practice, where local engagement is acknowledged but not effectively realised. This chapter highlights the contradictions within Botswana’s dual governance system and raises critical questions about the future role of the kgotla in shaping truly participatory climate governance while also recognising the ambiguous character of the kgotla itself.