AN ISSUE IN CLIMATE CHANGE OFTEN DEBATED IN ONLINE DISCUSSIONS IS THAT, IN COP EVENTS, COUNTRIES LIKE CHINA AND INDIA ARE NOT BEING HELD EUALLLY RESPONSIBLE FOR CLIMATE ACTION WITH THEIR WESTERN COUNTERPARTS IN THE GLOBAL NORTH. THIS POST IS AN EXPLANATION FOR THAT APPARENT ANOMALY AS PROPOSED IN THE UN’S UNFCCC DECLARTION.

WHAT THE UNFCCC HAS DETERMINED AND WHAT IT HAS SET AS STANDARDIZED GUIDELINES FOR COP CLIMATE ACTION MEETNGS IS THE CLIMATE SCIENCE POSITION THAT THE CLIMATE CHANGE ISSUE IS A CREATION OF THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION OF THE GLOBAL NORTH DONE WRONG WITH FOSSIL FUELS AND THAT THE SOLUTION IS FOR THE GLOBAL NORTH TO REWIND AND DO IT RIGHT WITHOUT FOSSIL FUELS. THERE IS NO ROLE FOR THE GLOBAL SOUTH IN THIS CONTEXT BECAUSE THE INDUSTRIAL REVOLUTION WAS A CREATION OF THE GLOBAL NORTH AND ONLY OF THE GLOBAL NORTH.

ACCORDINGLY, THE UN HAS PUT TOGETHER A COMPREHENSIVE ANALYSIS AND REPORT OF WHAT IT CALLS “COMMON BUT DIFFERENTIATED” RESPONSIBILITIES. THEIR UNFCCC DOCUMENT LAYS OUT THE RELATIVE LEVELS OF CLIMATE CHANGE RESPONSIBILITY FOR NATIONS WITH A SYSTEM OF DESIGNATIONS AS NON-ANNEX (ZERO RESPONSIBILITY FOR CLIMATE CHANGE), ANNEX-1 (SOME RESPONSIBIITY FOR CLIMATE CHANGE), AND ANNEX-2 (SIGNIFICANT RESPONSIBILITY FOR CLDIMATE CHANGE). THE RELEVANT PORTIONS OF THE UNFCCC DOCUMENT ARE PROVIDED BELOW.

UNITED NATIONS FRAMEWORK CONVENTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE: The Parties to this Convention, Acknowledging that change in the Earth’s climate and its adverse effects are a common concern of humankind, Concerned that human activities have been substantially increasing the atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases, that these increases enhance the natural greenhouse effect, and that this will result on average in an additional warming of the Earth’s surface and atmosphere and may adversely affect natural ecosystems and humankind, Noting that the largest share of historical and current global emissions of greenhouse gases has originated in developed countries, that per capita emissions in developing countries are still relatively low and that the share of global emissions originating in developing countries will grow to meet their social and development needs, Aware of the role and importance in terrestrial and marine ecosystems of sinks and reservoirs of greenhouse gases, Noting that there are many uncertainties in predictions of climate change, particularly with regard to the timing, magnitude and regional patterns thereof, Acknowledging that the global nature of climate change calls for the widest possible cooperation by all countries in accordance with their common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities and their social and economic conditions,

THESE CONSIDERATIONS OF THE UN IN THEIR COP MEETINGS IMPLY THAT COUNTRIES ACROSS THE BOARD ARE NOT TO BE HELD EQUALLY RESPONSIBLE FOR CLIMATE CHANGE AND THAT THEREFORE THEIR CLIMATE ACTION EXTENT, RESPONSIBILITES, AND ACTIVITIES WILL ALSO DIFFER.

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