Question

"Despite common but differentiated responsibilities, the environmental problems are increasing day-by-day challenging human existence." Analyse any four reasons responsible for this situation.

Hint:

Analyse four reasons: North-South differing priorities, the historical role of rich states, the growth needs of developing states, and weak enforcement with national interest first.

Answer 1

Step 1: Understand the situation:
The Rio Earth Summit (1992) accepted the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities (CBDR). All states must protect the environment, but rich states carry a greater burden.
Even so, pollution, global warming and loss of resources keep growing. We analyse four reasons.

Step 2: Reason 1: Different priorities of North and South:
Developed countries (the North) give priority to issues such as ozone depletion and global warming.
Developing countries (the South) give priority to development and to problems like poverty and lack of clean water. These differing priorities block common action.

Step 3: Reason 2: Rich states avoid their historical responsibility:
The developed countries have caused most of the damage since the Industrial Revolution through emissions and heavy resource use.
They resist deep cuts and do not give enough money and technology to poorer states, so the load is not shared as promised.

Step 4: Reason 3: Pressure of growth in developing countries:
Large populations and fast industrialisation in countries like India and China raise their energy use and pollution.
They argue that they must grow first. Under agreements such as the Kyoto Protocol they had no binding targets, so their emissions kept rising.

Step 5: Reason 4: Weak enforcement and national interest:
There is no world government to force states to obey environmental treaties. Each state puts its own national interest and growth first.
Treaties are often voluntary, funds are small and the lack of agreement slows action.

Final Answer:
Because of unequal priorities, unshared historical blame, the growth needs of developing states, and poor enforcement driven by national interest, environmental problems grow despite CBDR.