Question

Explain the principle of "Common but Differentiated Responsibilities" as an approach to environment.

Hint:

The Rio principle of CBDR: shared duty for all states, but a bigger share for developed countries, as used in the Kyoto Protocol.

Answer 1

Step 1: Where the principle comes from:
The principle of Common but Differentiated Responsibilities (CBDR) was accepted at the Earth Summit held at Rio de Janeiro in 1992.
It appears in the Rio Declaration and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Step 2: Meaning of common:
All states share a common responsibility to protect the environment, because the atmosphere, oceans and climate belong to the whole world.
No country can say that the problem is not its concern.

Step 3: Meaning of differentiated:
The duty is not equal for all. The developed countries have caused most of the damage through industrialisation over the last two hundred years.
So they must carry a larger share of the burden.

Step 4: Reason: Different contribution and capacity:
Developed countries have more money and better technology.
Developing countries have less capacity and have to meet needs such as poverty removal and growth, so their duties should be lighter.

Step 5: Application in the Kyoto Protocol:
The Kyoto Protocol of 1997 asked industrialised countries to cut greenhouse gas emissions by fixed targets.
India, China and other developing countries were left out of binding targets, following this principle.

Step 6: Stand of developing countries and criticism:
India and other developing countries support the principle and also ask for financial and technical help.
Developed countries, mainly the United States, argue that all large emitters should share binding cuts, and this is still debated.

Final Answer:
CBDR means all states must protect the environment, but developed countries must do more because they caused more harm and have more resources.