IR Home
CR
Home
Editors
Forthcoming
Information
Subscribe
CR SPECIAL 1
CR SPECIAL 2
CR SPECIAL 3
CR SPECIAL 4
CR SPECIAL 5
CR SPECIAL 6
CR SPECIAL 7
CR SPECIAL 8
CR SPECIAL 9
CR SPECIAL 10
CR SPECIAL 11
Journals
Home
MEPS
AME
CR
DAO
ESEP
ESR
Search
Subscribe
Book Series
EE Books
Top Books
ESEP Books
Order
EEIU Brochures
(pdf format)
Discussion Forums
Home
Research
IR Research
Institutions
International Ecology Institute
Eco-Ethics International Union
Foundation
Otto Kinne Foundation
 | |
CR 28:89-92 (2004)
|
Abstract
|
Equity, responsibility and climate change*
Maria Silvia Muylaert1,**, Claude Cohen2, Luiz Pinguelli Rosa1, André Santos Pereira3
1Energy Planning Program (PPE/COPPE), Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Centro de Tecnologia, Bloco C, Sala 211, Cidade Universitária, Ilha do Fundão, 21945 970 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
2PESC/SEN/CES/UFF –
Economics Faculty, Department of Economics of the Applied Social Studies Center of the Federal Fluminense University, Rua Tiradentes 17 Ingá, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
3CIRED, Jardin Tropical, 45 bis Avenue de la Belle
Gabrielle, 94736 Nogent-sur-Marne, Cedex, France
*In honor of Anil Agarwal (1947–2002), founder of the Centre for Science and Environment, New Delhi
**Email: muylaert@ppe.ufrj.br
ABSTRACT: The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and its decision-making processes are influenced by powerful economic and political interests, but also by debates on equity and responsibility. This is equally reflected in the
work of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), whose task it is to compile and assess existing knowledge for the UNFCCC negotiations. The IPCC is not charged with producing new knowledge, and its assessments, particularly the ‘Summary
for policy makers’, are the product of political and ideological debates, and may include biased statements. The debate on equity and responsibility is characterized by a division, mainly based on socio-geographic differences, between the
representatives from developed and those from developing countries. We argue that ‘common but differentiated responsibilities’ (UNFCCC 1992, Article 3) require a consideration of temporal and sectoral factors, as well as geographic ones.
Countries and economic sectors that have caused today’s climate change must be held accountable. More attention must be devoted to giving different responsibilities to the various economic sectors according to their importance for basic human needs.
The differences in accountability between economic sectors were first analyzed in Agarwal & Narain (1991; Global warming in an unequal world. Centre for Science and Environment, New Delhi); the need for historical accountability was proposed by the
Brazilian Delegation in UNFCCC (1997).
KEY WORDS: Equity · Responsibility · Consumption patterns · Climate change
Full text in pdf format
Published in CR Vol.
28, No. 1
(2004) on December 31
Print ISSN: 0936-577X; Online ISSN: 1616-1572.
Copyright © Inter-Research, Oldendorf/Luhe, 2004
|
