PRINCIPLE OF COMMON BUT DIFFERENTIATED RESPONSIBILITY ON CLIMATE CHANGE

Abstract

Abstract
This paper examined the Common but Differentiated Responsibility in International Law. This paper
examined further equality in change and the history behind the principle of common but differentiated
responsibility. The work made use doctrinal approach in the course of the research which includes the use
of both primary and secondary sources that is cases, treaties of conventions, internet sources, textbooks,
journals and articles. This paper found that the existence of inequality in economic interdependence on the
side of natural resources derivable from the environment has given rise to the call for international
cooperative efforts as this has done mud the waters of environmental exploitation. The paper also
discovered that International environmental law has produced the principle of common but differentiated
responsibility to address the issue of whose obligation it is to protect the environment and how such burden
should differ according to the strength of a developed state to that of a developing state. However, this idea
of differential treatment has been criticized by states with high economic strength on the bases that it does
not cover all beneficiaries appropriately. The paper opines that the concept of common but differentiated
responsibility is centered on treating states differently on the bases of their developmental strength. The
paper concluded by suggesting that there should be a medium through which states would be made to
account accurately on how they have protected the environment on the bases of their expertise, use of
technology and financially and also that there should be a central policing unit to serve as a watchdog to
states.