Which principle causes North-South political divisions?

The principles of international climate change negotiations that cause the persistent North-South political divisions are Common but Differentiated Responsibility (CBDR), historical responsibility. The principles of international climate change negotiations that cause the persistent North-South political divisions are Common but Differentiated Responsibility (CBDR), historical responsibility, and equity.

While these principles are central to the negotiations, they have led to a clear division of countries into developed (Annex I) and developing (Non-Annex I) nations. This split is considered "the regime’s greatest weakness" due to the resulting "persistence of dysfunctional North-South Politics".

Details of the Dividing Principles:

1. Common but Differentiated Responsibility (CBDR):

   • CBDR stipulates that developed countries should take the lead in combating climate change, with developing countries following as they address their economic and development needs.
   • This principle divides countries because it dictates differing obligations based on economic status and capability.

2. Historical Responsibility:

   • This principle is based on the recognition that developed countries, due to their past contributions to global warming, should lead and contribute more to combating climate change.
   • The Convention aims to achieve fairness by placing the bulk of liability on those who have contributed most to, and benefited from, the build-up of carbon in the atmosphere. Developing countries, including China and India, frequently underscore that climate change is due to the unrestricted emissions by developed countries during their industrialization process.

3. Equity:

   • The notion of equity is underpinned by the differing capacities and needs of nation-states. Developed countries possess the technical and economic capacity to address climate change through mitigation and adaptation, while developing countries often do not.
   • For countries like India, equity is framed in per capita terms, combined with the principles of historical responsibility and the capacity to pay. Conversely, Brazil and China, which have higher per capita emissions than India, tend to emphasize historical responsibility as the key underlying principle.

The insistence on these principles by developing countries (such as India and China) as the "minimum threshold" for negotiations means that progress on future agreements must be based on CBDR. Developed countries, however, often resist this framework, with some refusing to take on new targets unless major emerging economies are also bound by quantified commitments, leading to a "you first attitude" gridlock.