Who should pay? Who should lead? Who is responsible?
I am currently in Bonn Germany, participating in two weeks of United Nations climate change meetings. While many issues are being discussed, the most significant topic here is finance. Climate change policies cost money, whether they relate to mitigation (reducing greenhouse gas emissions) or adaptation (improving resilience to the impacts of climate change). Developed countries (like the US and EU countries) and emerging economies (like China, India) produce the most greenhouse gasses, but developing countries are the most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change (e.g., Philippines, Bangladesh). Who should pay the costs of transitioning to a new economy, one that does not rely heavily on fossil fuels? Who should pay to help developing cdountries become more resilient?
When the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) was established in 1992, it included the concept of "Common but Differentiated Responsibility" or CBDR. What that means is still being debated today. It suggests that all countries share the responsibility to act, but not in the same way.
What is the United States' responsibility - not just with finance, but with leadership regarding climate change?
I believe that the transition to renewable energy should be paid by taxes. I think that bigger countries with higher incomes should help pay for developing countries to transition to renewable energy. President Joe Biden has set multiple climate change goals including reducing US greenhouse gas emissions 50-52% below 2005 levels in 2030, reaching 100% carbon pollution free electricity by 2035, net zero emission economy by 2050 and lastly delivering 50% of the benefits from federal investments in climate and clean energy to disadvantaged communities. The United States has a large responsibility in leadership for climate change because we are one of the biggest producers of carbon emissions globally. https://www.whitehouse.gov/climate/
ReplyDeleteThe United States has a key role in fighting climate change, following the principle of "Common but Differentiated Responsibility" (CBDR), which means all countries have responsibilities, but not equally. The U.S. needs to provide financial aid for reducing emissions and adapting to climate impacts, share clean technologies, and lead in international climate talks. Acknowledging its larger share of historical emissions, the U.S. must support fair solutions and build public and political backing for climate action. This makes the U.S. a crucial leader in global efforts to tackle climate change (UNFCCC, 2023).
ReplyDeletehttps://unfccc.int/
I think well developed countries should pay for the transition into a less fossil fuel reliant society. I think the large corporations such as oil companies who play a huge role in the acceleration of climate change should bear the burden of paying for solutions to the issue of developing countries becoming more resilient.
ReplyDeleteI agree with the sentiment that not all countries should be required to respond to climate change in the same way. Most first world countries heavily polluted the environment in their development. It feels unfair to then turn around and tell other smaller countries that they can't do the same. The burden should be upon developed countries to reduce carbon emissions and improve the environment.
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