Climate Change and Inequality: The Effectiveness and Potential Improvements of the Existing Approaches

Abstract

This paper examines the relationship between climate change and inequality, evaluates three existing approaches from both macro principles and micro practices, and proposes the potential improvements for those approaches. Available evidence indicates that climate change exacerbates inequality globally and the existing approaches are insufficient and still need to be more aggressive. More specifically, the principle of Common but Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities (CBDR-RC) in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is blunt to effectively address climate change and respond to inequality even by distributing the common responsibilities differently to the individual countries. Developed countries should take the responsibility to finance climate change due to the principle “the polluter pays” and the obligation to protect human rights; however, developed countries have not yet met their climate finance obligations. Similarly, the international carbon market has been viewed as a feasible measure, while additional actions are still needed to respond to the inequalities exacerbated by climate change.