“Climate justice” and the Paris climate agreement in the light of greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets

Abstract

The aim of the paper is to identify common elements and differences in the policies of the countries towards the achievement of the Paris Agreement on Climate (PAC) targets. The introductory part of the paper highlights the complexity, characteristics and importance of climate change as a global problem, and suggests the methodological approach. The central part of the paper is devoted to addressing the theoretical and normative aspects of ?climate justice?. The issue of ?equitable? participation of countries in the fight against climate change (so-called climate justice) is discussed, and, above all, the participation of states in reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. The relationship of countries to climate change is considered by assessing their share of global GHG emissions and the climate vulnerability index, on the one hand, and the targets they have set for reducing GHG emissions under the PAC, on the other. Countries are grouped into five groups: countries surrounding the Republic of Serbia (RS), countries whose emission indicators are similar to those of the RS, countries with the largest GHG emissions, countries with the smallest GHG emissions, and countries most vulnerable to climate change. In conclusion, it can be said that a double discrepancy (the discrepancy between the global target and the national targets and within the national targets) exists. In addition, certain common elements in the national targets for reducing GHG emissions also exist. However, due to the lack of uniformity in the way the GHG emission reduction targets are indicated, drawing firm conclusions is not reliable. At the same time, this leaves some room for a more flexible relationship in defining the national goals of the RS, with reservations about the obligations associated with the EU membership candidacy.