Developing Countries Under the International Climate Change Regime: How Does the Paris Agreement Change Their Position?

Abstract

The article considers how the Paris climate change agreement of December 2015 alters the position of countries regarded as ‘developing’ under the international climate change regime. It does this by comparing their position (both as contributors to the global response to climate change and as recipients of support under the Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol) with that under the Paris Agreement in the main areas of action by the international community to combat climate change. The article finds that there has been little change in some respects with the obligations of developing states to mitigate climate change and of developed states for the provision of climate finance and technology transfer not having altered significantly. Where the position of developing countries has changed markedly is in the clear expectation, expressed in several non-binding statements, that they should contribute to mitigating climate change alongside their developed counterparts with their contribution increasing progressively in line with the aspirational collective mitigation goal of zero net emissions during the second half of this century; and in the imposition of more exacting obligations to report on their actions with greater potential for pressure from peers and civil society to improve on their contributions as a result. In addition, adaptation, loss and damage, and capacity building are all given a higher profile in line with developing country demands during climate change negotiations that they should be given more weight.