Negotiating an Intractable Climate Deal: The Kyoto Process and Beyond

Abstract

Climate change, commonly known as global warming, has threatened the very survival of the planet earth. Being a global problem it requires global actions but international actions to combat the climate cataclysm have been largely unsuccessful due to countries’ self-interested behavior. The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Kyoto Protocol itself have tried to control emission of heat-trapping gases but failed due to incomplete participation. Such grim situation is also evident in other landmark climate summits where the rift between developed North and impoverished South and their bargaining over burden-sharing responsibility for climate change have contributed to the inefficacy of any effort to reduce emission. However, now the clash of interest is not only limited to developed and developing worlds, there are other shades of conflict and signs of political regrouping. This article will briefly narrate the landmark climate conferences, held under the aegis of United Nations, the positive outcome of them as well as the lacunae in order to highlight the political battle underlying global environmental parleys.