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Equity, responsibility and climate change

2004; Inter-Research Science Center; Volume: 28; Linguagem: Inglês

10.3354/cr028089

1616-1572

MS Muylaert, C. M. S. Cohen, LP Rosa, AS Pereira,

Risk Perception and Management

CR Climate Research Contact the journal Facebook Twitter RSS Mailing List Subscribe to our mailing list via Mailchimp HomeLatest VolumeAbout the JournalEditorsSpecials CR 28:89-92 (2004) - doi:10.3354/cr028089 Equity, responsibility and climate change* Maria Silvia Muylaert1,**, Claude Cohen2, Luiz Pinguelli Rosa1, André Santos Pereira3 1Energy Planning Program (PPE/COPPE), Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Centro de Tecnologia, Bloco C, Sala 211, Cidade Universitária, Ilha do Fundão, 21945 970 Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 2PESC/SEN/CES/UFF - Economics Faculty, Department of Economics of the Applied Social Studies Center of the Federal Fluminense University, Rua Tiradentes 17 Ingá, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil3CIRED, Jardin Tropical, 45 bis Avenue de la Belle Gabrielle, 94736 Nogent-sur-Marne, Cedex, France *In honor of Anil Agarwal (1947-2002), founder of the Centre for Science and Environment, New Delhi **Email: muylaert@ppe.ufrj.br ABSTRACT: The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and its decision-making processes are influenced by powerful economic and political interests, but also by debates on equity and responsibility. This is equally reflected in the work of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), whose task it is to compile and assess existing knowledge for the UNFCCC negotiations. The IPCC is not charged with producing new knowledge, and its assessments, particularly the ‘Summary for policy makers’, are the product of political and ideological debates, and may include biased statements. The debate on equity and responsibility is characterized by a division, mainly based on socio-geographic differences, between the representatives from developed and those from developing countries. We argue that ‘common but differentiated responsibilities’ (UNFCCC 1992, Article 3) require a consideration of temporal and sectoral factors, as well as geographic ones. Countries and economic sectors that have caused today’s climate change must be held accountable. More attention must be devoted to giving different responsibilities to the various economic sectors according to their importance for basic human needs. The differences in accountability between economic sectors were first analyzed in Agarwal & Narain (1991; Global warming in an unequal world. Centre for Science and Environment, New Delhi); the need for historical accountability was proposed by the Brazilian Delegation in UNFCCC (1997). KEY WORDS: Equity · Responsibility · Consumption patterns · Climate change Full article in pdf format PreviousExport citation RSS - Facebook - Tweet - linkedIn Cited by Published in CR Vol. 28, No. 1. Online publication date: December 31, 2004 Print ISSN: 0936-577X; Online ISSN: 1616-1572 Copyright © 2004 Inter-Research.