SRMMUN 2020Differential responsibilities and equal benefits in achieving a low carbon economy
Anomitra Paul, reporting from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), talks about the council’s deliberations and debate regarding differential responsibilities based on nations’ nationally determined contributions (NDCs), pursuant to Article 6 of the Paris Agreement.
The urgency of working towards a low carbon economy has been emphasized time and again by the United Nations since the 1970s. This session of the UNFCCC attempted to review and revise the individual achievements and compliance to the Agreement.
The Delegate of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland prescribed three market parameters to the international community to formulate a more effective evaluation policy – clearly defined units, verifiable evaluations by independent experts, and recording of the data by sender and receiver. “We believe in the regulation of market based on common and differential responsibilities, and recommend that the collective proceeds from ITMOs go to the LDCs (less developed countries),” said the Delegate of UK.
India echoed this recommendation by suggesting ‘differential analysis of problems’.
Through Article 6, the Paris Agreement provides an opening for parties to cooperate in the voluntary implementation of their nationally determined contributions (NDCs) through the transfer of mitigation outcomes.
Small island developing nations (SIDs) find themselves at a disadvantage despite being low emitters of greenhouse gases (GHGs).
“Island nations suffer disproportionately due to the effects of climate change,” said the Delegate of Philippines.
Malaysia stepped up and pledged to reduce GHG emissions by 45% by 2030. The Delegate of Malaysia described its Carbon City Framework Programme, which strives to reduce carbon footprint by coming up with clean and renewable energy sources, with the help and cooperation of its industrial sector. Similar frameworks are propping up in countries like Scotland and Philippines to mitigate the rapidly growing effects of climate change.
The Delegate of India said, “We intend to accelerate the use of clean, renewable energy by 2030 and are formulating solutions to reduce the global temperature by 1.5 degrees Celsius.”
There was consensus in the council regarding the scientific need to address and reduce the use of fossil fuels, and that Article 6 could establish a policy foundation to achieve the same taking into consideration differential capacities.”