Question

“States have not only common, but differentiated responsibilities also.” Support the statement with two suitable arguments.

Answer 1

Here are two arguments that support the idea that states have common but differentiated responsibilities in addressing environmental challenges:

1. Historical Contribution to Environmental Degradation: Developed countries have been industrialising for more than a century and are mostly responsible for the current levels of environmental degradation. As a result, they should have more responsibility for restoring ecological equilibrium.
2. Different Levels of Development: Developing countries are still in the process of industrialisation. Imposing the same environmental regulations on them as on developed countries will hamper their progress. As a result, environmental regulations must take into account the unique demands and limitations of emerging countries. This principle was established at the 1992 Rio Earth Summit and reaffirmed by the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which ensures justice in global environmental governance.