The international politics of climate change, including the differing interests and priorities of developed and developing states and the special challenges facing particularly vulnerable states and communities. Sustainable development, common but differentiated responsibilities, intra- and inter-generational equity, the precautionary principle, and climate justice in the international climate change legal regime are discussed.

Beyond Kyoto

In December 2005, a dialogue was launched on long-term cooperative action to address climate change by enhancing the implementation for the Convention, and a new round of negotiations to step up international efforts to combat climate change was launched by the Bali Action Plan adopted by the COP at its thirteenth meeting in December 2007. There were some other important developments after the Bali Action Plan.

Paris Agreement

The Paris Agreement was adopted on 12 December 2015 at the twenty-first session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change held in Paris from 30 November to 13 December 2015. In accordance with its article 20, the Agreement was open for signature at the United Nations Headquarters in New York from 22 April 2016 until 21 April 2017 by States and regional economic integration organisations that are Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

Readings

1. Durban: one small promising step for climate. Available at http://www.cdcclimat.com/IMG/pdf/11-12_climate_brief_10_-_durban_one_small_promising_step_for_climate.pdf
2. Paris Agreement: Available at http://unfccc.int/files/essential_background/convention/application/pdf/english_paris_agreement.pdf