The Role of Key Developing Countries in Mitigating Climate Change

Although climate change was caused historically by industrialized countries, the question of who has what ‘common but differentiated responsibility’ is still being debated. Despite the explicit statement in the 1992 Framework Convention that "developed countries should take the lead in combating climate change", the United States has insisted that it will not commit to any emission reductions without participation of developing countries. It is now too late to leave this issue to developed countries alone as emissions are rapidly rising in countries such as China and India and forest are cut down at alarming rates in tropical countries.

This research project examines the approaches developed and actions taken by key developing countries such as China, Mexico, Brazil, India and South Africa to mitigate climate change. It also investigates how the objectives of justice, development and climate change mitigation can be effectively linked in a post-2012 climate agreement.