NAME : Oketch Immaculate Atieno
REG NUMBER : T022/303910/2024
COURSE CODE : DCHM 1.2
Q1: Critical Assessment of Historical and Ongoing Responsibilities for Climate Change and
Resource Depletion in the Context of Sustainable Development
1. Introduction
Sustainable development, defined in the Brundtland Report (1987) as “development that meets the
needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs,”
has become a central pillar of global policy. However, its implementation is far from straightforward.
The challenge arises from historical inequalities in emissions and resource use, which have created a
profound divide between the Global North (industrialized, high-income nations) and the Global South
(developing, low-to-middle-income nations).
The Global North industrialized early, exploiting fossil fuels and resources on a massive scale, thereby
achieving economic prosperity but also emitting the bulk of historical greenhouse gases (GHGs). The
Global South, meanwhile, contributed minimally to historical emissions but now faces the greatest
climate vulnerabilities while being urged to adopt low-carbon growth pathways that may constrain their
economic ambitions. This asymmetry complicates the pursuit of a uniform sustainable development
agenda.
2. Historical Responsibilities and Climate Change
2.1 Industrialization and Carbon Legacy
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Since the Industrial Revolution (mid-18th century onwards), developed nations have relied heavily on
coal, oil, and gas for economic growth, resulting in vast cumulative emissions.
Data from the Global Carbon Project shows that the USA and EU alone are responsible for more than
50% of cumulative CO₂ emissions since 1850, despite representing less than 15% of today’s population.
Historical emissions have locked in much of the current climate instability, contributing to global
warming, sea-level rise, and extreme weather events.
2.2 Ecological Debt and Resource Depletion
Beyond carbon emissions, the Global North’s high consumption has depleted forests, fisheries, and
minerals at unsustainable rates.
The concept of ecological debt refers to the overuse of the Earth's biocapacity by wealthy nations,
effectively “borrowing” environmental capacity from poorer nations and future generations.
Resource exploitation during colonial periods also extracted wealth from the Global South, limiting their
own capacity for industrial development.
3. Ongoing Responsibilities and Contemporary Inequities
3.1 Current Emissions and Lifestyle Disparities
While some emerging economies (China, India, Brazil) have rising emissions, per capita emissions remain
far higher in developed nations.
The average American emits over 14 metric tons of CO₂ annually, compared to under 2 tons for the
average African.
Consumption patterns in the Global North — including high meat diets, car dependence, and energy-
intensive lifestyles — maintain high environmental footprints.
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3.2 Technology and Economic Gaps
Green technologies (solar, wind, electric vehicles) are often patented and expensive, limiting affordable
access for developing nations.
Financing constraints mean that many Global South countries cannot transition rapidly without
sacrificing developmental goals such as poverty reduction and industrialization.
4. Challenges of a Uniform Sustainable Development Agenda
4.1 One-size-fits-all Policies are Inequitable
Global climate agreements such as the Paris Agreement (2015) set common temperature targets (1.5–
2°C) but allow Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) that vary by country.
However, pressure from international financial institutions and trade partners often imposes green
standards that are more easily met by wealthy nations with advanced infrastructure.
4.2 “Carbon Space” and Developmental Lock-in
The remaining global carbon budget to meet 1.5°C targets is extremely limited.
If the Global South is forced to decarbonize at the same pace as the North, it may never fully
industrialize — replicating historical inequalities.
Meanwhile, the Global North continues to emit disproportionately, albeit at a slower rate, consuming
the remaining “carbon space.”
5. Reconciling Historical Emissions with Global South Development Aspirations
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5.1 Principles of Equity and Common but Differentiated Responsibilities (CBDR)
CBDR, embedded in the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), recognizes that all
nations must address climate change but with differing obligations based on historical and present
capacities.
Developed nations should take deeper and faster emission cuts to free up carbon space for the Global
South.
5.2 Climate Finance and Technology Transfer
The $100 billion per year climate finance pledge made in Copenhagen (2009) remains under-delivered.
Meeting and surpassing this pledge are crucial.
Funding should support both mitigation (clean energy) and adaptation (climate resilience) in developing
nations.
Technology transfer, particularly for renewable energy and sustainable agriculture, should be made
affordable through subsidies, open patents, or collaborative research.
5.3 Debt Justice and Economic Restructuring
Many developing nations are burdened by external debt, limiting their ability to invest in green
infrastructure.
Debt-for-climate swaps could allow countries to cancel debt in exchange for investments in
conservation, renewable energy, and sustainable livelihoods.
5.4 Sustainable Trade and Resource Equity
Trade systems should reward sustainable practices from the Global South without imposing punitive
tariffs.
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Certification schemes (e.g., fair trade, sustainable forestry) can help but must avoid becoming non-tariff
barriers.
6. Pressure to Adopt “Green” Technologies
While low-carbon technologies are vital, their imposition can appear neo-colonial if it ignores:
Development sequencing: Historical industrialization in the North was fossil-fuel intensive; denying this
path to the South can seem unjust.
Technology costs: Renewable energy infrastructure requires high upfront investment.
Local context: Biomass, mini-grid solar, and hybrid systems may be more appropriate than large-scale
wind farms in certain areas.
A just transition approach recognizes that climate action must be socially equitable, culturally
appropriate, and economically viable.
7. Conclusion
The pursuit of a uniform sustainable development agenda is complicated by the deep asymmetries of
historical responsibility, economic capacity, and environmental vulnerability between the Global North
and South. The Global North has both a moral obligation and a pragmatic interest in enabling the South
to develop sustainably, through:
More ambitious domestic decarbonization
Generous climate finance and technology transfer
Trade and debt reforms
Respect for differentiated pathways
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Failure to address these issues risks deepening global inequality and undermining both climate goals and
sustainable development. A fair and effective agenda must be rooted in equity, historical accountability,
and genuine partnership — recognizing that sustainable development is not a uniform road, but a
network of diverse, context-specific paths.
