Why should developing countries contribute to the global effort?
The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) is based on the principle that countries have common but differentiated responsibilities to combat climate change. As developed countries have been responsible for a large part of the greenhouse gas emissions in the atmosphere to date, it has been agreed by most that they should take the first step towards limiting or reducing their emissions under the Kyoto Protocol. However, developing country emissions are growing rapidly and will account for 50% of global emissions by 2020. This means that action by developed countries alone will not suffice. Consequently the Commission is proposing that developing countries – with the exception of the least developed countries – should slow the rate of growth of their emissions as soon as possible and then start reducing emissions in absolute terms from 2020 onwards. A major effort will also be needed to halt emissions resulting from deforestation. These actions are perfectly feasi
