AN EXAMINATION OF THE PRINCIPLE OF COMMON BUT DIFFERENTIATED RESPONSIBILITY

Abstract

The principle of Common But Differentiated Responsibilities (CBDR) became necessary in order to balance the roles of nations in addressing the menace of environmental pollution and its resultant degradation of the ecosystem. It is trite that highly developed and industrialized nations contribute more to greenhouse emissions all over the world, than less developed and less industrialized nations of the world. Besides, differences in terms of economic capacity played a vital role in the birth o this principle of CBDR. It became imperative to recognize this difference in levels of ‘culpability’, while accepting that all nations of the world have a common responsibility to contribute towards sustaining the environment. The Kyoto Protocol aimed at the reduction of environmental degradation through actions geared towards reducing carbon emissions, and commits industrialized nations to be responsible towards reducing the quantity of carbon and dangerous substances they release into the environment. This article examined the principle of common but differentiated responsibility, its operationalisation and how it will affect the realization of the Sustainable Development Goals in Africa, especially goals 1, 2, 3, 6 and 7. Recommendations were made in terms of strengthening efforts by Africa towards addressing environmental degradation irrespective of the act that it has a lower level of responsibility towards curbing greenhouse emissions, unlike the more advanced nations of the world.