Question

Q. With reference to Common But Differentiated Responsibility (CBDR), Consider the following Statements :

Which of the above given statements is/are incorrect?

• A.
  1 and 2 only
• B.
  2 and 3 only
• C.
  1 and 3 only
• D.
  1 only

Answer 1

The correct option is D

1 only
Explanation:

Statement 1 is incorrect: Common But Differentiated Responsibilities (CBDR) was formalized in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) of the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, 1992. The Parties to the Convention agreed that the largest share of historical and current global emissions of greenhouse gases has originated in developed countries. It was also acknowledged that per capita emissions in developing countries are still relatively low.

Statement 2 is correct: CBDR principle acknowledges all states have a shared obligation to address environmental destruction but denies equal responsibility of all states with regard to environmental protection. In the Earth Summit, states acknowledged disparity of economic development between developed and developing countries. Industrialization proceeded in developed countries much earlier than it did in developing countries. CBDR is based on the relationship between industrialization and climate change.

Statement 3 is correct: The developed countries of the North want to discuss the environmental issue as it stands now and want everyone to be equally responsible for ecological conservation. The Developing countries of the South Feel that much of the ecological degradation in the world is the product of industrial development undertaken by the developed countries. If they have caused more degradation, they must also take more responsibility for undoing the damage now. Moreover, the developing countries are in the process of industrialisation and they must not be subjected to the same restrictions, which apply to the developed countries.Thus the special needs of the developing countries must be taken into account in the development, application, and interpretation of rules of international environmental law. This argument was accepted in the Rio Declaration at the Earth Summit 1992 in the form of the principle of ‘common but differentiated responsibilities’(CBDR).