The 30th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP30) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) will be held in Belem, Brazil, in November 2025. This meeting is vital as climate change mitigation requires global cooperation. Despite international agreements, current commitments fall short of limiting global warming to safe levels. The session aims to address these gaps and reinforce responsibilities, especially among major emitters.
Background of UNFCCC and Climate Responsibility
The UNFCCC was designed to place the onus of climate action on developed countries, known as Annex 1 nations. This principle, called common but differentiated responsibilities, recognised historical emissions. Over time, developed countries have shifted towards voluntary commitments from all nations. This shift places developing countries like China and India at the forefront of mitigation efforts, despite their lower per capita emissions.
Paris Agreement and Temperature Goals
The 2015 Paris Agreement set a goal to keep global temperature rise well below 2°C and strive for 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. However, current national pledges are insufficient. UNEP’s Emissions Gap Report 2024 projects a temperature rise between 2.6°C and 2.8°C by 2100. Without additional policies, this could reach 3.1°C, threatening global stability and ecosystems.
Economic Impact of Climate Change
Climate change poses severe risks to economies, especially in developing Asia and the Pacific. The Asian Development Bank warns that unchecked warming could reduce GDP by up to 17% in this region by 2070. India alone could face a GDP decline of nearly 25% under high-emission scenarios, denoting the urgent need for effective climate policies.
Current Emissions and Major Emitters
Six countries and regions—United States, European Union, China, Russia, Japan, and India—account for 74% of cumulative CO₂ emissions. Developed countries show declining emissions since 1995, but their per capita emissions remain high. For example, the US per capita emissions were 14.3 tonnes in 2023, while India’s were only 2.1 tonnes. This disparity puts stress on the complexity of assigning climate responsibilities fairly.
US Climate Policy Shifts
The US has had an inconsistent climate policy. It initially doubted human-induced warming but later joined the Paris Agreement under Barack Obama. The Biden administration renewed climate efforts with the Inflation Reduction Act. However, the Trump administration withdrew from the Paris Agreement and weakened emission reduction targets, reducing the US pledge for 2030 from 40% to 3%. This reversal worsens global climate prospects.
Urgency and Goals for COP30
COP30 aims to restore trust and strengthen commitments, especially from developed countries. Brazil, and other low-emission developing nations seek to reaffirm the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities. The conference must push for faster, credible action to avoid dangerous climate tipping points and global economic disruption.
Questions for UPSC:
- Critically discuss the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and its relevance in contemporary climate negotiations.
- Examine the economic impacts of climate change on developing countries with examples from Asia and the Pacific; discuss policy measures to mitigate these effects.
- With examples, analyse the role of major emitters like the United States and China in global climate change mitigation and the challenges in balancing development and environmental goals.
- Discuss in the light of recent climate agreements how global cooperation can be enhanced to meet the targets of the Paris Agreement and prevent dangerous climate change.
