These resources explore the debates of Global North and Global South, on the topic of climate change. Further, they bring to light how the massive carbon budget, a global resource, has been disproportionately utilized by the rich nations of the global north. The resources attached below also explore the vulnerability of the global south nations, as they are worst impacted by rising climate shocks.
The article takes one through the different historical contributions each country has had to today’s greenhouse emissions, particularly discussing the global north and the global south. It takes one through the estimate of the World Inequality Database, which establishes that the global north are responsible for around half of all the emissions since the industrial revolution. Further, it explores how climate change deepens inequalities within the countries, by hitting the most vulnerable.
This article discusses how climate change has a more destructive effect on the communities living in the global south, as they have fewer resources to adapt and respond to natural catastrophes. The concept of climate colonialism which refers to the exploitation of power and resources by Global North countries while dealing with climate change and environmental policies is also explained here.
This piece brings to light the perspective of the global south in climate change. Developing countries need to access clean and sustainable technologies in order to transition to a low-carbon economy. It also highlights how climate change would be disruptive to their lifestyles, and cultural practices and would cause land degradation and biodiversity loss.
The article observes that while the global north has been taking initiatives to reduce carbon emissions, the global south simply cannot do so as the majority of the population is yet to achieve its basic standard of living. Therefore, the author points out that the developed countries should make the mitigation quicker, while also helping the south to get cleaner and greener ways of energy.
The article explores the north-south divide and the various viewpoints both side holds in negotiations. The diversion between approaches of the developed and the developing nations as the nature of the environmental problem and the causes of environmental degradation are different in Northern and Southern countries.
The paper highlights how even in the global south, countries have emitted greenhouse gasses differently. The members of the global south are affected differently and contribute differently to global climate change.
The article focuses on how the energy transition in the Global South should not just be looked at from the lens of the environment, but also on moral and economic grounds. The gap in clean energy financing remains a challenge, therefore the developed countries should channel the funding in a way that reaches the developing countries. The author calls for collaborative action involving businesses, NGOs, and governments, to co-create sustainable solutions.
The paper explains how the global north is responsible for a disproportionate amount of emissions. It brings into focus the Lancet Planetary Health Study, based on the idea that the atmosphere is a part of the global commons. These natural resources are unowned and belong to the entire world.
This piece by Al Jazeera explains how climate change is impacting the global south using examples from heatwaves in India and Pakistan, drought in Kenya and torrential rain in Bangladesh. It further elaborates how the onus is on the rich countries in North America and Europe to help vulnerable countries to weather climate impacts. The article also puts forth points from the ACT2025 consortium (Allied for Climate Transformation by 2025), a coalition amplifying the voices of vulnerable countries in climate negotiations. This was a call to action for progress at the COP 27 conference in Egypt.
The article explains how the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), is supported by the Paris Agreement which aims to reduce the rise in global temperature to 1.5 degrees. This agreement creates a number of provisions that encourage nations to take climate action. The article further mentions that governance of article 2.1 (c) and broader climate finance matters should encompass India and other countries of the global south, who would play an active role in ensuring the Global North is fair and equitable in funding.
This climate equity monitor is a wonderful resource for understanding the carbon budget and how it has been massively appropriated by developed countries.
The article explains how the poor countries bear the unequal burden of climate change, which stands at the center of the Global North vs Global South debate. This was a theme of the recently released Economic Survey 2024 in India.
The article further takes one through the analysis of the top countries by fossil fuel consumption in 2023, highlighting that the global north is responsible for nearly half of all emissions since the Industrial Revolution. It highlights how the rich countries should facilitate a just transition in developing economies by providing adequate climate finance and technology support.
This reading list is compiled by Durrain Desnavi. She is currently a Research Intern with TA.
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