Abstract:

Simplifying the elements of international regimes into ‘principles’ and ‘rules’ the article analyzes the significance of the Paris Agreement’s adherence to the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities (CBDRRC) and the changes in the approach to apply this principle. The CBDRRC is an important element of international climate regime and defines the basic feature of global climate governance regime, that is, the fair distribution of commitments between developed and developing countries. However, there are always divergences on the interpretation and the approach to apply this principle among Parties, especially since 2007. The Paris Agreement makes it clear that it will be implemented to reflect equity and the principle of CBDRRC, in the light of different national circumstances. This settles the divergences among Parties in some sense and guarantees the equity, universality, legality and effectiveness of international climate regime. However, there are some changes in the approach to apply the principle, which add new features to the rules of the international regime. Above all, the transformation of international climate regime so far has been the change within the regime.

Key words: Paris Agreement, the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities, international climate regime, climate negotiation