A very interesting exchange took place among Parties on how to operationalise equity in the 2015 agreement
under the Ad Hoc Working Group on the Durban Platform for Enhanced Action, as reported by the Third World Network news service (‘Operationalising equity in the new agreement’).

India emphasised the importance of the historical responsibility of developed countries in terms of their cumulative emissions (of greenhouse gases) that provide the basic rationale for developed countries to take the lead on mitigation actions and to ensure equity. This was also echoed by China and Kuwait.

India further stressed that equity rejects any notion that ambition levels in the post-2015 period should be decided solely on whether a country has financial resources or not, or on the basis of “respective capabilities”. Many developing countries also emphasised the need for the provision of finance and technology transfer in order to allow them to choose low-carbon development pathways.

China, India and the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) highlighted the importance of pre-2020 action as a foundation for a future agreement that was ambitious and equitable.

India said that although Parties may have different views on equity, the Convention is clear and the outcome in 2015 will be under the Convention. It said that the historical responsibility of developed countries in terms of their cumulative emissions provides the basic rationale for developed countries to take the lead on mitigation actions and ensure equity.

Given the wide gulf in the per capita income and expenditure between developed and developing countries, it is only desirable that the 2015 arrangements must ensure that Annex 1 and Annex II Parties take the lead and shoulder the major burden on climate change.