The Disproportionate Impact of Climate Change on the Global South by Jasleen Gill https://padlet.com/jasleengill2/Bookmarks The purpose of this research is to illuminate the effects of climate change on countries in the Global South v. the Global North, to investigate why there are differences, and to highlight how international organizations and international agreements are supporting states of the Global South. en-us 2021-10-26 06:50:45 UTC 2025-11-04 17:20:56 UTC hello@padlet.com 7. The UN Climate Partnerships for the Global South jasleengill2 https://padlet.com/jasleengill2/Bookmarks/wish/1847425474 The UN Climate Partnership for the Global South, also known as the Southern Climate Partnership Incubator (SCPI), is a initiative of the UN meant to help initiate, facilitate, and support partnerships among countries that will help states of the Global South deal with climate change. The initiative is mainly focused on the goals of the Paris Climate Agreement and the Sustainable Development Goals of the 2030 Agenda. By facilitating partnerships between countries within the Global South and also between countries of the Global North and South, the SCPI is an example of an IGO addressing the issue of disparate impacts of climate change on states of the Global South who often do not have the resources, infrastructure, finances, or capacity to carry out climate goals. ]]> 2021-10-27 07:06:57 UTC https://padlet.com/jasleengill2/Bookmarks/wish/1847425474 4. Analysis: The lack of diversity in climate-science research jasleengill2 https://padlet.com/jasleengill2/Bookmarks/wish/1847442548 "Analysis: The lack of diversity in climate-science research" is a study conducted by the Carbon Brief. The study addresses biases in how climate change is studied and discussed, in particular who's work on climate change is studied and discussed. The authors found very significant disparities in geography and gender of the 100 most-cited climate research studies they analyzed. For instance, less than 1% of authors were from Africa and 8/10 of those authors were from South Africa. Additionally, the study found that fewer than one-quarter of the authors are female and only 12 of the 100 papers had a female lead-author. This source is useful in demonstrating the lack of voices from the Global South that are included in the international discussion of climate change, despite many of these countries being disproportionately impacted by climate catastrophes. ]]> 2021-10-27 07:14:58 UTC https://padlet.com/jasleengill2/Bookmarks/wish/1847442548 1. Climate Change and the Developing World: A Disproportionate Impact jasleengill2 https://padlet.com/jasleengill2/Bookmarks/wish/1847466234 This report is from the U.S. Global Leadership Coalition. The report discusses the disproportionate impact of climate change on developing states. These challenges include fragility, conflict, displacement, food and water security, global health, and economic development. The report also proposes possible strategies to building climate resilience such as reducing the impact of climate crises like droughts and floods, increasing access to clean water, addressing migration, financing resilience for coasts and cities, reforestation, and predicting extreme weather. This source is useful because it provides some insight into the harmful impacts of climate change on countries in the Global South as well as some possible solutions that could be implemented by partnerships between Global South states, IGOs, and Global North states. ]]> 2021-10-27 07:26:28 UTC https://padlet.com/jasleengill2/Bookmarks/wish/1847466234 5. Uganda's Vanessa Nakate says COP26 sidelines nations most affected by climate change jasleengill2 https://padlet.com/jasleengill2/Bookmarks/wish/1917290458 In this interview, Ugandan climate activist Vanessa Nakate describes how her country, Africa, and much of the Global South is excluded from discussions on the impacts and the solutions for climate change. One example of this is how her name is excluded from many of the media headlines about climate activists at COP26 while the names of white, European activists are included. She also points out that many activists from the Global South were not even invited. The exclusion of climate activists from the Global South aligns with the findings from the Carbon Brief about the lack of scientist voices from the Global South. By excluding these voices, the dire circumstances faced by communities in the Global South are underreported in media and even in intergovernmental summits like COP26. 

Nakate also speaks on the failed promise of $100 billion per year by 2020 from richer, developed countries in the Global North (like the US) to climate vulnerable countries. This failure to provide promised funds to vulnerable countries who, despite not contributing much to emissions and the causes of climate change, are faced with climate catastrophe, is an example of failed international cooperation efforts on curbing the effects of climate change.]]> 2021-11-29 07:33:47 UTC https://padlet.com/jasleengill2/Bookmarks/wish/1917290458 9. Climate vulnerable in the Global South demand COP26 action jasleengill2 https://padlet.com/jasleengill2/Bookmarks/wish/1917330155 This Al Jazeera article discusses the perspective of nations of the Global South on the COP26 negotiations. The article mentions the Climate Vulnerable Forum and their critique of larger, industrialized nations contributing little to climate change solutions while contributing the most to emissions. At COP26, members of the CVF advocated for the Glasgow Emergency Pact. This written pledge would include $100 billion per year in climate finance from developed nations for developing nations. This video in this article explains that climate finance refers to financing in order to transition away from carbon-based economies and mitigate the effects of climate change in the most vulnerable countries. States in the Global North had previously committed to providing these funds by 2020 but have failed to do so.

This article and the critique from the CVF clearly demonstrates that though there may be international agreements and promises made by states for funding and for action, these promises are not always kept due to lack of direct enforcement mechanisms in the international system.]]> 2021-11-29 07:59:20 UTC https://padlet.com/jasleengill2/Bookmarks/wish/1917330155 6. The Paris Agreement jasleengill2 https://padlet.com/jasleengill2/Bookmarks/wish/1917337201 The Paris Agreement is a legally binding treaty under the UNFCC and between all states with the goal of keeping the global temperature from rising more than 2 degrees Celsius. The treaty was adopted at COP 21 on December 12, 2015 and went into effect on November 4, 2016. 

The Paris Agreement is structured around a 5-year cycle of progressively more and more aggressive action to curb global warming. This ambition, and the fact that the Paris Agreement is a landmark international agreement that it is legally binding and involves all states (including the largest polluters) in a collective effort to address climate change, is in and of itself a positive step forward by the international community in preventing the climate catastrophe that is and will continue to disproportionately harm the Global South. Additionally, the Paris Agreement's enhanced transparency framework will hopefully hold even the most powerful countries accountable for their emissions/environmental standards and the promises they have made. 

One of the aspects of the Paris Agreement that is especially important for the Global South is the financial, technical and capacity building support written into the document for these developing states. The agreement once again calls on developed nations to contribute financially to aid developing states in mitigating the effects of climate change as well as adapting to new energy sources and environmental standards. In addition, the Paris Agreement reaffirms the principle of sharing technology developed to reduce emissions as well as improve the resilience of states against the negative effects of climate change. This emphasis on technology sharing is important for developing countries who may not have the same resources as developed countries to create or pay for these technologies. Finally, the Paris Agreement emphasizes capacity-building for the states who do not have the capacity to defend against climate change. The emphasis on climate-related capacity-building calls on developed nations to increase support for developing nations in improving their state capacity through climate finance, technology sharing, and more.

The Paris Agreement of course has its shortfalls. Despite being legally binding to all states that have signed on and ratified, like in the case of all international law, there is no solving for the reality of the anarchic international system and state sovereignty. As so clearly displayed by the United States under President Trump, states can choose to leave the treaty and renege on their agreement whenever they choose. And though the agreement sets in place a robust and transparent tracking scheme to hold countries accountable to their requirements, there are no hard enforcement mechanisms built into the treaty to hold unwilling states accountable. Despite this, this Paris Agreement is still a step forward in the right direction with its ambitious goals, transparency and reporting requirements, and its provisions for climate finance, technology sharing, and capacity-building, all of which will aid the Global South in the fight against climate change. ]]> 2021-11-29 08:03:55 UTC https://padlet.com/jasleengill2/Bookmarks/wish/1917337201 8. Climate Vulnerable Forum jasleengill2 https://padlet.com/jasleengill2/Bookmarks/wish/1917337629 The Climate Vulnerable Forum is an international partnership of multiple states (of the Global South) who all face precarious futures due to climate change. The CVF is a platform for South-South cooperation in the fight against the warming climate and its disastrous effects. The CVF was founded in 2009 and is made up of 48 member states from Africa, Asia, the Caribbean, Latin America and the Pacific. Together, these states represent approximately 1.2 billion people whose homes, communities, and livelihoods are threatened by climate change.  

The states meet routinely (often in conjunction with Conferences of Parties under the UNFCC) to discuss the progression of climate change, individual efforts at reducing emissions, and joint policy. The group also commissions scientific reports on climate change, authors reports on states' climate change policies, adopts declarations and roadmaps for climate policies for their own members, and utilize their collective power to implore other nations to take action to curb emissions and halt further warming. Recently, the CVF have made a concerted effort to push nations to uphold their promises under the Paris Agreement (especially their Climate Finance promises as mentioned in the Al Jazeera article). 

The Climate Vulnerable Forum is important because it is an example of international cooperation between states to address collective problems. Though the membership and therefore global reach is smaller relative to larger IGOs like the UN, the CVF plays an important role in aiding the Global South. Because it is more regional (though encompassing states on several continents), the focus is on states facing similar problems with similar goals. Even though climate change is a global problem that requires global solutions, smaller IGOs made up of states of the Global South may make it easier to focus in on problems especially faced by these states and create solutions when there are fewer competing interests from the Global North. ]]> 2021-11-29 08:04:13 UTC https://padlet.com/jasleengill2/Bookmarks/wish/1917337629 11. The Glasgow climate pact, annotated (plus other source linked below) jasleengill2 https://padlet.com/jasleengill2/Bookmarks/wish/1918534937 The Glasgow Pact is one of the culminating products of COP26. It is an agreement between nearly 200 countries on reducing the use of coal and the emission of greenhouse gases. Though it is not a perfect document and has been widely criticized by activists and some states of the Global South, it is a compromise and step forward towards achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement and preventing any more than 2 degrees Celsius increase in global temperature. The pact clearly lays out the severity of the global threat of climate change as well as makes it clear that only by limiting global temperature rise to 2 degrees Celsius (preferably 1.5) will we avoid catastrophic conditions. It is also explicitly said that reductions in the usage of non-renewable energy sources like fossil fuels and reductions in the emission of greenhouse gases is necessary to keep global warming down.

Key components of the Glasgow Pact that are important for states in the Global South that face increased risk due to climate change are the calls for at least double the amount of climate finance funds distributed in 2019 from developed nations to developing nations by 2025. This increased financial commitment was a key goal of developing nations during COP 26. Additionally, the pact emphasizes the role of multilateral development banks, other financial institutions, and the private sector in providing climate finance. The pact also calls for increased efforts of technology sharing and capacity-building between developed and developing nations. Another important point is that the pact reemphasizes that though the climate is a shared space and a common responsibility of all people, there are also different responsibilities for different states based on their capacity, development status, and missions to eradicate poverty in their country. This recognizes the common argument made by developing nations that they cannot be expected to reduce fossil fuel usage and emissions at the same rate as developed nations who are only developed because they were able to grow and industrialize with cheaper energy sources and little to no regulations.

The Glasgow Pact is far from perfect. Many criticize its weakness and point out that it calls on states to "phase-down" coal use rather than phase-out. In particular, Pacific Island nations criticized the agreement, saying that the weak language will do little to stop the rate of GHG emissions that are contributing to climate change. Their nations are especially vulnerable to climate change as sea levels rise, people are pushed out of their homes, and many of their industries fail. Leaders of these nations criticized these incremental approaches, saying by the time real climate action is taken, it will be too late for their islands (See: Pacific island leaders bemoan weak Glasgow climate pact).

Additionally, the pact did not make any firm commitments for financing for loss and damages Global South countries have already faced from climate change. Language calling for financial assistance put in by developing countries was removed from the agreement (See: ‘Betrayal of people, planet’: World reacts to COP26 climate pact).

However this new international agreement is another compromise among very different nations and a step in the right direction. It reinforces provisions from the landmark Paris Agreement as well as increases the amount of funding for Climate Finance. Whether countries will keep their commitments and whether the pact will be enforced in any way remains to be seen.]]> 2021-11-29 17:33:06 UTC https://padlet.com/jasleengill2/Bookmarks/wish/1918534937 10. How Deep Is the North-South Divide on Climate Negotiations? jasleengill2 https://padlet.com/jasleengill2/Bookmarks/wish/1918538310 The article discusses the reality of climate negotiations among nations of the Global North and the Global South and the divisions between them. These negations remain distinctly colored by the inequity between developed and developing nations in terms of impacts of climate change as well as the impacts of climate change mitigation and adaptation efforts. Written in October of 2021, the author argues that a focus on equity will be essential for the success of the COP26 talks. 

First is the issue of culpability. Industrialized nations are largely responsible for both historic and current emissions. The U.S. is the largest emitter of GHGs to date, followed by the EU countries. China's historic contributions are only about half of those by the United States. India and Brazil as well as the entire African continent are not large historic emitters of GHGs that contribute to climate change. Equity concerns emerge when it comes to a states' total contributions to the problem of climate change versus the burden they face due to climate change. Developing nations who have not been historic emitters of CO2 and other GHGs are more vulnerable to climate disasters, economic failures, and loss of life due to climate change relative to developed, richer countries of the Global North. This inequity also creates an issue of intergenerational justice. 

Next comes equity in terms of mitigation. Many countries of the Global South argue that industrialized and post-industrialized nations should bear the greatest responsibility for climate change mitigation (reducing emissions, switching to renewables, etc.) as opposed to developing nations who have not had the opportunity to reap the economic and industrial benefits of cheap fuel sources. Developing countries argue that they should be free to pursue economic development the same way developed countries did during the industrial revolutions and the years following. Essentially, these states push for the UN-supported principle of "common but differentiated responsibilities." 

Additionally, there is the problem of funding mitigation versus funding adaptation. Developed countries do most of the international agenda setting and have focused funding efforts on mitigation rather than adaptation and resilience. Part of this may be due to the perceived positives of mitigation efforts relative to adaptation. With mitigation, emissions are overall reduced and result in widespread benefit for all people, as well as better returns on investment for financiers. Adaptation, on the other hand, is usually focused on one region, resulting in a more localized beneficial effect and less financial incentives for investors. Developing nations want more funding put towards adaptation efforts and call on developed nations to honor their promises under the Paris Agreement of climate financing meant to build resilience in the Global South.

Another issue coming up in North-South climate negotiations is the problem of pricing climate emissions and the impacts of their implementation. One scheme for pricing climate emissions that is promoted by many in the Global North is the development of an emissions trading system (EFT), also known as a cap-and-trade system. An EFT would cap the total amount of GHG emissions allowed and let firms with lower emissions sell their allotted surplus to firms with higher emissions. Under a system like this, the market would determine the rate and regulators would determine the cap. Proponents argue that EFTs shift the burden of mitigation to the actual polluters, companies. Critics argue that such as system would be detrimental to the economies and industries of developing nations. The system puts emissions from essential services like producing electricity for homes on the same level as factories. It also would not differentiate emissions standards between developed and developing countries, cutting off developing countries from the same opportunities to industrialize as countries in the Global North once had. Additionally, a new market price for emissions may be too high for economies in the Global South to absorb, leading to curtailed economic activity and job loss. 

In sum, this source provides a valuable look into the disagreements on solutions to climate change between the North and South with a particular focus on equity concerns for the Global South. This equity-focused perspective is essential when considering how to aid developing states in dealing with climate change. Only by taking these concerns into account can effective policy be developed. ]]> 2021-11-29 17:34:27 UTC https://padlet.com/jasleengill2/Bookmarks/wish/1918538310 3. Global mismatch between greenhouse gas emissions and the burden of climate change jasleengill2 https://padlet.com/jasleengill2/Bookmarks/wish/1924441190 This scientific journal article explores the connection between responsibility for greenhouse gas emissions (GHGs) that contribute to climate change and burden borne by climate change, by state. In sum, the authors conclude that there is significant inequality between high emitting states and climate-vulnerable states. Additionally, the authors find that this inequality is likely to increase by 2030. This information is especially relevant when considering which states should take the lead on climate change mitigation efforts, funding adaptation, sharing technology, and climate finance. Below are some key statistics and findings from this journal article: 

  • 20 of the 36 countries with the most emission are the least climate-vulnerable while 11 of the 17 countries with the lowest or moderate emissions are the most climate-vulnerable 
  • By 2030, the amount of acutely vulnerable countries is expected to rise, especially for island states and for African states 

]]> 2021-12-02 05:52:00 UTC https://padlet.com/jasleengill2/Bookmarks/wish/1924441190 2. Unprecedented Impacts of Climate Change Disproportionately Burdening Developing Countries, Delegate Stresses, as Second Committee Concludes General Debate jasleengill2 https://padlet.com/jasleengill2/Bookmarks/wish/1924442024 This is a coverage of a UN General Assembly meeting on October 8, 2019. Delegates discuss the disproportionate impact of climate change on developing states. This provides an important perspective from government officials of these Global South states on what their countries are facing and how the climate problems have ripple effects throughout communities. Below are some examples of negative effects of climate change on Global South states. 

  • Botswana: negative effects of climate change are keeping the country from achieving its Sustainable Development goals + climate change-related drought it severely effecting agriculture and food security
    • Here we can see two negative effects of the disproportionate impact of climate change of the developing state of Botswana. First, climate change is keeping them from realizing international commitments likely because it is stifling their economy and capacity through severe weather events like drought  
  • Tajikistan: Climate change is disproportionally burdening their developing economy + the quantity and quality of freshwater sources are being threatened by climate change 

During this meeting, representatives from developing nations also highlighted their country's positive efforts to mitigating and adapting to climate change. These efforts are important to highlight because they are demonstrations of what individual developing nations can do and what they can expand upon with  enough climate financing. Some examples below: 

  • Ethiopia: "40 Trees Per Head for New Ethiopia" project that has resulted in the planting of 4 billion new trees within 18 months. 
  • Senegal: The state plans to reduce emissions by 45% by 2030 and become carbon neutral by 2050. Currently, their energy sector uses 30% renewable energy sources. 
  • Malaysia: Enhancing palm oil production to make it more sustainable in efforts to prevent biodiversity loss, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and preserve wildlife habitats.
]]> 2021-12-02 05:52:45 UTC https://padlet.com/jasleengill2/Bookmarks/wish/1924442024 Final Analysis jasleengill2 https://padlet.com/jasleengill2/Bookmarks/wish/1924443811 What did you learn from your research?
I learned several important things from my research. I learned about the disproportionate climate change effects faced by many Global South countries because they lack the infrastructure, wealth, and capacity to adapt in ways some Global North states have. Additionally, many people living in these states make their livelihoods off the land through farming, fishing, and other small community-based endeavors. When severe weather events like floods, droughts or changing weather patterns negatively impact these industries, people lose their livelihoods and can be displaced. This can further impair the economy and capacity of a state, making it even harder for them to adapt to climate change. 

Additionally, I learned that much of the scientific discourse and activism around climate change centers voices from the Global North as opposed to voices from disproportionately affected regions in developing countries. This exclusion not only cuts individuals out of conversations and decision making, but it also cuts off the needs and perspectives of entire communities and states. 

What do the resources demonstrate about the constraints, challenges, and achievements of international law in addressing global challenges?

One reoccurring example of the constraints of international law and cooperation is the inability to completely hold states accountable to their promises and agreements, even if those agreements are legally binding. For example, in the Paris Agreement, developed nations promised to provide a certain amount in climate finance to developing nations for mitigation and adaptation efforts by 2020. However, they did not completely fulfill this promise and developing nations are left having to try and pressure the Global North to give them funds that they already agreed to give. 

Additionally, collective action problems seem inevitable when it comes to global problems that involve and affect all states. Because of their conflicting interests (economic, political, etc.), states are unable to fully realize the potential benefits of international cooperation. Instead, they block certain efforts to mandate emissions reductions (e: changing language in Glasgow Pact from "phase-out" to "phase-down" use of coal) that, if carried out, would benefit everyone. 

However, the resources collected here also demonstrate the achievements of international cooperation. As is often the globalist refrain, global problems require global solutions. Only through international cooperation like the Paris Agreement and the UNFCC Conference of Parties meetings can states come together and craft solutions (climate finance, reporting requirements, etc.) that will make significant impacts to global problems. Of course, action is needed by individual states but only by cooperating together can the global problem actually be solved. 

How are intergovernmental organizations involved?

Intergovernmental organizations are highly involved in addressing climate change. Specifically in addressing climate change in the Global South, IGOs like the UN have made concerted efforts to include and lift up the voices of developing states by including language like "common but differentiated responsibilities" in agreements on emissions goals. However, like with many compromises on international agreements, developing countries still feel as though their voices are not at the forefront of a conversation about the crisis they are suffering from the most. Therefore, intergovernmental organizations like the Climate Vulnerable Forum are essential in centering the voices of the most-affected nations and prioritizing actions that will best address their shared challenges.

What can your target audience do with this information to address these challenges?

The problem of climate change has been one of the areas of international cooperation where we have seen activism have an enormous impact. Activists such as Greta Thunberg and Vanessa Nakate have made significant strides in galvanizing the public around the issue of climate change and the inaction of state governments in addressing it. Individuals can similarly take on activists roles in their local communities to push for climate action from their governments. In the U.S., people can contact their elected representatives and implore them to support the United States' commitments to emissions reductions, climate finance, technology sharing, and capacity-building for the developing world. Constituents can pressure their elected officials to pass legislation and appropriate funding that will fulfill our commitments laid out in the Paris Agreement and Glasgow Pact. Individuals can also financially support NGOs who are doing similar work on a larger scale. In sum, though small-scale individual action like recycling and driving electric cars can only benefit the environment and therefore the circumstances of the Global South, only large-scale, global cooperation on the issue of climate change will make a large enough impact to aid the Global South in coping with and mitigating climate change.

]]> 2021-12-02 05:54:29 UTC https://padlet.com/jasleengill2/Bookmarks/wish/1924443811