The International Responsibilities of Developed Countries in Adaptation to and Mitigation of Climate Change: an Ethical Mandate

• Author: M. D. Fite
• Position: School of Law, Ambo University (Ambo, Ethiopia)
• Pages: 100-111

BRICS LAW JOURNAL Volume V (2018) Issue 2

THE InTERnaTIonaL RESPonSIBILITIES oF DEVELoPED CounTRIES

In aDaPTaTIon To anD MITIGaTIon oF CLIMaTE CHanGE:

an ETHICaL ManDaTE

MEGERSA DUGASA FITE,

School of Law, Ambo University (Ambo, Ethiopia)

DOI: 10.21684/2412-2343-2018-5-2-100-111

This article asserts three propositions. First, climate change and/or global warming has

(and will continue to have) qualitative dierences in its nature and impact on rich and

poor countries, thus demonstrating the imperative of adaptation to and mitigation of

its eects. Second, the current international environmental regime is insucient for

sensible global distributive justice. What is more, in the absence of an adequate regime

the world continues to ignore fundamental ethical issues and the immediate needs

of climate-vulnerable countries. Third, the eective preservation of the environment

necessitates that developed countries bear the (ethical) responsibility for meeting the

costs associated with climate change, and urgently and unremittingly discharge their

obligation to assist developing and/or least developed countries in adapting to and

mitigating the impact of global warming.

Keywords: climate change/global warming; adaptation and mitigation; international

environmental regime; ethical responsibility.

Recommended citation: Megersa Dugasa Fite, The International Responsibilities of

Developed Countries in Adaptation to and Mitigation of Climate Change: An Ethical

Mandate, 5(2) BRICS Law Journal 100–111 (2018).

Table of Contents

Introduction

1. Adaptation to and Mitigation of Climate Change: An Ethical Mandate

2. Who Should Pay the Costs of Climate Change?