A Chinese perspective on Zhao Yanbo post-2012 burden sharing

Abstract

The issue of climate change is a major challenge for humankind.1 It concerns the ways of survival and development. We need the common efforts of all members of the international community to tackle the problem. Climate change is, in essence, an issue about development. In the past 200 years the emissions of developed countries during the process of industrialisation have been the main contributor to climate change. Of the total amount of carbon dioxide emissions from the burning of fossil fuels, developed countries contributed 95% from the Industrial Revolution to 1950, and 77% from 1950 to 2000. It has to be acknowledged, therefore, that developed countries should take the larger part of the responsibility for solving the problem due to their past emissions.