Common but Differentiated Responsibilities

The principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities, or CBDR-RC, means that every country shares responsibility for protecting the climate system, but countries do not bear identical obligations. Under the UNFCCC, responsibilities are differentiated according to equity, national capabilities and countries' differing contributions to climate change.

Core requirement

Under Article 3.1, Parties must protect the climate system for present and future generations on the basis of equity and CBDR-RC. Accordingly, developed country Parties must take the lead in combating climate change and its adverse effects.

How obligations are differentiated

• All Parties have commitments under Article 4.1, including preparing emissions inventories and formulating programmes for mitigation and adaptation, while accounting for their circumstances.
• Annex I Parties undertake additional commitments concerning policies and measures to limit greenhouse gas emissions and protect sinks and reservoirs.
• Annex II Parties must provide financial resources to meet agreed costs incurred by developing countries and promote access to environmentally sound technologies.
• Under Article 4.7, effective implementation by developing countries depends on developed countries fulfilling their commitments relating to finance and technology transfer.

Implications for developing countries

CBDR-RC does not exempt developing countries from climate action. It requires differentiation in the nature and extent of action, while recognising that economic and social development and poverty eradication are their first and overriding priorities and that vulnerable developing countries require special consideration.