The Strength of the Global South in Addressing Climate Change

Chen Ying

Delegates attend the opening ceremony of the first Africa Climate Summit on September 4,2023 in Nairobi, Kenya.

According to State of the Global Climate 2022 and Provisional State of the Global Climate 2023 published by the World Meteorological Organization, the global mean temperature in 2022 was 1.15°C above the 1850–1900 average,the years 2015 to 2022 were the eight warmest on record, and the year 2023 was the warmest year on record.It is imperative to address the global climate crisis since it is posing increasing challenges to the ecosystem and sustainable socio-economic development of human society.The global climate governance has weathered ups and downs over the past 30 years.In this process, boundaries between the North and the South camps have been blurred with the rise of internal division.The Global South has and will continue to play an important role in improving the global climate governance.

ROLES PLAYED BY THE GLOBAL SOUTH IN GLOBAL CLIMATE GOVERNANCE

The concept of the Global South was first proposed by Carl Oglesby,an American left-wing political activist, during the Cold War.It initially referred to the vast number of developing countries that are distinct from the Western countries.However, this concept has been greatly enriched in global climate governance.

First, it refers to all developing countries.Countries are mainly categorized into two groups in climate negotiations, thus leading to North-South divide in global climate governance.The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change(UNFCCC) adopted in 1992 at the UN Conference on Environment and Development (UNCED) entered into force in 1994.With a total of 198 parties, the Convention is one of the international environmental laws with the widest coverage.The UNFCCC divides countries into Annex I Parties(developed countries and countries with economies in transition) and non-Annex I Parties (developing countries) and sets out different obligations for different groups.It is emphasized that Annex I Parties should take the lead in reducing emissions and provide non-Annex I Parties with financial and technical assistance.To realize the objectives of the UNFCCC,COP3 held in 1997 adopted the Kyoto Protocol, for the first time setting out quantitative emission reduction obligations for developed countries and countries with economies in transition (CEIT).Although developing countries were not subject to any quantitative emission reduction obligations, they pledged to control the greenhouse gas emissions through implementing sustainable development policies.

Second, it refers to the Group of 77 (G77) and China.Established in 1964, the G77 currently has 133 members.It has long been committed to strengthening solidarity and cooperation among developing countries, promoting the building of a new international economic order, and advancing socio-economic development of developing countries.At the preparatory meeting for the UNCED in 1991,the G77 and China published their first joint position paper.Since then,the cooperation mode of “the G77 and China” has gradually emerged in other areas including socio-economic development, UN finance and budget, and climate change.As representatives of the Global South, the G77 and China have participated in various climate negotiations and played a significant role in improving global climate governance.

Third, it refers to various mechanisms established by developing countries for addressing climate change.As the landscape of global climate governance evolves, the North and the South camps have been further divided by their positions, and various organizations and mechanisms have thus been formed such as the BASIC (Brazil, South Africa, India,China), the Like-Minded Developing Countries (LMDC), the Least Developed Countries (LDCs), and the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS).Countries of these organizations have gradually formed a common stance through regular exchanges, and actively safeguarded their own interests in global climate negotiations.There is also overlap between different groups.For example, 10 countries in the AOSIS are also LDCs.

Fourth, it refers to regional or functional organizations established by developing countries, including the African Union (AU), the Bolivarian Alliance for the People of Our America(ALBA) and the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).They represent the interests of their respective regions or groups and express a coordinated and consistent position in global climate governance.

HISTORICAL CONTRIBUTION OF THE GLOBAL SOUTH TO GLOBAL CLIMATE GOVERNANCE

There are three landmark events in intergovernmental climate negotiations since 1990, and the Global South has played an important role in improving global climate governance.

First, the Global South has promoted the adoption and entry into force of the UNFCCC, establishing basic principles and laying an important legal foundation for global response to climate change.During the negotiation of the Convention, there was a binary distinction between developing and developed countries.For developed countries, on the one hand, they attempted to play down or even evade their historical responsibilities and delay the fulfillment of their obligations to offer technological and financial support.On the other hand, they asked developing countries to reduce emissions.For developing countries,they strived to defend their own development rights and interests, emphasizing that eradicating poverty and improving people’s livelihoods were their top priority.Meanwhile, they stressed that developed countries should take the lead in cutting emissions and fulfill their obligations to offer financial assistance and technology transfer to developing countries.After rounds of negotiations, the UNFCCC was adopted.The Convention formalizes five principles including to act on the basis of equity and in accordance with common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities, and to promote sustainable development.The Convention divides countries into Annex I and non-Annex I Parties, and sets out common but differentiated responsibilities, striking a balance between different parties’ pursuit.

Second, after the Kyoto Protocol was adopted, the Global South has not only actively controlled greenhouse gas emissions through implementing sustainable development policies,but also helped developed countries and CEITs to meet their emission reduction targets at low cost through the Clean Development Mechanism(CDM).The Kyoto Protocol, for the first time, sets binding emission reduction targets for Annex B Parties(developed countries and CEITs),requiring them to reduce emissions of six greenhouse gases, carbon dioxide included, to 5.2% below the 1990s base year level by 2008–2012 in aggregate.The Protocol also introduced the CDM and other two project-based flexibility mechanisms, allowing Annex B countries to purchase emission reduction entitlements from a foreign country at a low cost to help them accomplish their emission reduction targets.According to the UNFCCC website, since its operation in 2006,the CDM has registered more than 1650 projects and produced certified emission reductions amounting to more than 2.9 billion tons of CO2 equivalent in the first commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol.

Third, the Global South has facilitated adoption and entry into force of the Paris Agreement, forging a global political consensus on promoting green and low-carbon development.On the eve of the Paris Climate Conference, the BASIC countries, as representatives of major developing countries, reached a consensus on facilitating the adoption of the Paris Agreement.Although the US withdrawal from the Paris Agreement imposed a negative impact on global climate governance, the Global South didn’t flinch but firmly defended the hard-won results.As of July 2023, 193 parties to the Agreement have proposed their Nationally Determined Contribution targets, and more than 150 countries have made commitment to carbon emission neutrality.All this demonstrates the irreversible and accelerating trend of global green and low-carbon development and transformation.

NEW CHALLENGES FACED BY THE GLOBAL SOUTH IN GLOBAL CLIMATE GOVERNANCE

The COP26 held in Glasgow in 2021 completed the Paris Agreement Rulebook, after which the Agreement became operational and implementable.In the current situation, the Global South is also facing many new challenges.

First, with the rise of the Global South, its contribution to global economy, trade and emissions is also increasing, giving them greater pressure to cut emissions.Globalization brought important development opportunities to the Global South.Emerging market countries, with significant economic development, become a larger driving force for the world economy compared with the US and other developed Western countries.The share of the Global South in the world economy doubled from about 20% in 2000 to 42.2% in 2021.The share of developing economies in global trade in goods roese from 14.8% in 2000 to 42.9% in 2022,and their total trade volumes tended to overtake that of the developed countries.Meanwhile, economic development and urbanization leads to rapid growth of carbon emissions of the Global South, especially those in Asia,whose global share of carbon emissions grew from 26% in 2000 to 44%in 2021.The rise of the South and the decline of the North in trade and emissions has not only profoundly changed the global climate governance, but also brought increasing pressure to the Global South to cut emissions.

Second, the US and its Western allies have taken various measures to curb the rise of the Global South and weaken the influence of the Global South.In recent years, the US and its Western allies have been wary of the rise of the Global South.When the EU found its competitive advantage disappeared with the rapid growth of China's electric vehicle exports, it immediately launched an anti-dumping investigation on China.In June 2022,the G7 summit proposed to establish an open, inclusive and cooperative international Climate Club.But in reality, the Club serves to implement their trade protection measures such as imposing carbon tariffs.On the one hand, they invite some developing countries to join their small circle by, for example, establishing the Just Energy Transition Partnership with South Africa.On the other hand, they attempt to impose unilateral punitive measures on countries outside the circle.All this creates a more complex and volatile international environment for the Global South.

Third, it’s difficult for the Global South to take a united stance since member countries are at various development stages and have different interests and demands.Among members of the Global South, only a handful of emerging countries are developing rapidly, while many others are experiencing slow development or stagnation for various reasons, or are even in economic recession because of regional conflicts.The development gap within the Global South has been widening,sometimes even surpassing that between the North and the South.The Paris Agreement Rulebook weakens the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities, and blurs the line between the North and the South.On issues such as the phase-out of fossil fuels, fund-raising, and compensation for losses and damages, there is a clear divergence of interests among countries in the South camp, and it is becoming increasingly difficult to coordinate their needs and interests.

POOLING THE STRENGTH OF THE GLOBAL SOUTH TO ADVANCE GLOBAL CLIMATE COOPERATION

Strengthening international cooperation is essential for addressing climate change.Countries of the Global South should enhance solidarity to have a stronger voice and safeguard their overall interests.Going forward, the Global South should and can play a bigger role in global climate governance.

First, China is committed to its natural membership of the Global South and its leading role in maintaining the solidarity of the Global South.China being a natural member of the Global South is a fact that cannot be changed by a decision or a statement by the US and its Western allies.The G77 and China always speak on behalf of developing countries.China, as an important member of the BASIC, the BRICS and developing countries with similar positions,will continue to gain strength from and safeguard the solidarity of the Global South, and will actively take the lead in global climate governance.BRICS expansion in 2023 made the organization become more significant in terms of the population, economic volume and geopolitical influence.BRICS has also transitioned from an organization of emerging economies to a platform for developing countries.Such transition not only enhances its overall influence, but also meets the expectations of the international community and demonstrates the importance and value of multilateralism.Through implementing the Joint Statement issued at the BRICS Highlevel Meeting on Climate Change,BRICS countries will become a political force to be reckoned with in the global climate governance.In the face of unilateral punitive measures taken by some Western countries such as building small circles and imposing carbon tariffs, countries of the Global South should manage the differences and strengthen solidarity to balance the influence of the Global North.

Second, the roles of such platforms as the South-South cooperation on climate change and the green Belt and Road Initiative should fully leverage to enhance cooperation among countries of the Global South on climate change and green development.Developing countries urgently need external financing, technology transfer and capacity-building to address climate change and boost green development.As willingness of developed countries to provide financial assistance keeps declining,South-South climate cooperation has received increasing attention.China has established the South-South Climate Cooperation Fund, and incorporated more climate-related projects into the Belt and Road cooperation.Having stopped building new coalfired power projects abroad, China is also vigorously developing renewable energy.Going forward, China should further enhance the efficiency of the South-South Climate Cooperation Fund, work with other countries to launch more climate-friendly infrastructure projects, such as renewable power plants, clean and efficient transportation systems and climateresilient buildings, and further pool the strength of the Global South on climate change and green development to lead win-win cooperation among countries of the Global South.

Researchers set up an automatic weather station at the summit of Cho Oyu Peak.

Third, it is necessary to unleash the potential of the Global South in addressing climate change and promoting green development within the framework of the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative.The Global South has a large number of countries with various resource endowments, culture, traditions and interests, at different development stages.However, they have common pursuit of a better future and sustainable development, and there is a huge potential for cooperation.From 2021 to 2023,China put forward three major global initiatives which advocate accelerating the implementation of the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development,steering global development toward a new stage of balanced, coordinated and inclusive growth, staying committed to the vision of common, comprehensive,cooperative and sustainable security,and respecting the diversity of world civilizations.All these three initiatives have gained more and more support from the Global South.To combat climate change is one of the UN sustainable development goals and a key area for cooperation of the Global Development Initiative.When implementing the three initiatives, we should promote sustainable development of the host countries, and respect rights of all countries to independently choose their own green development paths, so as to pool the strength of the Global South for win-win cooperation.