What is meant by ‘common but differentiated responsibilities’? How could we implement the idea?
'Common but differentiated responsibilities' refers to the principle accepted in the Rio Declaration at the Earth Summit in 1992. It means that while all states have common responsibilities to conserve, protect and restore the Earth's ecosystem, they have differentiated responsibilities based on their different contributions to global environmental degradation. Developed countries must take more responsibility as they have caused more ecological degradation through their industrial development.
The idea can be implemented by acknowledging that developed countries bear greater responsibility due to the pressures their societies place on the global environment and the technological and financial resources they command. The Kyoto Protocol implemented this principle by setting targets for industrialised countries to cut greenhouse gas emissions, while exempting developing countries like China and India from such requirements.
Explanation
The answer draws directly from the textbook context which explains the North-South divide on environmental issues. The principle was accepted at the Rio Summit 1992 and recognises that developed countries have contributed more to environmental degradation through industrialisation. Implementation is through agreements like the Kyoto Protocol and UNFCCC, which set binding targets for developed countries while exempting developing countries.