Assignment 7
Semester 2 2025
Due 2025
, DVA4801
Assignment 7
Semester 2 2025
Due 2025
Political and Economic Dimensions of Climate Change in the Global South
Climate change presents profound political and economic challenges for developing
countries. Nations in the Global South are disproportionately exposed to climate
impacts despite contributing only marginally to historical greenhouse gas emissions .
This asymmetry has framed climate change as an issue of justice, with developing
countries invoking the principle of “common but differentiated responsibilities” and
consistently pressing for financial support and technology transfer from wealthier states
.
Since the Paris Agreement (2015), international diplomacy has centered on balancing
mitigation (emissions reductions) with adaptation (resilience-building) for vulnerable
nations. The Agreement required all countries to set nationally determined contributions
(NDCs) aiming to limit global warming to “well below” 2 °C . Subsequent Conferences of
the Parties (COPs) sharpened this framework: COP26 (Glasgow, 2021) urged
developed nations to double adaptation finance by 2025 ; COP27 (Sharm el-Sheikh,
2022) created a dedicated Loss and Damage Fund for vulnerable states ; and COP28
(Dubai, 2023) concluded the first global stocktake, declaring progress “too slow across
all areas” and calling for a transition away from fossil fuels towards renewable energy .
These agreements highlight the political stakes for the Global South: governments must
integrate climate goals into domestic policies while simultaneously negotiating external
support, while developed nations face mounting pressure to meet long-unfulfilled
pledges such as the $100 billion/year financing commitment .