기후변화에 대한 역사적 책임

Developing countries emphasized that developed countries have historical responsibility to climate change. UNFCCC and Kyoto Protocol accepted different obligation of reduction GHG between AnnexⅠ States and non-AnnexⅠ States. In the COP 18, Parties have decided that the length of the second commitment period will be 8 years from 2013, and agreed to speedily work toward a universal climate change agreement covering all countries from 2020. However, some industrialized AnnexⅠ States such as China, India and Brazil have denied because of historical responsibility of developed countries. Some non-AnnexⅠ States such as USA, Canada, Japan, and Russia have denied their compulsory reduction emission because of developing countries' denial of their obligation. We must review concept of historical responsibility in order to agree new climate change scheme covering all countries. Historical responsibility is not 'state responsibility' in public international law because countries had no legal binding obligation to protect environment in the past. We can understand concept of historical responsibility as polluter pays principle. Polluter Pays principle is not legal principle to decide responsibility or liability of stats but economical-political principle to distribute costs for recovery of polluted environment. Historical responsibility include concept of equity as inter-generational and intra-generational equity. We are not supposed to understand historical responsibility as the ground for exemption of developing countries' obligation. But we can use historical responsibility as the basis for differentiation of each country's duties according to their historical contribution to climate change, capability of finance and technology.