Abstract
A paradox surrounds the concern on equity in the debates and politics on climate change. In this field of research, Adam Rose appears to be the pioneer, opening in 1992 with the publication of Equity Considerations of Tradeable Carbon Emission Entitlements, a wealth and luxuriant wave of complex publications by other scholars. Yet, on the other hand, the dispositions in the international treaties taking into account this concern remain largely invocatory, without any substantial and concrete implementation. Since 1992, the UNFCCC contains, in the first paragraph of article 3, such an invocatory disposition claiming that 'the Parties should protect the climate system for the benefit of present and future generations of humankind, on the basis of equity and in accordance with their common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities.' However, the concrete translation of this principle of equity seems to be very simplistic, Article 3 continues as follows, 'Accordingly, the developed country Parties should take the lead in combating climate change and the adverse effect thereof.' Even then, at the first Conference of Parties to the UNFCCC, and at the negotiations to the Kyoto protocol, the developing countries still rejected binding commitments to reduce their GHG emissions.
