POLICY BRIEF

The policy brief introduces the Greenhouse Development Rights (GDRs) framework to resolve the impasse between climate mitigation and the right to development. It proposes a system where climate obligations are based on a 'Responsibility and Capacity Indicator' (RCI), which excludes income below a development threshold of USD 20 per day. The analysis suggests that to keep warming below 2°C, Annex 1 countries must take responsibility for emission cuts exceeding 100% by 2025, combining deep domestic reductions with financial and technological support for the South. The brief recommends that Annex 1 countries lead the transition and fulfill unmet financing commitments before expecting legally binding commitments from non-Annex 1 countries.

• There is a fundamental tension between the urgent need for climate stabilization and an ongoing development crisis, creating a 'North-South impasse' in international negotiations.
• To maintain a safe climate threshold of 2°C, developed countries must eventually take responsibility for emission reductions that exceed 100% of their own emissions.
• The GDRs framework defines 'capacity' as income excluding that which falls below a development threshold, set at USD 20 per day (PPP), to ensure those in poverty are not burdened by the costs of the climate transition.
• The framework utilizes a Responsibility and Capacity Indicator (RCI) to determine national obligations, where responsibility is defined as emissions corresponding to consumption above the development threshold.
• For Annex 1 countries, the GDR analysis indicates a reduction obligation that is nearly 70% below 1990 levels by 2020 and exceeds 100% by 2025, requiring a combination of domestic cuts and international investment.
• Non-Annex 1 countries should not be pressured into legally binding commitments during the Copenhagen period, as their distrust stems from the North's failure to meet UNFCCC and Kyoto commitments regarding financial and technological support.

APA

Kartha, S. (n.d.). POLICY BRIEF. Stockholm Environment Institute. https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/Climate-mitigation-adaptation/Equitable_approaches_to_mitigation_and_adaptation/Capacity-According-GDR-Framework.pdf

Chicago

Kartha, Sivan. POLICY BRIEF. Stockholm Environment Institute, n.d. https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/Climate-mitigation-adaptation/Equitable_approaches_to_mitigation_and_adaptation/Capacity-According-GDR-Framework.pdf.

Wikipedia

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BibTeX

@techreport{karthandpolicy, author = {Kartha, Sivan}, title = {{POLICY BRIEF}}, institution = {Stockholm Environment Institute}, url = {https://www.sei.org/mediamanager/documents/Publications/Climate-mitigation-adaptation/Equitable_approaches_to_mitigation_and_adaptation/Capacity-According-GDR-Framework.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }