What might a developing country climate commitment look like?

The document argues that the stalemate in international climate negotiations stems from the assumption that developing country commitments must mirror the absolute emission limits of industrialized nations. It proposes using greenhouse gas intensity indicators—measuring emissions per unit of economic output—to decouple economic growth from emissions growth, thereby respecting the differentiated circumstances of developing nations while ensuring their participation in climate solutions.

• Applying the same commitment models used by industrialized countries to developing nations could jeopardize the environmental integrity of the Kyoto Protocol due to uncertainties regarding future emission levels and the Protocol's emissions trading rules.
• Greenhouse gas intensity indicators are proposed as a more suitable measure for developing countries than 'growth caps' or absolute limits, as they focus on decoupling economic growth from emissions growth and align with sustainable development.
• The ability to discuss and establish developing country commitments is currently hindered by a lack of comprehensive and accurate greenhouse gas emissions data, particularly concerning land-use change.

APA

World Resources Institute (n.d.). What might a developing country climate commitment look like? https://www.wri.org/research/what-might-developing-country-climate-commitment-look

Chicago

World Resources Institute. What might a developing country climate commitment look like? n.d. https://www.wri.org/research/what-might-developing-country-climate-commitment-look.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=World Resources Institute |title=What might a developing country climate commitment look like? |url=https://www.wri.org/research/what-might-developing-country-climate-commitment-look |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{worldresourcesinstitutendwhat, author = {{World Resources Institute}}, title = {{What might a developing country climate commitment look like?}}, institution = {World Resources Institute}, url = {https://www.wri.org/research/what-might-developing-country-climate-commitment-look}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }