“The principle of fair reduction is based on the concept of historic responsibility. Developed countries finished industrialising first. Thus, over the last 60 years, the developed countries, which represent 17 percent of the world's population, have been responsible for 70 percent of carbon emissions. The developed countries should adjust for this disparity accordingly. In contrast, developing countries, which represent 83 percent of the world's population, have contributed only 30 percent of total carbon emissions over the past 60 years. It is therefore fair to give developing countries more leeway to produce carbon emissions.”

Yan Xuetong
Time Neutral

Explore This Quote Further

Quote by Yan Xuetong: “The principle of fair reduction is based on the … - Image 1

Similar quotes

“At present, the developed countries condescend to the developing ones.”


“I think it's wrong that only one percent of the people should own ninety percent of the country.”


“Not all developing countries are the same.”


“When Al Gore urges the citizenry to sacrifice their plastic shopping bags, their air-conditioning, their extraneous travel, the agnostics grumble that human activity accounts for just 2 percent of global carbon-dioxide emissions, with the remainder generated by natural processes like plant decay.”


“What Asia's postwar economic miracle demonstrates is thatcapitalism is a path toward economic development that is potentiallyavailable to all countries. No underdeveloped country in theThird World is disadvantaged simply because it began the growthprocess later than Europe, nor are the established industrial powerscapable of blocking the development of a latecomer, providedthat country plays by the rules of economic liberalism.”


“alcohol consumption fell sharply at the beginning of Prohibition, to approximately 30 percent of its pre-Prohibition level,” and by the time of Repeal had risen “to about 60–70 percent of its pre-Prohibition level.”