The gaps between developed and developing nations, as well as between the wealthy and poor of every nation are widening as the earth’s mean temperature rises. Anjani Ganase considers recent studies that call for accountability, and wonders how TT might ensure equity among its communities.

Although the climate crisis is felt at a global scale, it is the result of the emissions of carbon dioxide mainly from a handful of industrialised nations. By 2017, the US has contributed 400 billion tonnes of accumulated carbon dioxide (since 1751) or about 25 per cent of the global cumulative emissions, followed by the European Union (22 per cent or 353 billion tonnes of CO2), China (12.7 per cent or 200 billion tonnes), Russia (six per cent or 101 billion tonnes) and India (three per cent or 48 billion tonnes).

Unfortunately, the impacts of climate change discriminate based on location and income. Poorer countries lack the resources for climate protection and mitigation, while tropical countries are more vulnerable to severe warming impacts on productivity, health and ecology (coral reefs, wetlands and forest reserve) – all of which are tied to economy. In the Caribbean where our natural resources are more susceptible to changing climate, small islands are among the most vulnerable. Conversely, colder countries in the global north (also the wealthier countries), which may have experienced impacts ecologically, have also benefitted economically from warming conditions; as their societies have developed from the use of fossil fuels. Less money is spent on heating along with better opportunities for agriculture during milder seasons.

Research shows that climate change has increased the GDP gap between the wealthy and poorer nations as much as 25 per cent in recent years. Economic losses include declines in agriculture yield because of extreme weather events (drought, fires, floods), loss in labour productivity due to heat stress, declining health and higher mortality from extreme storm events, water and food borne illnesses, illnesses related to pollution and mental health.

Now, researchers have found definitive correlation between the effect of carbon emissions released by certain countries and the declines in other countries as a result of global warming. Such scientific analyses provide the necessary proof of climate change liability for the larger carbon emitting countries that are driving climate change. The study goes on to calculate the culpability of each nation based on the historical temperature data trends and found that a small group of emitters are significantly responsible for over six trillion US dollars in global economic losses between 1990 and 2014. USA and China are each responsible for 1.8 trillion over the 25-year period, while Russia, India and Brazil, each exceed US $500 billion in responsibility for economic loss. Researchers are highlighting the need to shift from everyone doing our part to a more targeted approach to culpability of the world’s biggest climate polluters, especially as scientists