FRAMEWORK CONVENTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE AND CONVENTION ON BIOLOGICAL DIVERSITY IMPLICATIONS FOR THE SOUTH WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE TO BANGLADESH

This article analyzes the implications of two landmark environmental treaties adopted at the 1992 Rio Earth Summit—the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)—for the developing countries of the Global South, with a special focus on Bangladesh. It examines the key principles and commitments enshrined in these conventions, such as the principle of "common but differentiated responsibilities." The study assesses how these treaties address the specific concerns of developing countries, including the need for financial assistance and technology transfer from the industrialized North to meet their environmental obligations. The research explores the specific implications for Bangladesh, a country exceptionally vulnerable to both climate change and the loss of biodiversity. The paper argues that while these conventions represent a crucial first step, their effectiveness will depend on the willingness of developed countries to provide the necessary resources to the South. The analysis concludes by outlining the strategic priorities for Bangladesh in the forthcoming negotiations to implement these conventions.

The 1992 Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro produced two landmark treaties that would shape the future of global environmental governance: the UNFCCC and the CBD. This paper analyzes the implications of these conventions for the Global South, using Bangladesh as a key case study. The analysis begins by deconstructing the core principles of the two treaties. It highlights the significance of the principle of "common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities" (CBDR-RC) in the UNFCCC, which acknowledges that the developed countries bear the primary historical responsibility for climate change and should take the lead in addressing it. For the CBD, it examines the recognition of national sovereignty over genetic resources and the provisions on access and benefit-sharing. The core of the paper is an assessment of what these legal frameworks mean for a country like Bangladesh. It details Bangladesh's extreme vulnerability to the impacts of climate change, such as sea-level rise and an increase in the frequency of cyclones, and argues that the UNFCCC provides the essential international platform for demanding assistance for adaptation. In the context of the CBD, it explores the importance of protecting Bangladesh's rich biodiversity, which is crucial for its food security and livelihoods, and the potential for benefiting from the commercial use of its genetic resources. The findings suggest that while these conventions provide a crucial normative and legal framework, their success from the perspective of the South hinges on the operationalization of the commitments on finance and technology transfer from the North. The paper concludes by outlining a diplomatic strategy for Bangladesh to pursue within these new environmental regimes.