ABSTRACT
This chapter focuses on mechanisms to affect global responsibility to adaptation and generate reliable funding, and cites the polluter pays principle (PPP) as both an economic and ethical principle. The levers and instruments are interdependent and mutually reinforcing. The contradiction of the climate regime is that while it rests on the neoliberal market system, it does not include the PPP as its provision, though the principle of CBDR+RC implicitly recognizes this. The chapter raises the basic question that under a free-market global system, why should the polluters not take responsibility for their actions, so that the global society does not suffer? The OECD countries apply this PPP in many of its forms. Some developing countries are also applying it, albeit still more as a governmental, rather than polluter, responsibility. Since the problem relates to a global commons, the whole contestation is about how to apply the PPP globally, from an equitable point of view. This section brings in Caney’s proposal that, as complementary to the PPP, the ‘ability to pay principle’ (APP), can take care of emissions of the past agreed by the Parties, and current and future legitimate emissions of the disadvantaged countries and groups of people. He calls the latter poverty-sensitive PPP. While PPP is a market principle, APP is a principle of justice and equity. That polluters should pay the costs of dealing with their pollution reflects the most fundamental principles of justice and responsibility.
