ABSTRACT
This chapter examines some multilateral environmental conventions with respect to the extent to which they provide incentives or differential treatment for developing countries. The incentives include norms that differentiate among states with regard to core obligations, provisions that include technical and financial assistance, and joint implementation. The disincentives to be discussed are the use of trade sanctions directed at non-parties to the treaties and non-compliance provisions directed at reluctant parties. A voluntary fund was established to support the participation or developing countries, especially the least developed, in both the preparatory process and the Rio Conference itself. The chapter discusses the financial assistance provisions of the Climate Change Convention, the Biodiversity Convention, and the Convention to Combat Desertification. Joint implementation, just as emissions trading is a market-based mechanism that has the potential of achieving low cost emission reductions while promoting sustainable development.
