ABSTRACT
This chapter describes the first scientific research to demonstrate the problem of global warming. The global response to climate change needs to reach deep into areas that are normally entirely within the responsibility of national governments. The concept of responsibility has always been present in these discussions but has proved highly contentious, and sometimes has been more of a hindrance than a help. Historical responsibility was already implied in the Convention by the broad concept that Annex one countries should take the lead in greenhouse gas mitigation. It was undeniable that Annex one countries were responsible for most of past emissions and, in 1990, even most of present emissions. The rights approach can be applied on a population basis to give one of the most commonly argued top-down burden-sharing methods, per capita emissions, which would simply allocate the same tonnage of emissions to every citizen on the planet.
