International ethics and governance for climate change amid the rise of BASIC countries

Climate change is a major environmental problem facing the world. In the United Nations climate change negotiations, a much-debated issue is which countries should reduce their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and who should bear the costs. In the process, since 2009 much attention has been focusing on a few big developing countries, especially the BASIC group countries. The rapid economic growth of some big developing countries in the past two decades is changing the landscape of the world economy and of development. In the climate change negotiations, big developing countries are often described as major polluters and barriers to reaching a new international climate agreement. This paper examines the recent rise of the big developing countries from an international development perspective. The process brings multiple development benefits both inside these countries and beyond their borders. The existing climate change commitments by developed countries are insufficient. A more equitable climate change regime should reflect countries' responsibilities for climate change and payment capability. Countries' per capita GHG emissions and per capita income should be used as key criteria of their climate change mitigation and adaptation, as well as international cooperation obligations. Finally, a more powerful international institution should be established to reflect the size and significance of the climate issue and effectively coordinate the international cooperation on climate change.