Adapting responsibilities: an ethical analysis of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change is the seminal international agreement that provides a commitment and a corresponding responsibility framework to assist the least developed countries (LDCs) adapt to the adverse effects of climate change. To operationalize these commitments the National Adaptation Programmes of Action was created to assist LDCs implement adaptation projects. This programme has been severely hampered by the limited resources provided by Parties to the Convention. The lack of resources brings into question not only the commitment to adequately fund the program, but also the adequacy of the Convention's framework for assigning responsibility to support the LDCs' climate change adaptation projects. This paper seeks to determine whether the Convention's responsibility framework meets the requirements of the Social Connection Model. This model has the potential to aid stakeholders in determining their responsibility to fund the program and to identify failings by stakeholders to discharge their responsibilities.