An Examination of the International Law Approach Towards State Responsibilities in Addressing Climate Change and Its Overall Effectiveness

This paper seeks to examine the position of international toward state responsibilities in addressing climate change and its effectiveness over the years. In order to do this, the paper first examines the concepts of climate change and global warming, the origins of these terminologies and their effects on the physical world, biological systems and human societies. Following this reference is made to the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities as the hallmark of theinternational lawapproach towards climate change, this principle is thereafter observed from its inception under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change to the Paris Agreement. The paper concludes by making recommendations on how alterations to the Paris Agreement could be more effective in addressing climate change