World Business

The Principle of Grandmothering

By Hu Tao and Li Xuan (chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2011-01-21 17:11

Human Right based GHGs Emission Responsibilities

Hu Tao, coordinator of UN-China Climate Chang Partnership Framework, at the Hong Kong Climate Conferecne Nov 2010.

Principle of Grandmothering

The Principle of Grandmothering is the principle that GHGs emission responsibilities should be equally taken and GHGs emissions rights should be equally distributed by every person of human being on the earth. No one can discriminate the others right and no one should not be discriminated by others. That means everybody on the earth has the same responsibility and same right of GHGs emission.

This Principle of Grandmothering exactly reflects everybody's "common responsibility" of GHGs emission on the earth. The differentiated responsibilities due to historic accumulated GHGs emission are needed to be addressed by other principles.

In the feudalism society, normally a grandfather grants the family legacy to his eldest son (or sometimes another favorite son) and then his eldest grandson. Even daughters have no any rights to share the legacy. The legacy shares of other sons and daughters, grandsons and granddaughters are ignored. In modern society, a grandmother treats her sons and daughters, grandsons and granddaughters equally. The family legacy is normally shared by every son and daughter, grandson and granddaughter equally. In such a 21st century society, the Principle of Grandfathering should be taken by the Principle of Grandmothering.

The Principle of Grandmothering is being applied by influential politicians. Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and German Chancellor Agenla Markel all mentioned the per capita emissions recently. German Federal President Horst K.hler says: "Every human being on earth has as a matter of principle a right to an equal, if restricted, volume of CO2 emissions; and must have the chance of development and the possibility of a life free from misery and poverty. The process of climate change demonstrates very clearly that the nations of the world depend on one another. Now, I can see that there is a vital opportunity for the international community to also be a place of learning and responsibility." And German Chancellor Agenla Markel even suggests 2 tons per head.

Conclusions

The Principle of Grandmothering and Cap-trading approach is a win-win solution for current climate policy regime, win for equality and win for efficiency. To apply for this principle in the coming UNFCCC Conference of Parties would promote the negotiations substantially.

Hu Tao currently is Coordinator of UN-China Climate Chang Partnership Framework (CCPF). He is also a senior environmental economist of Policy Research Center of Ministry of Environmental Protection