Common but differentiated responsibilities principle – UGC NET Question

Common but differentiated responsibilities acknowledges that while all countries share an obligation to protect the global environment,their responsibilities differ based on historical contributions and capabilities. It underpins equity oriented approaches in climate negotiations. The principle guides allocation of mitigation burdens between developed and developing nations. Therefore the description in the question accurately reflects common but differentiated responsibilities.

Option A:
Common but differentiated responsibilities stresses that industrialised countries,which have emitted more in the past,should take the lead in reducing emissions. At the same time,developing countries are encouraged to pursue sustainable paths with support. This nuanced understanding of shared yet unequal duty is exactly what the stem describes.

Option B:
Sovereign equality is a principle of international law that treats all states as formally equal regardless of their size or power. It does not directly address environmental responsibility or historical emissions. Hence it is not the correct term here.

Option C:
Territorial integrity refers to the inviolability of a state’s borders and territory against external aggression. It has little to do with allocation of environmental responsibilities. Therefore it cannot match the definition in the question.

Option D:
Collective security denotes a system in which states agree that an attack on one is an attack on all,primarily in the context of military threats. It is unrelated to differentiated obligations for environmental protection. Thus it is not an appropriate answer.