North-South climate tensions may undermine progress

Significance

With the world still not on track to restrict global warming to 1.5 degrees relative to pre-industrial times, a major divide in particular looks set to grow between developed and developing economies, over who should shoulder responsibility for meeting that goal.

Impacts

• Northern-centric climate research will ensure continued bias in the identification of priorities and the development of possible solutions.
• Wealthy governments will offer individual countries financing, outside global agreements, to encourage enhanced emissions reduction.
• Natural disasters caused by climate change will drive increased undocumented migration from poor countries towards wealthy ones.