It is a well known fact that the poorest people of the world are most vulnerable to destruction caused by natural disasters. The Asian tsunami provides evidence of this phenomenon. Increase in drought frequency in Africa is another reason why policymakers around the globe must consider decisions that would have a long-term impact on humanity (Global 2007).
Considering that the developed nations of the world already have the resources to improve vehicle and fuel technologies in order to reduce air pollution, the United Nations Environment Programme has created a Partnership for Clean Fuels and Vehicles between the developed and developing countries (Partnership).Whereas such programs are designed to provide monetary and informational assistance to developing countries, as the entire world expresses its concerns over the disastrous effects of climate change – conventions on climate change, for example, the Ramsar Convention, are not meant to be regulatory bodies that could compel the contracting parties to follow their guidelines under the rule of law.If the contracting parties fail to fulfill their contract obligations, there are no punitive measures taken by the Ramsar Convention, although the terms of the Convention are said to “constitute a solemn treaty,” and are therefore considered “binding in international law (The Ramsar Convention 2007). ” What is truly needed is to make such conventions binding in international law.At present, no contracting party can be compelled to follow the guidelines of any such convention. By empowering the International Court of Justice to undertake the task, it may indeed become possible to develop a new convention on climate change for both the developed and developing countries.
What is more, like the ‘no child left behind’ law, the new convention should aim to include every single country on the face of the earth.
