Equity as a Component of Climate’s Contemporary Empire: A Response to the Montesquieu Lecture by Ralf Michaels

Abstract

This response considers equity as a normative dimension to Montesquieu’s climate theory, as framed in the lecture by Ralf Michaels. In particular, this response explores the relation of climate theory to the manifestation of equity and the equity principle of common but differentiated responsibility located within the international legal climate change regime. This exploration will cover two facets, namely the current application (if at all) of climate theory to international climate change law, and the positioning of equity and common but differentiated responsibility as a component to climate theory within the context of the international legal climate change regime.

Keywords

• equity
• common but differentiated responsibility
• international legal climate change regime