The issue of climate change and environmental protection has become a major source of tension and controversy between the developed and developing countries.
Western countries are using the environmental agenda as a pretext to hinder the economic growth and development of the developing countries. They point out that the Western countries have historically contributed the most to the global carbon footprint and have not fulfilled their commitments to provide financial and technological assistance to the developing countries.
They also claim that the Western countries are using environmental standards and regulations to create non-tariff barriers and restrict the trade and investment opportunities of the developing countries.
The EU has banned the import of certain forestry products and vegetable oils from the tropics, such as palm oil, on the grounds of deforestation and biodiversity loss. However, some analysts suggest that this is a disguised form of protectionism to favor the domestic producers of rapeseed and sunflower oils. Similarly, the U.S. Lacey Act, which prohibits the trade of illegal wildlife, fish, and plants, has been criticized for creating uncertainty and burdens for the exporters of timber and other products from the developing countries.
The developing countries have also expressed their dissatisfaction with the Western approach to climate adaptation and mitigation. They have demanded that the Western countries take the lead in cutting their emissions and provide more financial and technical support to the developing countries to cope with the impacts of climate change. They have also called for more flexibility and differentiation in the implementation of the Paris Agreement, taking into account the different circumstances and capacities of the developing countries.
