differentiated responsibility

USAGE SUMMARY

The phrase "differentiated responsibility" is correct and usable in written English.
It can be used in contexts discussing the allocation of responsibilities among different parties or individuals, often in organizational or legal frameworks. Example: "In our project, we have established a framework of differentiated responsibility to ensure that each team member knows their specific roles and tasks."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

26 human-written examples

In order to speed up the negotiating, COP President Fabius has introduced four working groups, which will each be focused on one of four substantive issues – financial and capacity-building support, differentiated responsibility [i.e. which countries are most responsible for causing and tackling climate change], long-term goals and periodic review of the deal, and pre-2020 climactiontion.

Vice

The principle of common but differentiated responsibility is of importance to China and premier Zhang reiterated this in his speech by saying this principle "must be upheld in the negotiations and final outcome of the 2015 agreement".

The Guardian

But I think in order for it to be fair and just to the developing world, one of the most important concerns that they have raised is that it must recognise the principle of common but differentiated responsibility.

The Guardian

A tax-fund system is proposed, that following the principle of common but differentiated responsibility, tries to spread the burden of conservation equally across land owners while optimizing the environmental outcome.

Forest Policy and Economics

Developing countries are of the view that climate change negotiations must be based on the principles of "equity" and "common but differentiated responsibility" in the U.N. Framework Convention on Climate Change, adopted in 1992, from which these negotiations emerged.

The New York Times

One reason this is so difficult is the dispute over the concept of "common but differentiated responsibility" – which means each country's action reflecting its historical contributions to raising cumulative levels of greenhouse gases, and also its wealth.

The Guardian

Human-verified similar examples from authoritative sources

Similar Expressions

34 human-written examples

Common but differentiated responsibilities (CBDR), principle of international environmental law establishing that all states are responsible for addressing global environmental destruction yet not equally responsible.

Britannica

The Mexican proposal (pdf) to have "common but differentiated responsibilities" is a good one.

The Guardian

But the developed countries tried to create a new treaty and abandon the principle of "common but differentiated responsibilities".

The Guardian

Thus, there is a recognition of shared although differentiated responsibilities for the flourishing of the Earth Community.

Yale University

One of the guiding themes of the UNFCCC is the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities.

Columbia University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

When discussing international agreements, use "differentiated responsibility" to acknowledge that different nations have varying capacities and historical contributions, and therefore should have different obligations.

Common error

Avoid assuming all parties should bear the same burden; acknowledge the historical and contextual factors that justify "differentiated responsibility".

Linguistic Context

The phrase "differentiated responsibility" functions as a noun phrase used to describe a principle, particularly in international law and policy, where responsibilities are not uniformly distributed but are adjusted based on factors such as historical contributions or capabilities. Ludwig examples show its use in discussing climate change negotiations and international agreements.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

38%

Science

31%

Academia

23%

Less common in

Formal & Business

4%

Encyclopedias

3%

Wiki

1%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The phrase "differentiated responsibility" is a noun phrase of formal and scientific register, commonly used in contexts such as news, science, and academia. As Ludwig AI indicates, it is grammatically correct and prevalent in discussions about international law and policy, particularly in environmental agreements. The phrase advocates for fairness and equity by acknowledging that responsibilities should be allocated based on historical contributions and capabilities. To prevent misuse, ensure historical and contextual factors justify the differentiation of responsibilities when using this phrase. Related phrases include "varied accountability" and "differential accountability".

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

differential accountability

Similar to "differentiated responsibility" but uses "accountability" instead.

varied accountability

Changes the noun to emphasize the concept of being held accountable.

shared but distinct obligations

Replaces "responsibility" with "obligations" and highlights the shared aspect, while emphasizing differences.

unequal burdens

Focuses on the unequal distribution of burdens or duties.

graded duties

Implies a hierarchical structure of duties or responsibilities.

proportional liability

Emphasizes that liability is proportionate to the level of responsibility.

tiered accountability

Indicates a system of accountability with different levels or tiers.

relative responsibility

Highlights that responsibility is relative to specific circumstances or contributions.

scaled duties

Suggests duties that are adjusted or scaled according to different factors.

separate duties

Focuses on the separation and individual assignment of duties.

FAQs

What does "differentiated responsibility" mean in the context of climate change?

It means that while all countries have a responsibility to address climate change, developed nations, having contributed more historically to greenhouse gas emissions, should take the lead in reducing emissions and providing financial and technological support to developing countries.

How does "differentiated responsibility" relate to the Paris Agreement?

The Paris Agreement acknowledges the principle of "common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities", recognizing that different countries have different capacities and circumstances when setting their climate goals.

What's the difference between "differentiated responsibility" and "equal responsibility"?

"Differentiated responsibility" recognizes that different parties have varying capacities and historical contributions, implying different levels of obligation. "Equal responsibility" suggests that all parties should bear the same burden, regardless of their past or present circumstances.

Is "differentiated responsibility" only applicable to environmental issues?

While commonly used in the context of environmental agreements like the Paris Agreement, the concept of "differentiated responsibility" can also be applied to other areas where fairness and equity are considerations, such as international trade, global health, and humanitarian aid.