https://repository.law.umich.edu/mjeal/vol6/iss1/2/

  * Home
  * Search
  * Browse Collections
  * My Account
  * About
  * DC Network Digital Commons Network(tm)

Skip to main content

Michigan Journal of Environmental & Administrative Law

  * Home
  * About
  * FAQ
  * My Account

  *  
  *  

Home > Journals > MJEAL > Vol. 6 > Iss. 1 (2016)

 

Article Title

Comma but Differentiated Responsibilities: Punctuation and 30 Other
Ways Negotiators Have Resolved Issues in the International Climate
Change Regime

Authors

Susan Biniaz, United States Department of State

Abstract

International climate change negotiations have a long history of
being contentious, and much has been written about the grand
trade-offs that have allowed countries to reach agreement. Issues
have often involved, for example, the level of ambition,
differentiated treatment of Parties, and various forms of financial
assistance to developing countries.

Lesser known are the smaller, largely language-based tools
negotiators have used to resolve differences, sometimes finding a
solution as subtle as a shift in the placement of a comma. These
tools have operated in different ways. Some, such as deliberate
imprecision or postponement, have "resolved" an issue by sidestepping
it and allowing Parties to preserve their positions. Other tools have
enabled resolution by "splitting the difference" between opposing
views. Still others have involved optical fixes, flexibility, or
non-prejudice that helped one or more Parties go along with a
particular outcome.

This compendium of textual examples, presented in rough chronological
order, is drawn from my personal involvement in international climate
negotiations and is by no means exhaustive. The examples may be of
interest to those who follow climate change in particular, as well as
of potential use to those who work in other international fields.

Recommended Citation

Susan Biniaz, Comma but Differentiated Responsibilities: Punctuation
and 30 Other Ways Negotiators Have Resolved Issues in the
International Climate Change Regime, 6 Mich. J. Envtl. & Admin. L. 37
(2016).
Available at: https://repository.law.umich.edu/mjeal/vol6/iss1/2

Download

DOWNLOADS

Since June 08, 2017

 

Included in

Environmental Law Commons, International Law Commons, Legal Writing
and Research Commons

Share

 

COinS
 

DOI

https://doi.org/10.36640/mjeal.6.1.comma

 
 

  * About MJEAL
  * Editorial Board
  * Submissions
  * MJEAL Website
  * Our Blog

  * Most Popular Papers
  * Receive Email Notices or RSS

Select an issue:
[All Issues     ] [Browse]
 
Search

Enter search terms:
[                    ] [Search]
Select context to search:
[in this journal        ]
Advanced Search

ISSN: 2375-6276 (print)

ISSN: 2375-6284 (online)

 
 
Elsevier - Digital Commons

Home | About | FAQ | My Account | Accessibility Statement

Privacy Copyright