The politics of climate change negotiations has been profoundly shaped by the North-South divide, a division rooted in the historical trajectories of industrial development, colonial legacies, and global inequalities in wealth, power, and responsibility for environmental degradation. When examining the dynamics of climate diplomacy, it becomes evident that disputes between the Global North—comprising developed countries with high historical greenhouse gas emissions—and the Global South—consisting of developing nations more vulnerable to the adverse consequences of climate change—define the contours of international bargaining. The notion of equity, justice, and responsibility forms the core of these interactions, creating a persistent tension in global negotiations. The origins of the North-South divide in climate change discussions lie in the differentiated responsibilities of nations. Industrialized countries in the North, such as the United States, European states, Japan, and others, built their economic prosperity on centuries of fossil fuel–driven industrialization, which contributed the majority of cumulative carbon emissions. On the other hand, the South, including countries in Africa, Asia, and Latin America, industrialized later and contributed only a minor share of historical emissions, while facing the harshest vulnerabilities such as rising sea levels, food insecurity, desertification, and extreme weather events. This asymmetry led to the principle of “common but differentiated responsibilities” (CBDR), which was institutionalized in the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) of 1992. CBDR acknowledged that all states share responsibility for tackling climate change, but those responsibilities are not equal, with developed countries expected to lead mitigation efforts and provide financial and technological support to the developing world. The North-South politics became particularly visible during the Kyoto Protocol negotiations in 1997. The Protocol imposed binding emission reduction targets exclusively on developed countries, while exempting developing countries from mandatory obligations, reflecting the CBDR principle. While this was celebrated by the South as recognition of historical responsibility, it was criticized by the North, particularly the United States, which withdrew from the agreement citing the absence of binding commitments for emerging economies like China and India. This episode demonstrated the persistent tension: the South demanded equity and differentiated responsibility, while the North increasingly sought universal participation to avoid competitive disadvantages in the global economy. The 2009 Copenhagen Climate Summit further exposed these divisions. Developing countries argued that industrialized nations failed to meet their commitments under the Kyoto Protocol, particularly in terms of financing and ambitious emission cuts, while developed