This brief proposes 'The Oxford Approach' framework for measuring national 'differentiated economic capabilities' ("ability to pay") as integral part of an operationalisation. Based on a well-known income tax paradigm to define or assess climate change cost/burden sharing (schemes).

This paper draws on lessons from the concluded Bali Road Map negotiations to reflect on possible approaches to commitments in the 2015 agreement and its legal form, the shift from a ëtop-downí to a ëpledge and reviewí approach to commitments, and the seemingly paradoxical relationship between the nature of commitments and the effectiveness of the regime.