ONE of the defining features of COP28 has been the fast-growing influence of the so-called “Global South”. This is reflected in the issues discussed, and the deals made with, for instance, a landmark “loss and damage” agreement on the opening day of the climate summit.

Yet, while the concept of the “Global South” dates back six decades to the 1960s, the term’s usage has grown significantly recently, including following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, and the conflict in Gaza between Israel and Hamas.

During this time, there has been much commentary on perceptions within many Global South nations of double standards of the West.