INDIA PROPOSES FRAMEWORK OF ACTION TO TACKLE CLIMATE CHANGE HIGH LEVEL PREPARATORY MEETING ON COP-8 BEGINS TODAY

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India has urged the countries which are Parties to the United Nations Convention on Climate Change to evolve a framework of global action for implementation of measures required to contain global warming and mitigate the adverse consequences of climate change. Addressing a high-level meeting of Environment Ministers and delegates from about 40 countries here today, the Environment and Forests Minster, Shri T.R.Baalu said that the Climate Change Conference to be held in New Delhi next month shall focus on such an action plan. This preparatory meeting was convened to help give focus to the Conference of Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP-8) to be held in New Delhi from October 23 to November 1, 2002.

Emphasising the need for a concerted effort for combating climate change, Shri Baalu said that COP-8 shall come out with an effective political articulation in the form of Delhi Declaration incorporating a concrete framework of action against climate change. He further said that India’s perspective in this regard reflects the social and economic dimension which is shared with all developing countries. India is conscious of various specific situations and special needs pertaining to various countries and particularly, of the South Asia which is a region of diversity with least developed countries and a small island developing state, the Minister said.

Shri Baalu urged the Environment Ministers and delegates attending the 2-day meeting to evolve a vision for COP-8, beginning next month for converting the promise of the United Nations Convention on Climate Change into performance. Countries representing various regions of the world and economic interests representing the global thinking on climate change have been invited for the two day preparatory meeting.