The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) signed in Rio in 1992 was the foundation of global efforts to combat global warming and Climate Change. Due to the global nature of Climate Change, the Convention urged the widest possible cooperation by all countries. The convention had set out the guiding principles of common but differentiated responsibilities, and assigned the lead role in combating climate change to developed countries, keeping in mind the fact that the largest share of global emissions of greenhouse gases (both historical and current) have originated in developed countries.

Though the developing countries are not responsible for the present state of the global atmosphere, the adverse impacts of climate change will be most severe in the developing countries mainly due to their lack of coping capacity and a constraint of resources. It is therefore logical that developing countries like India should invest in research in order to understand their vulnerability to climate change, and frame appropriate response strategies and adaptive measures to address such issues adequately.

The highest body of the Convention, the Conference of Parties (COP) has met five times so far - in Berlin in 1995 (COP 1), Geneva in 1996 (COP 2), Kyoto in 1997 (COP 3), Buenos Aires in 1998 (COP 4) and Bonn in 1999 (COP 5). All along, these COPs have discussed various issues like the adequacy of commitment and the modalities for reducing emissions from developed countries. During the COP 3 in Kyoto, Japan, the Conference adopted a Protocol universally known as the Kyoto Protocol to the Convention on Climate Change which states that industrialised countries have to reduce their combined greenhouse gas emissions by at least 5.2%, relative to 1990 levels by the period 2008 - 2012. Both the Convention and Protocol have put considerable emphasis on the promotion of sustainable development, particularly in the developing countries.

The Kyoto Protocol has also established three Kyoto Mechanisms viz; Joint Implementation, Clean Development Mechanism and Emissions Trading as a means of achieving compliance with the commitment to achieve sustainable development in developing countries like India. Out of these three mechanisms, the CDM has aroused considerable global interest. Developing countries see the CDM as one of the means of achieving sustainable development as well as increased foreign direct investment (FDI) and transfer of environmentally sound technologies (ESTs) to developing countries. Though, as per the Protocol, the CDM could be operational from 1st of January, 2000, the Protocol has not come into force yet due to inadequate ratification by the Member countries.

The COP 6 which is scheduled to be held from Nov 13, 2000 at the Hague, will discuss all the operational issues concerning the Kyoto Protocol provisions, particularly the Kyoto Mechanisms with specific reference to the Clean Development Mechanism and related issues.

The timing of this special issue of the Development Alternatives Newsletter, i.e. the "Climate Change Special" is therefore synchronous with the present global interests on Climate Change and the forthcoming Sixth Conference of Parties (COP 6).

There are considerable expectations from the Sixth Conference of Parties (COP 6). We feel that this special issue will certainly help as a curtain raiser and provide some food for thought to policy makers in the forthcoming negotiations at the Hague. q