COP 8 should be the turning point and the developing countries must play a very positive and pro-active role, rather than the usual reactive role. The Group of 77, in consultation with other stakeholders must formulate a strategy in a participatory manner, for demanding a massive economic aid, like the Marshall Plan for Europe. Combating poverty on a priority basis, is the surest way of addressing the global climate change, sustainable development and equity and also achieving the millennium development goals.

The Convention provisions of transfer of financial and technological resources to the developing countries have received only marginal response from the industrialised countries so far. COP 8 must go for a major debate, deliberations and decisions on the fulfillment of commitments made at the RIO summit and total compliance by the industrialised countries.

Due to the extremely long atmospheric residence time of CO2 and other greenhouse gases, historic emissions and current emissions from the developed countries have already committed the atmospheric climate change with a warming range of 1.5 to 5.80C. Some signatures are already visible. The developing countries will be the worst affected due to the adverse impacts of climate change and their progress in terms of economic and social development will slow down.

No such extraneous issues such as voluntary commitment should distract the attention from the core of the debate and for decision. It was clearly articulated in the Convention, agreed by all Parties to the Convention, that the largest share of historical and current global emissions of greenhouse gases has originated from developed countries, that per capita emission in developing countries is still relatively low and that the share of global emission originating from developing countries will grow to meet their social and development needs to address their main agenda of eradication of poverty and providing a better quality of life to their people.

Most of the developing counties in the post-independent era concentrated on their efforts in economic development to address poverty eradication and provide a better quality of life, education and basic health facilities to people. The developing countries are already reeling under pressure from forces such as population growth, huge population bases, resource depletion and poverty. These countries need massive financial aid, technological support and capacity building to enhance their social development, economic development, environmental protection and technological development to address their main agenda of development i.e. poverty eradication.

Many people in developing countries live not only without safe drinking water, sanitation and medical care but also without homes. Sustainable livelihoods need to be created in millions. Added to this, education facilities need to be provided to all children. In 1995, 48 percent of the adult population in India was illiterate. Lack of education of such a large percentage of population makes the situation still worse.

During COP 7 at Marrakesh, there was an effort to create different funds to help developing countries in addressing climate change. A collective contribution by some of the industrialised countries was to the tune of US $ 401 million annually by 2005 was promised. This fund, as a token of good gesture from some of the affluent countries, was a drop in the ocean. Developing countries have waited patiently too long. At least a few trillion dollar fund may be able to pull the developing countries out of the present miserable state of affairs and bring them to a survival level and provide a decent future for them, assuring a better quality of life. Poverty and equity, in fact, have received only a marginal attention so far. COP 8 gives an unique opportunity to integrate such policies in the Convention.

Policies that lessen pressure on local resources, improve management of environmental risks and uphold the welfare of the poorest and downtrodden members of the society can simultaneously advance sustainable development, equity and encourage adaptation. In fact, the adaptation process complements the process of mitigation of climate change.

Since RIO, developing countries have played a reactive role addressing only the agenda of the Annex I countries. These countries should debate this issue among themselves, under the umbrella of G-77, to use the Convention as an opportunity for changing their lot once for all.

COP 8 provides another opportunity to the Annex I Countries who are yet to be a Party to the Kyoto Protocol so that the Protocol comes into force latest by 2003. The flexibility mechanism such as the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) has a great potential to assist developing countries to achieve sustainable development and the industrialized countries to achieve compliance with their quantified emission limitation and reduction commitments (QELRCs). In addition, CDM will help developing countries in the transfer of financial resources, technologies and provide capacity building as well as accelerate economic development.

But, in spite of sustainable development being the main concern of developing countries, none of the issues like socio-economic development, equity or poverty eradication received any worthwhile attention.

The members of G-77, who represent the voice of more than 75 percent of the global population, have a great responsibility to uphold the legitimate rights and aspirations of these people at COP 8 in New Delhi. The Group of 77 must make sure that COP 8 does not conclude in the business-as-usual manner.