[Title] Delhi Ministerial Declaration on Climate Change and Sustainable Development

The Ministers and other heads of delegation present at the eighth session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change,

Recalling the ultimate objective and principles of, and the commitments under, the Convention, Reaffirming that economic and social development and poverty eradication are the first and

overriding priorities of developing country Parties,

Recognizing with concern the findings of the IPCC Third Assessment Report, which confirms that significant cuts in global greenhouse gas emissions will be necessary to meet the ultimate objective of the Convention, and recognizing the on-going consideration in the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice of the implications of this report,

Noting that mitigation actions are now taking place both in Annex I and non-Annex I countries and emphasizing that mitigation of greenhouse gas emissions to combat climate change continues to have high priority under the provisions of the Convention and that, at the same time, urgent action is required to advance adaptation measures,

Recognizing that climate change could endanger future well-being, ecosystems and economic progress in all regions,

Deeply concerned that all countries, particularly developing countries, including the least developed countries and small island developing States, face an increased risk of the negative impacts of climate change,

Recognizing that, as Africa is the region suffering the most from the combined impacts of climate change and poverty, development initiatives such as the New Partnership for Africa'fs Development should be supported in the context of sustainable development,

Resolve that, in order to respond to the challenges faced now and in the future, climate change and its adverse effects should be addressed while meeting the requirements of sustainable development, and therefore call for the following:

(a) Parties that have ratified the Kyoto Protocol strongly urge Parties that have not already done so to ratify the Kyoto Protocol in a timely manner;

(b) Parties have a right to, and should, promote sustainable development. Policies and measures to protect the climate system against human-induced change should be appropriate for the specific conditions of each Party and should be integrated with national development programmes, taking into account that economic development is essential for adopting measures to address climate change;

(c) National sustainable development strategies should integrate more fully climate change objectives in key areas such as water, energy, health, agriculture and biodiversity, and build on the outcomes of the World Summit on Sustainable Development;

(d) All Parties, taking into account their common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities, and their specific national and regional development priorities, objectives and circumstances, should continue to advance the implementation of their commitments under the Convention to address climate change and its adverse effects in order to achieve sustainable development;

(e) Adaptation to the adverse effects of climate change is of high priority for all countries. Developing countries are particularly vulnerable, especially the least developed countries and small island developing States. Adaptation requires urgent attention and action on the part of all countries. Effective and result-based measures should be supported for the development of approaches at all levels on vulnerability and adaptation, as well as capacity-building for the integration of adaptation concerns into sustainable development strategies. The measures should include full implementation of existing commitments under the Convention and the Marrakesh Accords;

(f) Parties should promote informal exchange of information on actions relating to mitigation and adaptation to assist Parties to continue to develop effective and appropriate responses to climate change;

(g) The specific needs and concerns of developing country Parties arising from the adverse effects of climate change and the impact of the implementation of response measures should be given full consideration;

(h) International cooperation should be promoted in developing and disseminating innovative technologies in respect of key sectors of development, particularly energy, and of investment in this regard, including through private sector involvement and market-oriented approaches, as well as supportive public policies;

(i) Technology transfer should be strengthened, including through concrete projects and capacity-building in all relevant sectors such as energy, transport, industry, health, agriculture, biodiversity, forestry and waste management. Technological advances should be promoted through research and development, economic diversification and strengthening of relevant regional, national and local institutions for sustainable development;

(j) Access should be improved to reliable, affordable, economically viable, socially acceptable and environmentally sound energy services and resources, taking into account national specificities and circumstances, through various means;

(k) Actions are required to diversify energy supply by developing advanced, cleaner, more efficient, affordable and cost-effective energy technologies, including fossil fuel technologies and renewable energy technologies, hydro included, and their transfer to developing countries on concessional terms as mutually agreed;

(l) Actions are required at all levels, with a sense of urgency, to substantially increase the global share of renewable energy sources with the objective of increasing their contribution to total energy supply, recognizing the role of national and voluntary regional targets as well as initiatives, where they exist, and ensuring that energy policies are supportive to developing countries'f efforts to eradicate poverty;

(m) Annex I Parties should further implement their commitments under the Convention, including, for Annex II Parties, those relating to the provision of financial resources, technology transfer and capacity-building, and demonstrate that they are taking the lead in modifying longer-term trends in anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions, consistent with the ultimate objective of the Convention, through the adoption of national policies and corresponding measures for the mitigation of climate change;

All Parties welcome the good cooperation achieved at the Conference of the Parties at its eighth session in Delhi, in particular the progress of technical work and the constructive discussions that have taken place, and express their gratitude to His Excellency Mr. T. R. Baalu, President of the Conference at its eighth session, and to the Government and people of India for their gracious hospitality.

8th plenary meeting

1 November 2002