INECC was formed in the mid-nineties

• > to understand the issues relating to climate change and its implications especially for local communities;

• > to create awareness among communities most vulnerable to the impacts of climate change through capacitating awareness and action among those engaged with such communities;

• > to critique the existing policy framework, iAnternational and domestic, towards creating an ethical context for the COP process under the auspices of the UNFCCC, as well as for domestic policy; and

• > to explore and undertake action to reduce emissions of GHGs through the promotion of sustainable development technologies and practices; and

For most of this period, Climate Change was not widely perceived to be a serious problem in common discourse. In that sense creating awareness, esp from the point of view of local communities, was an essential activity. In the last few years, the impacts of Global Warming are beginning to be felt by all and sundry. People at large are more willing to engage with the issue, and be involved with action to tackle it.

• • The international policy climate has regressed since the mid nineties, - there is now pressure from the Annex 1 countries to dilute their responsibilities, and force the emerging economies to take mandated action on emissions reduction. This violates the essential spirit of the Framework Convention, ratified in the Berlin Mandate. This remains a challenge to INECC, and it may need to take a look at its informal network status, and if necessary work towards adopting a formal and legal instrument to be a credible player in the field of Climate Change. This is especially important in view of the negotiations for a post-Kyoto emissions reduction regime.

• As our understanding of the Science and Politics that surround this issue acquires greater depth, and as the Domestic plans for emissions reduction, and for adaptation acquire greater importance, we need to reach out to different kinds of stakeholders to keep this network process alive; as well as take it on a different plane. Of great importance is to reach out to researchers, scientists and analysts who have the equity and ethical perspective. We will also need to reach out to individuals and organizations in the ‘private’ sector, who may not match our perspective, but are willing to engage with this issue and facilitate ground level action towards the practice of sustainable alternative in development.

• We will need to promote / facilitate / ‘allow’ (under the INECC umbrella) autonomous institutions that will need to undertake local / regional initiatives to engage with the local communities – rural and urban.