The UN Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) Third Assessment highlighted the need for adaptation to climate change. Keeping in view the importance of adaptation to climate change, particularly in developing countries, Development Alternatives organised an Interregional Conference on Adaptation to Climate Change, during October 18-20, 2002, before Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Eighth Conference of the Parties (CoP) at New Delhi, India. About 120 participants from more than 20 countries, both developed and developing, participated in the conference. The conference considered vulnerability of natural and human systems and community practices to adapt to climate change. The conference deliberated on training and capacity building of communities for increasing their resilience to adapt to adverse impacts of climate change. The participants also came out with a set of recommendations for wider dissemination to various stakeholders during the COP 8 being held at New Delhi (from 23 October to 1 November). The recommendations from the conference were used in the COP 8 negotiations as well as the Delhi Ministerial Declaration. The Conference Report will provide a guideline for the developing countries for initiating work on adaptation.
