International Conference on Science & Technology Capacity Building for Climate Change
October 20-22, 2002, New Delhi

Welcome Address by Shri Rajendra S Lodha, President, FICCI at the Inaugural Session 

Hon'ble Minister for Science & Technology, Dr Murli Manohar Joshi,
Hon'ble Minister of State for Science & Technology, Shri Bachi Singh Rawat,
Prof G.O.P. Obasi, Secretary General of World Meteorological Organisation,
Prof V S Ramamurthy, Secretary Department of Science & Technology,
Mr Amitabha Pande, Joint Secretary, Department of Science & Technology,
Excellencies, 
Distinguished members of the scientific community and the business community,
Distinguished Experts,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

 It is an honour and privilege for me to welcome you all to this International Conference on Science and Technology Capacity Building for Climate Change. This is the first initiative towards capacity building for climate change that is aimed at addressing the needs of the developing countries of the tropical region. It is indeed a great honour to have with us the Hon'ble Minister Dr Murli Manohar Joshi, who has been the driving force behind this unique initiative. Thank you, Sir, for being here today. I would also like to extend a very warm welcome to the ministers and senior representatives from Bhutan, China, Myanmar and Iran. 

We all know that climate change is a global phenomenon that transcends all geographical borders and all spheres of economic activity. We also know that the causes as well as the consequences of climate change relate directly to economic activities and threaten the natural capital that provides the economy's resource base. We are gathered here, not just to dwell on the impacts on different economic sectors, but to evolve action plans and strategies to deal with the adverse impacts of climate change. 

All sections of society, particularly the corporate sector, need to build effective long-term strategies for vulnerability, adaptation and mitigation. This cannot be done by any single sector or section of society alone, but has to be enabled through an integrated holistic mechanism. 

Firstly, companies need to recognize compelling business reasons to reduce emissions of greenhouse gases that go beyond the obvious concern of protecting the natural environment. By minimizing dependence on fossil fuels, companies can add to their bottom line and reduce compliance costs. Proactive companies can also protect themselves from potentially risky climate-related trends such as rising insurance rates for higher-risk industrial activities. By investigating their contribution to climate change, the corporate sector can find profitable product and process changes to help control climate change. 

In order to prepare itself better, the corporate sector would need to equip itself with the right technology, develop its in-house R&D capabilities, and raise resources to buy these technologies. The corporate sector would not be able to do this alone, but would need to work with the scientific institutions, financial institutions, and the government. FICCI in partnership with DST would like to create this synergy and bring all stakeholders on board. 

We must also note the fact that some corporations globally have embraced ecologically sound practices based largely on the business benefits they have experienced in adopting greener strategies and cleaner technologies. We will get to hear of such examples during the course of the conference. These leadership practices are setting the standard in eliminating potential causes of climate change. 

We hope that a clear-cut policy framework for climate change will emerge with the global negotiations at the 8th Conference of Parties (COP 8) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change commencing on October 23rd in New Delhi. While emergence of a policy framework will help in simplification of procedures and speedy implementation of projects at the global and national level, cost effective implementation at the industrial level will only happen if we enhance our scientific & technological capacities. 

This conference will dwell on capacity building in climate change for vulnerability, adaptation and mitigation. Capacity development for adaptation to climate change as well as for CDM needs to be integrated in the overall national framework. The Clean Development Mechanism has the potential to influence investments, technology and overall economic growth in a country in the long term. 

Capacity building is particularly important for the developing countries, where there is lack of proper infrastructure, skill sets and technology to address climate change concerns. There is a strong need to integrate scientific assessments with the policy-making process. There is also an urgent need for a mechanism to evaluate technologies, enable technology forecasting, accelerate technology decision-making, and enhance marketability of technologies through independent and credible performance data. It is also necessary to evolve practicable standards, and develop guidelines and protocols for monitoring, verifying and reporting greenhouse gas emissions reductions. These cannot be achieved with a single institution or a single capacity building effort. All these necessitate creating and enhancing capacities through a structured, well-networked institutional mechanism that is oriented to a holistic and environment-friendly development process. 

FICCI and DST organized a national consultation on capacity building in August this year and the response to this initiative was overwhelming from all concerned government departments, industry and the scientific community. This international conference is aimed at creating a consensus at an international level for a capacity building mechanism for developing countries. 

May I quote (Prof. JOHN P. HOLDREN of the John F. Kennedy School of Government) here that "The probability that the consequences will be intolerable is high. Each day that we delay, we dig ourselves a deeper hole that we have to climb out of. It is terribly important that we get on with this job".Before closing, I would like to mention that it is a privilege for FICCI to be associated with DST in this unique initiative on capacity building. I am sure this partnership will facilitate and foster the ultimate objective that this global conference is aimed at and we look forward to taking this initiative forward. I welcome you all once again and hope that the next two days will witness fruitful deliberations and yield successful outcomes for all present. 

Thank you.