As India pushes for ?equitable? global sharing of carbon space while dealing with negotiations on climate change mitigation, the global attention would be focused on developed countries? initiatives towards drastic carbon emission reduction at the meet currently underway in Poznan, Poland.

Amidst global financial crisis faced by developed countries, more than 10,000 delegates representing governments, industry associations, NGOs would be discussing host of issues mostly revolving around building global consensus on climate change mitigation prior to the next mega meet scheduled in Copenhagen in December 2009.

The countries participating at the 14 th conference of parties (Cop) to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC) being held in Poznan during December 1 ? 12 2008 would be moving towards a ?negotiating mode? for the first time following the Bali Action Plan, which categorically stated that climate change was real and imminent.

According to ministry of environment and forest officials, India would definitely push for larger allocation toward green technology transfers from developed to developing countries which would faced with lots of opposition. ?The funds for technology transfer should be well and above the Official Development Assistance committed by developed countries,? an environment ministry official told FE

Although under Kyoto Protocol (2008-2012) ratified by the UNFCCC, India does not have a legal or binding obligation to reduce carbon emission, United States, the biggest polluters or carbon emitter continue to state that emerging economies like China, India, Brazil and South African must also take action on reducing carbon emission.

Even Kyoto protocol, which asked for 5% emission cut by developed countries failed as United States walked out.

According to an analysis of data from UNFCC by Centre for Science and Environment (CSE) carbon emissions of the rich industrialized countries have increased 14.5% during 1990 ? 2006. ?In fact, carbon dioxide emissions of countries like Australia have increased as much as 40% during the period,? Sunita Narain, director, CSE said.

As per the US department of energy figure of 2007, during 1980 ? 2005, the total emissions of the US were almost double that of China and more than seven times that of India. With just 15% of the world population, rich countries account for 45% of carbon dioxide emissions.

Developing countries like Japan, European Union, United States have been asking for ?interim targets? for emission reduction for the developed countries (25-40% reduction by 2020 from 1990 baseline), while developed countries are non-committal on this. Japan is pushing for a 2050 target without defining a baseline.

While the shared vision agreed by most of the countries stresses the need for ?a shared vision for long term cooperative action, including a long term global goal for emission reductions?..in principle of common but differentiated responsibilities?, United States has been demanding that every country has to take emission reduction targets which has been rejected by G77 countries like India, Brazil along with China.

The conference is being held amidst the fear that the global financial crisis might force the developed world to cut resource allocation climate change mitigation effort.

?We may not be able to get the kind of financial resources commitments required from the developed countries towards climate change mitigation and adaptation given the acute financial crisis,? Shyam Saram Prime Minister?s special envoy on climate change had said recently. He said the attention given to climate change issues might be given lower priority as the whole attention is focused towards reviving the financial system in the developed countries.