This report presents the discussions of a group of northern and southern researchers who were set the task of exploring the framework for future climate change negotiations.The report presents a number of policy points in relation to mitigation and adaptation for consideration in the development of a new agreement. Policy conclusions in relation to mitigation include:the potential to mitigate determines the amount of reductions to be carried out domesticallythe amount a country is obliged to pay toward mitigation is determined by responsibility to mitigate in combination with capability to mitigatehigher levels of responsibility suggest not only a higher level of resources devoted to mitigation, but also a binding legal form of their mitigation commitmentqualitative mitigation commitments (policies and measures) will also be obligatory for the group of other developing countries, but quantifiable mitigation commitments for these countries and the LDC group would be not justifiablethere must be agreed triggers that would lead to the start of developing country quantitative emission targets.Policy conclusions in relation to adaptation commitments include:many of the most severe adverse impacts of climate change will fall on the poorest countries and communitiesthere is an enormous need for capacity building in developing countries at different levels and in many different areas if an equitable framework on adaptation is to be developedthe current rules for funding adaptation through the GEF must be modified to enable adaptation projects to be undertaken that result largely or exclusively in local benefitsinnovative insurance schemes should be explored and piloted for the management of climate risks at the local, national, regional and international levelsThe report concludes that the roles of key players such as the US, the EU, G77 & China, and other parties needs to be analysed with respect to their leadership potential. An alliance of parties – from both South and North – that could champion an adequate and equitable global climate agreement is advocated by the authors.[adapted from author]