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The countries active in the UNFCC negotiations are divided into two primary groups. Annex 1 and Non-Annex 1 countries.
- The first group in the UNFCCC process is known as the [Annex I parties|http://unfccc.int/parties_and_observers/parties/annex_i/items/2774.php] include . This group includes members of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development(OECD) and countries that were formerly part of the Soviet bloc. The OECD is a group of 30 leading industrial countries which includes all the nations of Europe, as well as Australia, Canada, Japan, Korea, New Zealand, Turkey, and the United States (Mexico became a member of the OECD only after the establishment of the UNFCC UNFCCC process and so is not considered an Annex I country). The former members of the Soviet bloc are sometimes referred to as countries with economics in transition or the EIT parties.
- All other countries are referred to as Non-Annex I parties.
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Some parties to the negotiations have recently proposed separating out two additional groups from among the Non-Annex I countries into two groups:
- a group of developing countries that have progressed farther in their economic development and contribute a sizeable share of global emissions (the countries typically included in this group are China, India, Brazil, Mexico, South Africa, and Indonesia);
- a group of developing countries that have low emissions and are particularly vulnerable to the effects of climate change. Members of the latter group include the least developed countries (LDCs) and small island developing states (SIDS).
The Climate Collaboratorium effectively already breaks out the developing countries into these two groups. The former group is called "Rapidly Developing Countries" and the latter is called "Other Developing Countries."
The OECD Annex I countries that are members of the OECD are also included in another category, Annex II parties. In addition to reducing their own emissions, Annex II parties are also expected to provide financial resources and to transfer technologies that can assist developing countries in reducing their emissions and adapting to climate change.
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