Distr.
GENERAL
FCCC/SBI/1996/12
24 October 1996
Original: ENGLISH
SUBSIDIARY BODY FOR IMPLEMENTATIONThird session
Geneva, 9-16 July 1996
Paragraphs Page
I. OPENING OF THE SESSION 1 - 2 4
(Agenda item 1)
II. ORGANIZATIONAL MATTERS 3 - 10 4
(Agenda item 2)
A. Adoption of the agenda 3 - 4 4
B. Election of officers other than the Chairman 5 5
C. Organization of the work of the session 6 6
D. Report of the Subsidiary Body for Implementation to
the Conference of the Parties 7 - 8 6
E. Attendance 9 6
F. Documentation 10 6
GE.96-
Paragraphs Page
III. NATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS 11 - 21 7
(Agenda item 3)
A. Communications from Parties included in Annex I to the
Convention: guidelines, schedule and process
for consideration 11 - 15 7
B. Communications from Parties not included in Annex I to
the Convention: guidelines, facilitation and process
for consideration 16 - 21 9
IV. FINANCIAL AND TECHNICAL COOPERATION 22 - 33 10
(Agenda item 4)
A. Financial mechanism 22 -30 9
(i) Guidance to the Global Environment Facility 22 - 25
9
(ii) Memorandum of Understanding between the
Conference of the Parties and the Council
of the Global Environment Facility 26 - 30 10
B. Secretariat activities relating to technical and
financial support to Parties 31 - 33 11
V. DEVELOPMENT AND TRANSFER OF TECHNOLOGIES 34 - 37 11
(Agenda item 5)
VI. ACTIVITIES IMPLEMENTED JOINTLY UNDER THE
PILOT PHASE 38 - 41 12
(Agenda item 6)
VII. ADMINISTRATIVE AND FINANCIAL MATTERS 42 - 51 13
(Agenda item 7)
A. Establishment of the permanent secretariat and
arrangements for its functioning 42 - 47 13
B. Income and budget performance, and resource
deployment for 1997 48 - 51 14
Paragraphs Page
VIII. REVIEW OF THE PROGRAMME OF WORK, 1996-1997 52 - 54 14
(Agenda item 8)
IX. REPORT ON THE SESSION 55 - 56 15
(Agenda item 9)
Documents before the Subsidiary Body for Implementation
at its third session 16
1. The third session of the Subsidiary Body for Implementation
(hereinafter referred to as "the SBI") was held at the Palais des
Nations, Geneva from 9 to 16 July 1996.
2. The Chairman of the SBI, Mr. Mohamed M. Ould El Ghaouth, opened
the session at the 1st meeting, on 9 July 1996. In welcoming the
participants, he referred to the large volume of work before the SBI
and invited delegates to aim at making recommendations on all issues
on the agenda for adoption by the Conference of the Parties at its
second session.
3. At its 1st meeting, on 9 July, the SBI adopted the following
agenda:
1. Opening of the session.
2. Organizational matters:
(a) Adoption of the agenda;
(b) Election of officers other than the Chairman;
(c) Organization of the work of the session;
(d) Report of the Subsidiary Body for Implementation to the
Conference of the Parties.
3. National communications:
(a) Communications from Parties included in Annex I to the Convention:
guidelines, schedule and process for consideration;
(b) Communications from Parties not included in Annex I to the
Convention: guidelines, facilitation and process for
consideration.
4. Financial and technical cooperation:
(a) Financial mechanism:
(i) Guidance to the Global Environment Facility;
(ii) Memorandum of Understanding between the Conference of the
Parties and the Council of the Global Environment
Facility;
(b) Secretariat activities relating to technical and financial
support to Parties.
5. Development and transfer of technologies.
6. Activities implemented jointly under the pilot
phase.
7. Administrative and financial matters:
(a) Establishment of the permanent secretariat and arrangements for its
functioning;
(b) Income and budget performance, and resource deployment for
1997.
8. Review of the programme of work, 1996-1997.
9. Report on the session.
4. The SBI also agreed to consider and make recommendations on a
number of issues referred to it by the Conference of the Parties
(COP), including the question of commitments in Article 4 (see
FCCC/CP/1996/15, paras. 21 (a), (c), (d), (e) and (f) and
23).
5. Concerning the election of officers other than the Chairman, the SBI decided, at its
1st meeting, on 9 July, that since the election of officers of the
Conference of the Parties, and those of the SBI, the Subsidiary Body
for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA) and the Ad Hoc Group
on Article 13 (AG13) were being considered as a package, it would
await the outcome of the consultations being conducted by the
President of the Conference on the issue. Subsequently it did not
prove possible to reach agreement (see FCCC/CP/1996/15, para.
18).
6. At its 1st meeting, on 9 July, the SBI approved the
organization of the work presented by the Chairman. The Chairman also
referred to the documentation before the third session, as mentioned
in document FCCC/CP/1996/1/Add.2.
7. At its 1st meeting, on 9 July, the SBI considered the sub-item
on the report of the Subsidiary Body for Implementation to the
Conference of the Parties.
8. The SBI noted that the reports of the SBI on its first and
second sessions would be before the Conference of the Parties at its
second session. It requested the Chairman of the SBI to provide an
oral report to the plenary of the COP on the progress achieved by the
SBI at its third session.
9. For the lists of attendance at the third session of the SBI,
see the report of the Conference of the Parties on its second
session, Part One, chapter II, section J
(FCCC/CP/1996/15).
10. The documents before the SBI at its third session are listed
in the annex below.
guidelines, schedule and process for consideration
11. At its 3rd meeting, on 11 July, the SBI addressed the sub-item
on national communications from Parties included in Annex I to the
Convention. It had before it the following documents prepared by the
secretariat: FCCC/CP/1996/12 and Add.1 and 2; and
FCCC/CP/1996/13.
12. The corresponding item of the COP agenda was referred to both
the SBSTA and the SBI by the Conference of the Parties at its 2nd
plenary meeting, on 8 July (see FCCC/CP/1996/15, para. 21
(d)).
13. Statements were made by the representatives of 12 Parties,
including one speaking on behalf of the Alliance of Small Island
States (AOSIS) and one speaking on behalf of the European Community
and its member States.
14. At its 5th meeting, on 16 July, having considered a proposal
by the Chairman, the SBI adopted the following
conclusions:
(a) The SBI took note with appreciation of the fact that all but
one of the Annex I Parties whose national communications were due by
the second session of the Conference of the Parties had fulfilled
their commitments under Articles 4 and 12 of the Convention by
submitting national communications. However, it also noted that a
number of these Parties submitted their communications after their
due dates;
(b) The SBI took note of the national communications and their
executive summaries (see document series FCCC/NC/...), the second
compilation and synthesis report of first national communications
from Annex I Parties (FCCC/CP/1996/12 and Add.1 and 2), and the
available in-depth review reports (FCCC/IDR.1/(country
code));
(c) The SBI, in responding to the request of the President of the
Conference of the Parties that it review the implementation of the
Convention, concluded that the above-mentioned documentation
contained relevant information allowing Parties to assess the
implementation of the Convention by Annex I Parties;
(d) The SBI concluded that Annex I Parties were fulfilling their
commitments under Article 12 by reporting on national policies and
measures on the mitigation of climate change and those under Article
4.2(a) to implement those policies and measures, but according to
available information, for many Annex I Parties, further urgent
action would be needed to return greenhouse gas emissions to their
1990 levels by 2000;
(e) The SBI concluded that the challenges which Annex I Parties
currently face in returning greenhouse gas emissions to their 1990
levels by 2000, and the efforts being made to address these
challenges, would be relevant to the AGBM negotiations on commitments
for the post-2000 period;
(f) The SBI took note of the concern expressed by some Parties
that Annex II Parties were falling short of their commitments
regarding the transfer of technology and the provision of financial
resources, bearing in mind that other Parties noted that some Annex
II Parties were providing bilateral contributions and that all Annex
II Parties contributed to the Global Environment Facility, and noted
that Parties were requested to enhance the reporting on these
commitments by applying the revised Annex I national communication
guidelines;
(g) The SBI expressed its appreciation to Annex I Parties that had
submitted their national inventory data on emissions by sources and
removals by sinks as requested by decision
3/CP.1(1) and urged those Annex I
Parties that had not yet submitted these data to do so as soon as
possible;
(h) The SBI took note of the information on experience with the
review process, on progress of the in-depth reviews of first national
communications from Annex I Parties, and of suggestions on the
scheduling, submission and review of second communications, contained
in document FCCC/CP/1996/13;
(i) The SBI concluded that the review process was a key element
for facilitating the implementation of the Convention and monitoring
its progress and recommended that this process be continued in
accordance with the relevant decisions of the Conference of the
Parties;
(j) The SBI concluded that the question of commitments in Article
4, which had been referred to it by the Conference of the Parties at
its 4th meeting, on 12 July, would be taken up at a future session
(FCCC/CP/1996/15, para. 51).
15. Also at its 5th meeting, on 16 July, the SBI decided to
recommend, in conjunction with the SBSTA, a draft decision on
guidelines, schedule and process for consideration of communications
from Parties included in Annex I (FCCC/CP/1996/L.13) for adoption by
the COP at its second session. For the text of the decision by the
Conference of the Parties, see decision
9/CP.2.(2)
B. Communications from Parties not included in Annex I to the Convention: guidelines, facilitation and process for consideration
16. At its 4th meeting, on 12 July, the SBI addressed the sub-item
on national communications from Parties not included in Annex I to
the Convention. It had before it a note prepared by the secretariat
(FCCC/SB/1996/MISC.1/Add.1).
17. The corresponding item of the COP agenda was referred to the
SBI and the SBSTA by the Conference of the Parties at its 2nd plenary
meeting, on 8 July (see FCCC/CP/1996/15, para. 21 (d)).
18. Statements were made by the representatives of three Parties,
including one speaking on behalf of the Group of 77 and
China.
19. The representative of Antigua and Barbuda made a statement
concerning the submission of the initial national communication by
his Government.
20. At its 5th meeting, on 16 July, the SBI decided to recommend,
in conjunction with the SBSTA, a draft decision on guidelines,
facilitation and process for the consideration of communications from
Parties not included in Annex I (FCCC/CP/1996/L.12) for adoption by
the COP at its second session. For the text of the decision by the
Conference of the Parties, see decision 10/CP.2.
21. The SBI invited Parties to forward to the secretariat their
views on the process for consideration of the initial communications
by 15 October 1996. It requested the secretariat to compile any views
submitted by Parties, and to prepare a note on any budgetary
considerations, for discussion at its fifth session.
(i) Guidance to the Global Environment
Facility
22. At its 2nd meeting, on 10 July, the SBI addressed the sub-item
on guidance to the Global Environment Facility. It had before it a
note prepared by the secretariat (FCCC/CP/1996/8).
23. The corresponding item of the COP agenda was referred to the
SBI by the Conference of the Parties at its 2nd plenary meeting, on 8
July (see FCCC/CP/1996/15, para. 21 (c)).
24. Statements were made by the representatives of five Parties, including one speaking on behalf of the Group of 77 and China and one speaking on behalf of the European Community and its member States.
2. Conclusions
25. At its 5th meeting, on 16 July, the SBI decided to recommend a draft decision on guidance to the Global Environment Facility (FCCC/CP/1996/L.9) for adoption by the COP at its second session. For the text of the decision by the Conference of the Parties, see
decision 11/CP.2.
(ii) Memorandum of Understanding between the Conference of the Parties and
the Council of the Global Environment
Facility
26. At its 2nd meeting, on 10 July, the SBI addressed the sub-item
on the Memorandum of Understanding between the Conference of the
Parties and the Global Environment Facility. It had before it a note
prepared by the secretariat (FCCC/CP/1996/9).
27. The corresponding item of the COP agenda was referred to the
SBI by the Conference of the Parties at its 2nd plenary meeting, on 8
July (see FCCC/CP/1996/15, para. 21 (e)).
28. Statements were made by the representatives of three Parties,
including one speaking on behalf of the Group of 77 and China and one
speaking on behalf of the European Community and its member
States.
29. At its 5th meeting, on 16 July, the Chairman of the SBI stated
that if he was unable to obtain the agreement of the Parties on the
draft decision proposed, the issue would be referred to the
Conference of the Parties for resolution since it was the COP itself
which had requested the SBI to present a draft decision to it for
consideration.
30. In the absence of agreement, the President of the Conference
of the Parties, at the 8th plenary meeting, on 19 July, recommended a
draft decision on the Memorandum of Understanding: annex on the
determination of funding necessary and available for the
implementation of the Convention for adoption by the COP at its
second session. This decision referred the matter for further
consideration by the SBI at its fourth session. For the text of the
decision by the Conference of the Parties, see decision
13/CP.2.
31. At its 2nd meeting, on 10 July, the SBI addressed the sub-item
on secretariat activities relating to technical and financial support
to Parties. It had before it a note prepared by the secretariat
(FCCC/SBI/1996/10).
32. Statements were made by the representatives of two Parties,
including one speaking on behalf of the European Community and its
member States.
33. At its 5th meeting, on 16 July, the SBI decided to recommend a
draft decision on secretariat activities relating to technical and
financial support (FCCC/CP/1996/L.5) for adoption by the COP at its
second session. For the text of the decision by the Conference of the
Parties, see decision 3/CP.2.
34. At its 4th meeting, on 12 July, the SBI addressed the item on
development and transfer of technologies. It had before it a note
prepared by the secretariat (FCCC/CP/1996/11).
35. The corresponding item of the COP agenda was referred to the
SBSTA and the SBI by the Conference of the Parties at its 2nd plenary
meeting, on 8 July (see FCCC/CP1996/15, para. 21 (c)).
36. Statements were made by the representatives of seven Parties,
including one speaking on behalf of the Group of 77 and
China.
37. At its 5th meeting, on 16 July, the SBI decided to recommend,
in conjunction with the SBSTA, a draft decision on development and
transfer of technologies (FCCC/CP/1996/L.16) for adoption by the COP
at its second session. For the text of the decision by the Conference
of the Parties, see decision 7/CP.2.
38. At its 4th meeting, on 12 July, the SBI addressed the item on
activities implemented jointly under the pilot phase. It had before
it a note prepared by the secretariat (FCCC/CP/1996/14 and
Add.1).
39. The corresponding item of the COP agenda was referred to the
SBSTA and the SBI by the Conference of the Parties at its 2nd plenary
meeting, on 8 July (see FCCC/CP/1996/15, para. 21 (c)).
40. A statement was made by the representative of the World
Business Council on Sustainable Development.
41. At its 5th meeting, on 16 July, the SBI decided to recommend,
in conjunction with the SBSTA, a draft decision on activities
implemented jointly under the pilot phase (FCCC/CP/1996/L.7) for
adoption by the COP at its second session. For the text of the
decision by the Conference of the Parties, see decision
8/CP.2.
42. At its 1st meeting, on 9 July, the SBI addressed the sub-item
on the establishment of the permanent secretariat and arrangements
for its functioning. It had before it a note prepared by the
secretariat (FCCC/CP/1996/6 and Add.1, 2 and 3).
43. The corresponding item of the COP agenda was referred to the
SBI by the Conference of the Parties at its 2nd plenary meeting, on 8
July (FCCC/CP/1996/15, para. 21 (f)).
44. Statements were made by the representatives of two Parties,
including one speaking on behalf of the Group of 77 and
China.
45. At its 5th meeting, on 16 July, the SBI decided to recommend
the draft decisions on the establishment of the permanent secretariat
and arrangements for its functioning, and on the agreement concerning
the headquarters of the Convention secretariat, contained in
documents FCCC/CP/1996/L.2 and L.14, respectively, for adoption by
the COP at its second session. For the text of the decisions by the
Conference of the Parties, see decisions 14/CP.2 and
15/CP.2.
46. In a statement made after the SBI had approved the draft
decision on the agreement concerning the headquarters of the
Convention secretariat, the Executive Secretary welcomed the
intention of the Parties to consider the question of the juridical
personality of the Convention secretariat on the international plane,
as indicated in operative paragraph 2 of the decision. He noted that
different legal opinions had been expressed on that matter and he
expressed the hope that the consideration of the question would lead
to a convergence of views.
47. The Executive Secretary stated further that it was his
understanding that nothing in the decision would prevent the
Convention secretariat from carrying out its normal business in
Germany or in any other country or from making the necessary
arrangements for this.
48. At its 1st meeting, on 9 July, the SBI addressed the sub-item
on income and budget performance, and resource deployment for 1997.
It had before it a note prepared by the secretariat (FCCC/CP/1996/7
and Add.1).
49. The corresponding item of the COP agenda, together with the
question of documentation for Convention bodies, was referred to the
SBI by the Conference of the Parties at its 2nd plenary meeting, on 8
July (see FCCC/CP/1996/15, para. 21 (a) and (f)).
50. Statements were made by the representatives of four Parties,
including one speaking on behalf of the European Community and its
member States and one speaking on behalf of the Group of 77 and
China.
51. At its 5th meeting, on 16 July, the SBI decided to recommend
the draft decisions on income and budget performance, and resource
deployment for 1997, and on volume of documentation, contained in
documents FCCC/CP/1996/L.3 and L.8, respectively, for adoption by the
COP at its second session. For the text of the decisions by the
Conference of the Parties, see decisions 16/CP.2 and
17/CP.2.
52. At its 1st meeting, on 9 July, the SBI addressed the item on
the review of the programme of work, 1996-1997. It had before it a
note prepared by the secretariat (FCCC/SBI/1996/11).
53. Statements were made by the representatives of two
Parties.
54. At its 5th meeting, on 16 July, the SBI decided to recommend a
draft decision on the programme of work, 1996-1997 (FCCC/CP/1996/L.4)
for adoption by the COP at its second session. For the text of the
decision by the Conference of the Parties, see decision
2/CP.2.
55. At its 5th meeting, on 16 July, the SBI considered and adopted
the first part of the draft report on the session (FCCC/SBI/1996/L.3)
presented by the Chairman, in the absence of an elected Rapporteur.
It also requested the Chairman, with the assistance of the
secretariat, to complete the report of the session taking into
account the discussions and the conclusions reached during the
session and the need for editorial adjustments.
56. The Chairman, after thanking all participants for their constructive cooperation, declared the third session of the SBI closed.
The following documents were before the SBI at its third
session:
FCCC/CP/1996/1 Provisional agenda and annotations, including
suggestions for the organization of work
FCCC/CP/1996/1/Add.2 List of documents for the second session of
the Conference of the Parties and concurrent sessions of subsidiary
bodies
FCCC/CP/1996/6 Establishment of the permanent secretariat and
arrangements for its functioning: implementation of decision 14/CP.1
on the institutional linkage of the Convention secretariat to the
United Nations and related administrative matters
FCCC/CP/1996/6/Add.1 Establishment of the permanent secretariat
and arrangements for its functioning: legal arrangements for the
effective discharge of the functions of the Convention secretariat in
the Federal Republic of Germany
FCCC/CP/1996/6/Add.2 Establishment of the permanent secretariat
and arrangements for its functioning: relocation of the Convention
secretariat to Bonn and possible liaison arrangements
FCCC/CP/1996/6/Add.3 Establishment of the permanent secretariat
and arrangements for its functioning: levels of remuneration of
senior posts and appointment of the Executive Secretary
FCCC/CP/1996/7 and Add.1 Financial performance of UNFCCC:
contributions and expenditures in 1996, and forecast for the biennium
1996-1997
FCCC/CP/1996/8 Financial mechanism: report of the Global
Environment Facility to the Conference of the Parties
FCCC/CP/1996/9 Financial mechanism: draft Memorandum of Understanding between the Conference of the Parties and the Council of the Global Environment Facility. Annex on the determination of funding necessary and available for the implementation of the Convention
FCCC/CP/1996/11 Development and transfer of technologies (Article
4.1(c) and 4.5): follow-up report on technological
issues
FCCC/CP/1996/12 Commitments in Article 4. Second compilation and
synthesis of first national communications from Annex I Parties:
executive summary
FCCC/CP/1996/12/Add.1 Commitments in Article 4. Second compilation
and synthesis of first national communications from Annex I Parties:
report
FCCC/CP/1996/12/Add.2 Commitments in Article 4. Second compilation
and synthesis of first national communications from Annex I Parties:
tables of inventories of anthropogenic emissions and removals and
projections for 2000
FCCC/CP/1996/13 Communications by Parties: process for review and
schedule for submission of national communications from Parties
included in Annex I to the Convention
FCCC/CP/1996/14 and Add.1 Activities implemented jointly: annual
review of progress under the pilot phase. Progress report on
activities implemented jointly
FCCC/CP/1996/MISC.1 Establishment of the permanent secretariat and
arrangements for its functioning: legal arrangements for the
effective discharge of the functions of the Convention secretariat in
the Federal Republic of Germany
FCCC/SBI/1996/10 Secretariat activities relating to technical and
financial support to Parties
FCCC/SBI/1996/11 Review of the programme of work,
1996-1997
FCCC/SBI/1996/L.2 Financial and technical cooperation. Financial
mechanism: guidance to the Global Environment Facility. Arrangements
between the Conference of the Parties and the operating entity or
entities of the financial mechanism. Draft decision submitted by the
Group of 77 and China
FCCC/SBI/1996/L.3 Report of the Subsidiary Body for
Implementation: draft report of the Subsidiary Body for
Implementation on its third session
FCCC/SBI/1996/L.4 Financial and technical cooperation. Financial
mechanism: Memorandum of Understanding between the Conference of the
Parties and the Global Environment Facility. Annex on the
determination of funding necessary and available for the
implementation of the Convention. Draft proposal submitted by the
Group of 77 and China
The following documents were also available:
FCCC/SB/1996/MISC.1/Add.1 National communications. Approach paper
by the Group of 77 and China on recommendations on guidelines and
format for preparation of initial communications from non-Annex I
Parties
FCCC/SB/1996/L.1 National communications. Communications from Parties not included in Annex I to the Convention. Guidelines for preparation of initial communications from non-Annex I Parties. Draft decision by the Group of 77 and China