Distr.
GENERAL
FCCC/CP/1996/15
29 October 1996
Original: ENGLISH
CONFERENCE OF THE PARTIES
REPORT OF THE CONFERENCE OF THE PARTIES
ON ITS SECOND SESSION, HELD AT GENEVA FROM 8 TO 19
JULY 1996
CONTENTS
PART ONE: PROCEEDINGS
Paragraphs Page
I. OPENING OF THE CONFERENCE
(Agenda items 1, 2 and 3 (a)) 1 - 8 5
A. Opening of the session . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. 1 - 2 5
B. Election of the President . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
3 - 7 6
C. Opening statements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
7
II. ORGANIZATIONAL MATTERS (Agenda item 4) 9 - 34 7
A. Status of ratification of the Convention, including
declarations made under Article 4.2(g) 9 - 10 7
B. Adoption of the rules of procedure . . . . . . . . . 11 - 14 8
GE.96-
Paragraphs Page
C. Adoption of the agenda . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . ..
. . . . . . 15 9
D. Election of officers other than the President . 16 - 18
10
E. Admission of organizations as observers 19 12
F. Organization of work 20 - 24 13
G. Calendar of meetings of Convention bodies 1996-1997 25
15
H. Date and venue of the third session of the Conference
of the Parties 26 - 27 15
I. Adoption of the report on credentials 28 15
J. Attendance 29 - 33 16
K. Documentation 34 18
III. GENERAL STATEMENTS (Agenda item 3 (b)) 35 - 37
18
IV. REVIEW OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE
CONVENTION AND OF DECISIONS OF THE FIRST
SESSION OF THE CONFERENCE OF THE PARTIES
(Agenda item 5) 38 - 57 18
A. Commitments in Article 4 51 20
B. The Berlin Mandate process: taking stock and intensifying
efforts 52 - 55 20
C. Development and transfer of technologies
(Article 4.1(c) and 4.5) . 56 21
D. Activities implemented jointly: annual review of progress
under the pilot phase 57 22
V. DECISIONS TO PROMOTE THE EFFECTIVE
IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CONVENTION
(Agenda item 6) 58 - 61
Paragraph Page
A. Communications by Parties 58 - 59 22
(i) Communications from Parties included in
Annex I to the Convention: guidelines, schedule
and process for consideration 58 22
(ii) Communications from Parties not included in
Annex I to the Convention: guidelines, facilitation
and process for consideration 59 22
B. Financial mechanism 60 - 61 23
(i) Guidance to the Global Environment Facility 60 23
(ii) Memorandum of Understanding between the
Conference of the Parties and the Council of
the Global Environment Facility 61 23
VI. REPORTS OF OTHER SUBSIDIARY BODIES: ACTION ON
CONCLUSIONS AND GUIDANCE ON FUTURE WORK
(Agenda item 7) 62 - 65 23
A. Report of the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and
Technological Advice 62 - 63 23
B. Report of the Subsidiary Body for Implementation 64
24
C. Report of the Ad Hoc Group on Article 13 65 24
VII. ADMINISTRATIVE AND FINANCIAL MATTERS
(Agenda item 8) 66 - 68 24
A. Establishment of the permanent secretariat and
arrangements for its functioning 66 - 67 24
B. Income and budget performance, and resource
deployment for 1997 68 25
VIII. OTHER MATTERS (Agenda item 9) 69 - 70 25
Paragraphs Page
IX. CONCLUSION OF THE SESSION (Agenda item 10) 71 - 75
25
A. Adoption of the report of the Conference of the
Parties on its second session 71 25
B. Closure of the session 72 - 75 26
Annexes
Annex I Summaries of opening statements 28
Annex II Statements by ministers and by other heads of delegation
of Parties during the ministerial segment of the second session of
the Conference
of the Parties: list of speakers 34
Annex III Ministerial round table: Climate change: new scientific
findings and
opportunities for action. Summary by the Chairperson, Ms. Ruth
Dreifuss, Federal Councillor and Head of the Federal Department of
the Interior of
Switzerland 45
Annex IV Statements made in connection with the Geneva Ministerial
Declaration 47
Annex V List of intergovernmental and non-governmental
organizations attending the second session of the Conference of the
Parties 51
Annex VI List of documents before the Conference of the Parties at
its second
session 55
PART TWO: ACTION TAKEN BY THE CONFERENCE OF THE PARTIES
AT ITS SECOND
SESSION(1)
I. DECISIONS ADOPTED BY THE CONFERENCE OF THE
PARTIES
II. RESOLUTION ADOPTED BY THE CONFERENCE OF THE
PARTIES
III. OTHER ACTION TAKEN BY THE CONFERENCE OF THE PARTIES
Annex: The Geneva Ministerial Declaration
I. OPENING OF THE CONFERENCE
(Agenda items 1, 2 and 3)
A. Opening of the session
(Agenda item 1)
1. The second session of the Conference of the Parties to
the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, convened
pursuant to Article 7.4 of the Convention and decision
21/CP.1,(2) was opened at the Palais
des Nations, Geneva, on 8 July 1996, by the President of the
Conference at its first session, Ms. Angela Merkel, Federal Minister
for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety of the
Federal Republic of Germany. Welcoming all participants to the
Conference, she indicated that the present session provided the
Conference of the Parties with an opportunity to carry out an interim
evaluation of the implementation of the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change and of the progress made in the
negotiation process initiated at the first session with the adoption
of the Berlin Mandate. Pursuant to that Mandate, the Parties were
called upon, inter alia, to negotiate a protocol or another
legal instrument in order to strengthen the commitments of Parties
included in Annex I to the Convention (Annex I Parties) in Article
4.2(a) and (b) for adoption at the third session of the Conference of
the Parties, and it was a matter of great concern that halfway
through that process a convergence of views was not yet in sight. At
the same time, recent scientific findings, as contained in the Second
Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
(IPCC), confirmed that the global climate was undergoing changes as a
result of human activities and that it was increasingly urgent to
take consistent precautionary action. In that regard, it was also a
matter of great concern that the first national communications of
Annex I Parties revealed that some of them currently expected to be
unable to meet the emission reduction targets of the Convention to
return their greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by the year
2000. While within the framework of the Berlin Mandate there was no
question of introducing new commitments for developing countries,
global climate protection could only be successful if action was
taken on a worldwide level. The Conference of the Parties should
therefore consider what joint action could be taken to advance the
implementation of the existing commitments. As a necessary first step
there was a need to decide on the guidelines for the national
communications of Parties not included in Annex I to the Convention
(non-Annex I Parties). Other practical approaches included increased
cooperation between all Parties, particularly in the field of climate
protection technologies, the pilot phase for activities implemented
jointly and stronger involvement of the private sector.
2. In conclusion, she expressed the hope that the
Conference of the Parties would make clear statements on the urgency
of further action in the light of the IPCC findings, on further
efforts regarding the implementation of the existing Convention
commitments and on the intensification of negotiations to flesh out
the Berlin Mandate. A ministerial declaration in that vein would be
an important signal of the Parties' joint willingness to take action.
Progress had been made, but shared commitment, trust and close
cooperation were still indispensable in face of the global challenges
of climate protection and sustainable development.
B. Election of the President
(Agenda item 2)
3. At the 1st (opening) plenary meeting, on 8 July, on the
proposal of the outgoing President, the Conference of the Parties
elected by acclamation Mr. Chen Chimutengwende, Minister of
Environment and Tourism of Zimbabwe, as its President.
4. On assuming office, the President welcomed all
participants to the second session of the Conference of the Parties
and paid tribute to the important contributions made by his
predecessors in the negotiating process and at the first session of
the Conference, and by the Convention secretariat. Describing the
activities undertaken by his country in the field of environment and
in the implementation of the Convention, he conveyed a message from
the President of Zimbabwe, who was also Chairman of the World Solar
Summit, expressing his best wishes for fruitful deliberations at the
present session and the hope that the conclusions reached by the
Conference of the Parties would prove a useful input into the World
Solar Summit, to be held in Zimbabwe in September 1996.
5. Listing the main substantive issues before the
Conference of the Parties at the present session, he emphasized the
importance of the contributions made by the Intergovernmental Panel
on Climate Change (IPCC) in its Second Assessment Report and by the
specialized agencies and intergovernmental and non-governmental
organizations concerned. He suggested that the Conference of the
Parties might wish to take the opportunity to request the IPCC to
identify policy options that could be deemed to be appropriate in
their own right, economically justifiable, sensitive to equity
considerations and yet addressing environmental concerns. He also
stressed the importance of encouraging initiatives by the business
sector to develop and deliver environmentally sound and affordable
technologies and to ensure their full global diffusion.
6. In seeking solutions to the problems to be addressed,
the importance of equity considerations could not be over-emphasized.
The developing countries were characterized by limited financial and
technological resources, and limited human and institutional
capacities. Many developing countries, notably in Africa, remained
dependent on agro-based industry that was climate-sensitive and were
faced with harsh economic conditions and a huge external debt burden.
Their priorities were inevitably placed on such urgent matters as
poverty alleviation, the improvement of social services and job
creation through industrial expansion. They remained, therefore, the
most vulnerable to the impacts of possible climate change and
variability. Moreover, for many of them, in particular the low-lying
countries and small island States, the cost of adaptation measures
was beyond their national capacities.
7. In conclusion, he urged all Parties to provide further
impetus to the implementation of the Convention and to the
strengthening of efforts to combat climate change, and to give their
full support and cooperation to the Berlin Mandate process, with a
view to the negotiation of a draft text during the period before the
third session of the Conference of the Parties.
C. Opening statements
(Agenda item 3 (a))
8. At the 1st plenary meeting, on 8 July, opening
statements were made by
Mr. Nitin Desai, Under-Secretary-General for Policy
Coordination and Sustainable Development, who conveyed a message to
the Conference from the Secretary-General of the United Nations; Mr.
Claude Haegi, Councillor of the Republic and Canton of Geneva,
speaking on behalf of the Geneva authorities; Mr. Michael Zammit
Cutajar, Executive Secretary of the Convention secretariat; Professor
G.O.P. Obasi, Secretary-General of the World Meteorological
Organization; Ms. Elizabeth Dowdeswell, Executive Director of the
United Nations Environment Programme; Professor Bert Bolin, Chairman
of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change; Mr. Mohamed
El-Ashry, Chairman and
Chief Executive Officer of the Global Environment
Facility; and Mr. Robert Priddle, Executive Director of the
International Energy Agency. At the 2nd plenary meeting, on
8 July, a further opening statement was made by Dr. Assad
Kotaite, President of the Council of the International Civil Aviation
Organization. Summaries of these statements are contained in annex I
below.
II. ORGANIZATIONAL MATTERS
(Agenda item 4)
A. Status of ratification of the Convention,
including declarations
made under Article 4.2(g)
(Agenda item 4 (a))
9.For its consideration of this sub-item at its 2nd
plenary meeting, on 8 July, the Conference of the Parties had before
it an information document on the status of ratification of the
Convention (FCCC/CP/1996/INF.1). On the invitation of the President,
the Conference of the Parties took note with satisfaction that 155
States and one regional economic integration organization were now
Parties to the Convention; that two more States, namely the United
Republic of Tanzania and Qatar, would become Parties before the
closure of the session; and that one more State, Israel, had
deposited its instrument of ratification and would become a Party in
the month of August. The Conference of the Parties also took note of
the fact that three Parties, namely, the Czech Republic, Monaco and
Slovakia, had made a declaration to the Depositary, under Article
4.2(g) of the Convention, indicating that they intended to be bound
by the provisions of Article 4.2(a) and (b) of the
Convention.
10.The President further informed the Conference of the
Parties that the Governments of the Czech Republic and Slovakia had
also requested that the name of Czechoslovakia be deleted from Annex
I to the Convention as that country had never been a Party to the
Convention and no longer existed as a State entity, and that the
names of the Czech Republic and the Slovak Republic be included in
Annex I. The Convention secretariat was consulting on this matter
with the United Nations Office of Legal Affairs. On the proposal of
the President, the Conference of the Parties requested the
secretariat to report in due course to the Parties to the Convention,
through the Subsidiary Body for Implementation, on the results of its
consultations with the United Nations Office of Legal Affairs and on
any action taken in that regard by the Depositary of the
Convention.
B. Adoption of the rules of
procedure
(Agenda item 4 (b))
11. At the 1st (opening) plenary meeting, on 8 July, the
outgoing President reported on the outcome of the series of informal
consultations that she had held on the draft rules of procedure since
the first session of the Conference of the Parties. She informed the
Conference that, in spite of the efforts made by all participants, it
had not proved possible to arrive at a final solution, and she urged
all delegations to consider the issue further and work towards an
agreement.
12. For its consideration of this sub-item at its 2nd
plenary meeting, on 8 July, the Conference had before it the draft
rules of procedure of the Conference of the Parties and its
subsidiary bodies (FCCC/CP/1996/2). The President proposed that, in
view of the report by the outgoing President, consideration of the
sub-item should be postponed to give time for further consultations.
After some discussion, he ruled that the draft rules of procedure as
contained in document FCCC/CP/1996/2 should continue to be applied,
with the exception of rule 42.
13. At the 9th plenary meeting, on 19 July, the President,
reporting to the Conference of the Parties on the outcome of his
consultations, said that a large number of Parties favoured some form
of majority ruling for substantive decisions and for the adoption of
a protocol, and that in that regard a three-fourths majority vote
would appear to be acceptable to many. However, those Parties still
maintained differing positions with regard to decisions relating to
the financial mechanism: some preferred consensus, while others
suggested a double majority of Parties, including those included in
Annex II to the Convention (Annex II Parties); yet others had
suggested a four-fifths majority of all Parties. At the same time, a
small number of Parties had expressed their preference for all
decisions, including those relating to substance, the financial
mechanism and the adoption of a protocol, to be taken by consensus.
As yet, therefore, no consensus had emerged on the draft rules. It
was his intention to carry out further consultations during the
inter-sessional period with a view to enabling the Conference of the
Parties to adopt its rules of procedure at the outset of its third
session. .
14. At the same meeting, the representative of Saudi
Arabia, speaking also on behalf of Bahrain, Indonesia, Lebanon,
Nigeria, Oman, Qatar, the Syrian Arab Republic, the
United Arab Emirates and Venezuela, said that those
countries objected to the application of the draft rules of procedure
in the absence of any agreement on draft rules 22 and 42. They had
provided the President with draft texts reflecting their positions on
those two rules.
C. Adoption of the agenda
(Agenda item 4 (c))
15. At its 2nd plenary meeting, on 8 July, the Conference
adopted the following agenda:
1. Opening of the Conference.
2. Election of the President.
3. Statements:
(a) Statements at the opening of the session;
(b) Other statements.
4. Organizational matters:
(a) Status of ratification of the Convention, including
declarations made under Article 4.2(g);
(b) Adoption of the rules of procedure;
(c) Adoption of the agenda;
(d) Election of officers other than the President;
(e) Admission of organizations as observers;
(f) Organization of work;
(g) Calendar of meetings of Convention bodies 1996-1997;
(h) Date and venue of the third session of the Conference
of the Parties;
(i) Adoption of the report on credentials.
5. Review of the implementation of the Convention and of
decisions of the first session of the Conference of the Parties,
including:
(a) Commitments in Article 4;
(b) The Berlin Mandate process: taking stock and
intensifying efforts;
(c) Development and transfer of technologies (Article
4.1(c) and 4.5);
(d) Activities implemented jointly: annual review of
progress under the pilot phase.
6. Decisions to promote the effective implementation of
the Convention:
(a) Communications by Parties:
(i) Communications from Parties included in Annex I to the
Convention: guidelines, schedule and process for consideration;
(ii) Communications from Parties not included in Annex I
to the Convention: guidelines, facilitation and process for
consideration;
(b) 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.
7. Reports of other subsidiary bodies: action on
conclusions and guidance on future work:
(a) Report of the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and
Technological Advice;
(b) Report of the Subsidiary Body for Implementation;
(c) Report of the Ad Hoc Group on Article 13.
8. 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.
9. Other matters.
10. Conclusion of the session:
(a) Adoption of the report of the Conference of the
Parties on its second session;
(b) Closure of the session.
D. Election of officers other than the
President
(Agenda item 4 (d))
16. At its 2nd plenary meeting, on 8 July, on the proposal
of the President, the Conference of the Parties elected Mr. Mohamed
M. Ould El Ghaouth (Mauritania) as Chairman of the Subsidiary Body
for Implementation (SBI) and Mr. Tibor Faragó (Hungary) as
Chairman of the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological
Advice (SBSTA), both for a second term of office. The Conference also
noted that the Chairman and other officers of the Ad Hoc Group on the
Berlin Mandate (AGBM), and the Chairman of the Ad Hoc Group on
Article 13 (AG13), would continue in office for a second term. At the
same meeting, it was agreed that the election of the seven
Vice-Presidents and the Rapporteur of the Conference, and of the
officers other than the Chairmen of SBI, SBSTA and AG13, should be
postponed pending further consultations on outstanding
issues.
17. At its 3rd plenary meeting, on 10 July, on the
proposal of the President, the Conference of the Parties elected by
acclamation seven Vice-Presidents and the Rapporteur of the
Conference. The Bureau of the Conference was thus constituted as
follows:
President
Mr. Chen Chimutengwende (Zimbabwe)
Vice-Presidents
Mr. John Ashe (Antigua and Barbuda)
Mr. Anthony Clarke (Canada)
Mr. René Castro Hernández (Costa Rica)
Ms. Cornelia Quennet-Thielen (Germany)
Mr. Abbas A. Naqi (Kuwait)
Mr. Alexander I. Bedritsky (Russian Federation)
Mr. Tuiloma Neroni Slade (Samoa)
Chairman of the Subsidiary Body for
Implementation
Mr. Mohammed M. Ould El Ghaouth (Mauritania)
Chairman of the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and
Technological Advice
Mr. Tibor Faragó (Hungary)
Rapporteur
Mr. Antonio G. M. La Viña
(Philippines)
18. At the 9th plenary meeting, on 19 July, Mr.
Raúl Estrada-Oyuela (Argentina), Chairman of the Ad Hoc Group
on the Berlin Mandate, reported to the Conference of the Parties
that, after consultations that he had conducted at the request of the
President, it had not proved possible to reach agreement on the
election of the Vice-Chairmen and Rapporteurs of the Subsidiary Body
for Scientific and Technological Advice, the Subsidiary Body for
Implementation and the Ad Hoc Group on Article 13. It was his
intention, however, to conduct further consultations, in the very
near future, with a view to allowing the respective subsidiary bodies
to elect those officers at their sessions in December
1996.
E. Admission of organizations as
observers
(Agenda item 4 (e))
19. For its consideration of this sub-item at its 2nd
plenary meeting, on 8 July, the Conference of the Parties had before
it a note by the secretariat (FCCC/CP/1996/3). In addition to those
organizations already admitted at COP 1, the Conference of the
Parties, on the invitation of the President, decided to accord
observer status to one intergovernmental organization, the Central
American Commission on the Environment and Development, Guatemala
City, Guatemala, and the following 36 non-governmental organizations
listed in the annex to document FCCC/CP/1996/3:
1. Air-Conditioning & Refrigeration Institute,
Arlington, USA
2. American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial
Organizations (AFL-CIO), Washington D.C., USA
3. Association pour un développement durable,
Nouakchott, Mauritania
4. Atmosphere Action Network in East Asia (AANEA), Seoul,
Korea
5. Australian Aluminium Council, Manuka, Australia
6. Business Council of Australia, Canberra, Australia
7. Centre for Energy, Environment, Science and Technology
(CEEST), Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania
8. Center for International and European Environmental
Research (ecologic), Berlin, Germany
9. Climate Change Association of the Insurance Industry in
Support of the UNEP Initiative, Köln, Germany
10. Comisión Interparlamentaria Centroamericana de
Ambiente y Desarrollo (CICAD), Panama City, Panama
11. Energy 21, Boulogne, France
12. Energy Efficiency Center ( SEVEn), Prague, Czech
Republic
13. European Business Council For a Sustainable Energy
Future, Velp, Netherlands
14. European Round Table of Industrialists (ERT
Environment Watchdog Group) Brussels, Belgium
15. European Wind Energy Association, Hemel Hempstead, UK
16. Foundation Joint Implementation Network, Groningen,
Netherlands
17. Global Dynamics Institute, Rome, Italy
18. International Youth and Student Movement for the
United Nations (ISMUN), Geneva, Switzerland
19. International Institute for Energy Conservation
(IIEC)-Europe, London, UK
20. International Institute for Energy Conservation
(IIEC), Washington, D.C., USA
21. Japan Federation of Economic Organizations, Tokyo,
Japan
22. NGO Liaison Forum on Environment and Sustainable
Development of the Conference of NGOs in Consultative Status with
ECOSOC, Geneva, Switzerland
23. Organization for Industrial Spiritual and Cultural
Advancement-International, Tokyo, Japan (OISCA-International)
24. Ozone Action, Washington, D.C., USA
25. Palestinian Institute for Arid Land and Environmental
Studies, Hebron, Palestine
26. Peoples' Forum 2001, Tokyo, Japan
27. Réseau Action Climat France (RACF), Paris,
France
28. Sierra Club of Canada, Ottawa, Canada
29. Solar Electric Light Fund, Washington, D.C., USA
30. Sahabat Alam Malaysia (Friends of the Earth), Penang,
Malaysia
31. Southern Center for Energy and Environment, Harare,
Zimbabwe
32. The Energy Conservation Center, Tokyo, Japan
33. The Fridtjof Nansen Institute, Lysaker, Norway
34. The Japan Electrical Manufacturers' Association
(JEMA), Tokyo, Japan
35. The World Conservation Union (IUCN), Gland,
Switzerland
36. University of the Pacific, Stockton, USA.
F. Organization of work
(Agenda item 4 (f))
20. The Conference of the Parties took up this sub-item at
its 2nd plenary meeting, on
8 July, at which the Executive Secretary made an
introductory statement on the question of documentation. He informed
the Conference that the large volume of documentation for Convention
bodies had been remarked upon by the Advisory Committee for
Administrative and Budgetary Questions (ACABQ) of the United Nations
when considering the arrangements for funding conference servicing
for the Convention from the regular programme budget of the United
Nations. In that context, he wished to point out that a significant
part of the documentation produced by the secretariat arose from the
communication and review process and was thus required by commitments
under the Convention and the related procedures established by the
Conference of the Parties. Secondly, a large portion of the pages
submitted to intergovernmental bodies consisted of comments by
Parties on various topics, the length of which was outside the
control of the secretariat. Lastly, the volume of documentation was
evidently connected with the frequency of meetings, and one way to
reduce the volume of documentation would be to reduce the number of
sessions of the subsidiary bodies. He wished to suggest the
possibility of envisaging that the subsidiary bodies other than the
AGBM should not meet concurrently with the third session of the
Conference of the Parties, thus making it possible to spread the load
of documentation more evenly throughout 1997 and ensuring that
recommendations from the subsidiary bodies would be available well in
advance of the Conference.
21. On the proposal of the President, the Conference of
the Parties, at its 2nd plenary meeting, on 8 July,
decided:
(a) To remit the question of documentation for Convention
bodies to the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI) for its
consideration;
(b) To refer sub-item 5 (b) on the Berlin Mandate process
to the Ad Hoc Group on the Berlin Mandate (AGBM), requesting it to
submit draft conclusions on the Group's future work, including the
calendar and organization of the negotiating process up to the third
session of the Conference of the Parties;
(c) To refer sub-items 5 (c) on development and transfer
of technologies and 5 (d) on activities implemented jointly to both
the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA)
and the SBI, requesting the Chairmen of the two bodies to propose to
the Bureau a coordinated or integrated approach for the consideration
of those topics by the two bodies, including with respect to their
proposed work programmes;
(d) To refer sub-item 6 (a) on communications by Parties
to both the SBSTA and the SBI; with regard to sub-item 6 (a) (i) on
communications from Annex I Parties, requesting the SBSTA to consider
possible revisions to the guidelines for the preparation of national
communications by Annex I Parties and to recommend a course of
action, and requesting the SBI to consider the schedule for
submission of second national communications and the process for
consideration of those communications, including the organization of
a future review process; with regard to sub-item 6 (a) (ii) on
communications from non-Annex I Parties, requesting the SBSTA to
consider the question of guidelines and the SBI to deal with
facilitation and the process for consideration of communications; it
being understood that the SBSTA and the SBI might consider submitting
consolidated recommendations on each particular sub-item for action
by the Conference of the Parties;
(e) To refer sub-item 6 (b) on the financial mechanism to
the SBI, requesting it to make appropriate recommendations for action
by the Conference of the Parties on the questions of guidance to the
Global Environment Facility and the Memorandum of Understanding
between the Conference of the Parties and the Council of the Global
Environment Facility;
(f) To refer item 8 on administrative and financial
matters to the SBI, requesting it to provide the Conference of the
Parties with specific guidance on matters relating to the Convention
secretariat and the arrangements for its functioning, as well as to
the Convention budget in terms of income and budget performance, and
resource deployment for 1997.
22. With regard to the ministerial segment of the session,
the Conference, at its 3rd plenary meeting, on 10 July, agreed with
the President's suggestion that three plenary meetings and an
informal round table should be held during that segment, that
Ministers and other heads of delegations of Parties should make
statements under agenda item 5, and that the time limit for
statements during the ministerial segment should be set at five
minutes. The informal round table to be convened by the President
would be chaired by
Ms. Ruth Dreifuss, Federal Councillor and Head of the
Federal Department of the Interior of Switzerland.
23. At its 4th plenary meeting, on 12 July, on the
proposal of the President, the Conference of the Parties decided to
refer sub-item 5 (a) on commitments in Article 4 to the SBI,
requesting it to submit an appropriate recommendation to the
Conference of the Parties.
24. At the same meeting, the Conference of the Parties
further decided that the question of the division of labour between
the SBI and the SBSTA should be taken up by the Conference of the
Parties at its third session on the basis of recommendations made to
it by the Chairmen of the two subsidiary bodies.
G. Calendar of meetings of Convention bodies
1996-1997
(Agenda item 4 (g))
25. At its 9th plenary meeting, on 19 July, the Conference
of the Parties, noting the recommendation of the Bureau that the
SBSTA, the SBI and the Ad Hoc Group on Article 13 should not meet
concurrently with the third session of the Conference of the Parties,
agreed to a calendar of meetings proposed by the Executive Secretary
on the basis of discussions in the Bureau. The Conference also agreed
that the Bureau would keep the calendar under review. For the
calendar of meetings, see Part Two, section III, of this
report.
H. Date and venue of the third session of the
Conference of the Parties
(Agenda item 4 (h))
26. At its 8th plenary meeting, on 19 July, the Conference
of the Parties, having considered a proposal submitted by the
President, adopted decision 1/CP.2 on the date and venue of the third
session of the Conference of the Parties, accepting the offer of the
Government of Japan to act as host. For the text of the decision, see
Part Two, section I, of the present report.
27. On the adoption of the decision, a statement was made
by Mr. Sukio Iwadare, Minister of State and Director-General of the
Environment Agency of Japan.
I. Adoption of the report on
credentials
(Agenda item 4 (i))
28. At its 9th plenary meeting, on 19 July, the Conference
of the Parties took note of the report of the Bureau on the
credentials of the representatives of Parties to the second session
of the Conference of the Parties (FCCC/CP/1996/4), as orally amended
by the Executive Secretary.
J. Attendance
29. The second session of the Conference of the Parties
and the concurrent sessions of
the subsidiary bodies were attended by representatives of
the following 147 Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention
on Climate Change:
Albania
Algeria
Antigua and Barbuda
Argentina
Armenia
Australia
Austria
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Barbados
Belgium
Belize
Benin
Bhutan
Bolivia
Botswana
Brazil
Bulgaria
Burkina Faso
Cambodia
Cameroon
Canada
Cape Verde
Central African
Republic
Chad
Chile
China
Colombia
Comoros
Costa Rica
Côte d'Ivoire
Croatia
Cuba
Czech Republic
Democratic People's
Republic of Korea
Denmark
Djibouti
Ecuador
Egypt
El Salvador
Eritrea
Estonia
Ethiopia
European Community
Fiji
Finland
France
Gambia
Georgia
Germany
Ghana
Greece
Grenada
Guatemala
Guinea
Guinea-Bissau
Guyana
Honduras
Hungary
Iceland
India
Indonesia
Ireland
Italy
Jamaica
Japan
Jordan
Kenya
Kiribati
Kuwait
Lao People's Democratic
Republic
Latvia
Lebanon
Lesotho
Liechtenstein
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Malawi
Malaysia
Maldives
Mali
Malta
Marshall Islands
Mauritania
Mauritius
Mexico
Micronesia (Federated
States of)
Monaco
Mongolia
Morocco
Myanmar
Namibia
Nepal
Netherlands
New Zealand
Nicaragua
Niger
Nigeria
Niue
Norway
Oman
Pakistan
Panama
Paraguay
Peru
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Qatar
Republic of Korea
Republic of Moldova
Romania
Russian Federation
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia
Samoa
Saudi Arabia
Senegal
Sierra Leone
Slovakia
Slovenia
Solomon Islands
Spain
Sri Lanka
Sudan
Sweden
Switzerland
Syrian Arab Republic
Thailand
Togo
Trinidad and Tobago
Tunisia
Turkmenistan
Uganda
United Arab Emirates
United Kingdom of
Great Britain and
Northern Ireland
United Republic of Tanzania
United States of
America
Uruguay
Uzbekistan
Vanuatu
Venezuela
Viet Nam
Yemen
Zaire
Zambia
Zimbabwe
30. The session was also attended by observers from the
following 14 States not Parties to the Convention:
Dominican Republic
Gabon
Haiti
Holy See
Iran (Islamic Republic of)
Iraq
Israel
Madagascar
Singapore
South Africa
Swaziland
The former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia
Turkey
Ukraine
31. The following United Nations offices and programmes
were represented:
United Nations Conference on Trade and Development
(UNCTAD)
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
United Nations Centre for Human Settlements (Habitat)
Economic Commission for Europe (ECE)
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
United Nations Institute for Training and Research
(UNITAR)
United Nations Non-Governmental Liason Service (NGLS)
Secretariat of the Convention on International Trade in
Endangered Species (CITES/UNEP)
International Decade for Natural Disaster
Reduction
32. The following specialized agencies and other
organizations of the United Nations system were represented:
International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO)
Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (UNESCO/IOC)
United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)
World Bank
World Health Organization (WHO)
World Meteorological Organization (WMO)
Global Environment Facility of the World Bank/UNDP/UNEP
(GEF)
WMO/UNEP Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
World Trade Organization (WTO)
33. For a list of the intergovernmental and
non-governmental organizations attending the second session of the
Conference of the Parties, see annex V below.
K. Documentation
34. The documents before the Conference of the Parties at
its second session are listed in annex VI below.
III. GENERAL STATEMENTS
(Agenda item 3 (b))
35. At the 4th plenary meeting, on 12 July, statements
were made by the following observer States: Iran, South Africa and
Turkey.
36. Statements were made under this item by the
representative of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) at
the 2nd plenary meeting, on 8 July, and by the representative of the
United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) at the
4th plenary meeting, on 12 July.
37. At the 4th plenary meeting, on 12 July, statements
were also made by the representative of one intergovernmental
organization, the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries
(OPEC), and by the representatives of the following non-governmental
organizations: Business Council for a Sustainable Energy Future,
Climate Action Network, Climate Action Network-South East Asia, the
International Chamber of Commerce (speaking on behalf of
business/industry non-governmental organizations represented at the
Conference), the International Council for Local Environment
Initiatives, the National Association of Regulatory Utility
Commissioners of the United States of America, and the World Council
of Churches.
IV. REVIEW OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE
CONVENTION
AND OF DECISIONS OF THE FIRST SESSION OF
THE
CONFERENCE OF THE PARTIES
(Agenda item 5)
38. At the 5th, 6th, 7th and 8th plenary meetings, on 17,
18 and 19 July, statements were made under this item by 99 ministers
and other heads of delegation of Parties. For a list of the 99
ministers and heads of delegation who made statements under this
item, see annex II below.
39. At the 6th plenary meeting, on 18 July, Ms. Ruth
Dreifuss, Federal Councillor and Head of the Federal Department of
the Interior of Switzerland, in her capacity as Chairperson of the
informal round table on "Climate change: new scientific findings and
opportunities for action", held during the ministerial segment,
summarized the discussions in the round table. For the text of her
summary, see annex III below.
40. At the 6th plenary meeting, on 18 July, the President
introduced the text of a Ministerial Declaration that had emerged
from consultations with a representative group of "Friends of the
President" chaired by Mr. S. Marchi, Minister of the Environment of
Canada. The text was presented in the name of the ministers and other
heads of delegation present at the second session of the Conference
of the Parties. In introducing the text, the President stated that
the Declaration gave rise to some concern or difficulties for some
delegations, in some cases because they felt that the text went too
far and in others because they felt that it did not go far enough.
The text as a whole, however, commanded a very wide consensus among
ministers and other heads of delegation attending the
Conference.
41. At its 7th plenary meeting, on 18 July, on the
proposal of the President, the Conference of the Parties took note of
the Ministerial Declaration and agreed that it should be annexed to
the report of the Conference. For the text of the Declaration, see
the annex to Part Two of this report.
42. In that connection, statements were made by the
representatives of Australia, the United States of America, New
Zealand, Saudi Arabia (speaking also on behalf of the following
Parties: Bahrain, Jordan, Kuwait, Nigeria, Oman, Qatar, the Russian
Federation, Sudan, the Syrian Arab Republic, the United Arab
Emirates, Venezuela and Yemen, and of one observer State, the Islamic
Republic of Iran) and Ireland (speaking on behalf of the European
Community and its member States). For the texts of these statements,
see annex IV below.
43. At the same meeting, the representative of Ghana said
that, while generally endorsing the text of the Declaration, his
country could not accept the wording of paragraph 6 regarding the
fulfilment of commitments by Annex I Parties.
44. At the 9th plenary meeting, on 19 July, further
statements in connection with the Ministerial Declaration were made
by the representatives of Venezuela, the Russian Federation and Samoa
(speaking on behalf of the Alliance of Small Island States). For the
texts of these statements, see annex IV below.
45. At the same meeting, on the proposal of the
representative of Germany, the Conference of the Parties decided, by
acclamation, that the Declaration should be known as the Geneva
Ministerial Declaration.
46. At the 8th plenary meeting, on 19 July, the Conference
of the Parties had before it under this item a summary by the
Chairman of the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological
Advice of the discussions on the Second Assessment Report of the
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, including a draft decision
containing two alternative paragraphs in square brackets on which it
had not proved possible to reach a consensus (FCCC/CP/1996/L.11). The
Conference heard a report from the Chairman of the SBSTA who
suggested that a possible solution would be to delete both of the
alternative texts in square brackets since the resulting decision
would still recognize the great value of the Second Assessment Report
of the IPCC for the Conference of the Parties. He also referred to
the Geneva Ministerial Declaration. The Conference, on the proposal
of the President, endorsed the suggestion made by the Chairman of the
SBSTA and adopted decision 6/CP.2 on the Second Assessment Report of
the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. For the text of the
decision, see Part Two, section I, of this report.
47. On the adoption of decision 6/CP.2, the representative
of the Marshall Islands, referring to the two alternative paragraphs
that had been deleted, said that the first option represented the
majority view among the Parties to the Convention. It was only with
the utmost reluctance and reservation that he had been able to accept
the compromise of deleting both alternatives.
48. The representative of Ireland, speaking on behalf of
the European Community and its member States, warmly welcomed the
conclusion in decision 6/CP.2 that the Second Assessment Report of
the IPCC was the most comprehensive and authoritative assessment of
the science of climate change. The European Community and its member
Sates believed consensus should also have been reached on the use of
the Second Assessment Report and strongly endorsed it as the basis
for urgent action to further the implementation of the Convention and
to negotiate a protocol or another legal instrument. They also wished
to express their wholehearted support for the continuing work of the
IPCC and its use by the bodies of the Convention.
49. The representative of Saudi Arabia said that he
preferred the second of the two alternatives but could support the
compromise solution of deleting them both. In his view, the question
of how to judge the Second Assessment Report should be left to each
subsidiary body.
50. The representative of Samoa, speaking on behalf of the
Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), said that while AOSIS
accepted decision 6/CP.2 it nevertheless believed that the Second
Assessment Report should be used as a basis for urgent action to
further the implementation of the Convention and for developing a
protocol or other legal instrument, as provided for in the Berlin
Mandate.
A. Commitments in Article 4
(Agenda item 5 (a))
51. This sub-item was referred to the SBI by the
Conference of the Parties at its 4th plenary meeting, on 12 July (see
para. 23 above). At its 8th plenary meeting, on 19 July, the
Conference of the Parties, having heard a report from the Chairman of
the SBI, took note that the Subsidiary Body for Implementation would
take up the item again at a future session.
B. The Berlin Mandate process: taking stock and
intensifying efforts
(Agenda item 5 (b))
52. This sub-item was referred to the Ad Hoc Group on the
Berlin Mandate (AGBM) by the Conference of the Parties at its 2nd
plenary meeting, on 8 July (see para. 21 (b) above). At the 8th
plenary meeting, on 19 July, the Chairman of the Ad Hoc Group on the
Berlin Mandate reported to the Conference of the Parties on the work
of the Ad Hoc Group. The AGBM had met four times since the first
session of the Conference of the Parties and, in line with its
mandate, had focused on the analysis and assessment of the different
options available to Parties on both quantified emission limitation
and reduction objectives (QELROs) and policies and measures. The
focus of the AGBM's work would, however, now move progressively
towards negotiation.
53. The Chairman reported that the AGBM had convened
informal workshops at its third session, and round tables at its
fourth, on QELROs and on policies and measures. A further round table
at the fourth session had dealt with the possible impacts on
developing countries of new commitments to be negotiated for Annex I
Parties. The Chairman noted that those more informal meetings had
facilitated useful and constructive discussion.
54. Referring to the programme of work of the Group up to
the third session of the Conference of the Parties, the Chairman
indicated that Parties had been requested to submit further concrete
proposals by 15 October 1996. With the assistance of the Convention
secretariat, he had undertaken to produce a synthesis of all
proposals received up to that date as a contribution to the fifth
session of the AGBM in December 1996. He expressed the hope that such
a synthesis would provide a constructive framework for discussion at
the fifth session of the Group and would be a major step towards the
development of a negotiating text.
55. At the same meeting, the Conference of the Parties
took note with appreciation of the reports of the Ad Hoc Group on the
Berlin Mandate on the work of its first, second and third sessions
(FCCC/AGBM/1995/2 and Corr.1, FCCC/AGBM/1995/7 and Corr.1, and
FCCC/AGBM/1996/5), together with the oral report of the Chairman on
the work of its fourth session, and requested it to continue its work
in line with its mandate and in as expeditious a manner as
possible.
C. Development and transfer of technologies
(Article 4.1(c) and 4.5)
(Agenda item 5 (c ))
56. This sub-item was referred to both the SBSTA and the
SBI by the Conference of the Parties at its 2nd plenary meeting, on 8
July (see para. 21 (c) above). At its 8th plenary meeting, on 19
July, the Conference of the Parties, on the recommendation of the
SBSTA and the SBI, adopted decision 7/CP.2 on development and
transfer of technologies. For the text of the decision, see Part Two,
section I, of this report.
D. Activities implemented jointly: review of
progress under the pilot phase
(Agenda item 5 (d))
57. This sub-item was referred to both the SBSTA and the
SBI by the Conference of the Parties at its 2nd plenary meeting, on 8
July (see para. 21 (c) above). At its 8th plenary meeting, on 19
July, the Conference of the Parties, on the recommendation of the
SBSTA and the SBI, adopted decision 8/CP.2 on activities implemented
jointly under the pilot phase. For the text of the decision, see Part
Two, section I, of this report. For conclusions adopted by the SBSTA
on this sub-item, see FCCC/SBSTA/1996/13, para. 38.
V. DECISIONS TO PROMOTE THE EFFECTIVE
IMPLEMENTATION
OF THE CONVENTION
(Agenda item 6)
A. Communications by Parties
(Agenda item 6 (a))
(i) Communications from Parties included in
Annex I to the Convention:
guidelines, schedule and process for
consideration
58. This sub-item was referred to both the SBSTA and the
SBI by the Conference of the Parties at its 2nd plenary meeting, on 8
July, the former being requested to consider possible revisions to
the guidelines for the preparation of national communications by
Annex I Parties and to recommend a course of action, and the latter
being requested to consider the schedule for submission of second
national communications and the process for consideration of those
communications, including the organization of a future review process
(see para. 21 (d) above). At its 8th plenary meeting, on 19 July, the
Conference of the Parties, on the recommendation of the SBSTA and the
SBI, adopted decision 9/CP.2 on communications from Parties included
in Annex I to the Convention: guidelines, schedule and process for
consideration. For the text of the decision, see Part Two, section I,
of this report. For conclusions adopted by the SBI on this sub-item,
see FCCC/SBI/1996/12, para. 14.
(ii) Communications from Parties not included
in Annex I to the Convention:
guidelines, facilitation and process for
consideration
59. This sub-item was referred to both the SBSTA and the
SBI by the Conference of the Parties at its 2nd plenary meeting, on 8
July, the former being requested to consider the question of
guidelines and the latter being requested to deal with facilitation
and the process for consideration of communications (see para. 21 (d)
above). At its 8th plenary meeting, on 19 July, the Conference of the
Parties, on the recommendation of the SBSTA and the SBI, adopted
decision 10/CP.2 on communications from Parties not included in Annex
I to the Convention: guidelines, facilitation and process for
consideration. For the text of the decision, see Part Two, section I,
of this report.
B. Financial mechanism
(Agenda item 6 (b))
(i) Guidance to the Global Environment
Facility
60. This sub-item was referred to the SBI by the
Conference of the Parties at its 2nd plenary meeting, on 8 July (see
para. 21 (e) above). At its 8th plenary meeting, on 19 July, the
Conference of the Parties, on the recommendation of the SBI, adopted
decision 11/CP.2 on guidance to the Global Environment Facility. For
the text of the decision, see Part Two, section I, of this
report.
(ii) Memorandum of Understanding between the
Conference of the Parties and
the Council of the Global Environment
Facility
61. This sub-item was referred to the SBI by the
Conference of the Parties at its 2nd plenary meeting, on 8 July (see
para. 21 (e) above). At its 8th plenary meeting, on 19 July, the
Conference of the Parties, pursuant to decision 2/SBI.1, adopted
decision 12/CP.2 on the Memorandum of Understanding between the
Conference of the Parties and the Council of the Global Environment
Facility, by which it adopted the Memorandum of Understanding. At the
same meeting, the Conference of the Parties, on the recommendation of
the SBI, adopted decision 13/CP.2 on the 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, by which it
referred the text of the annex to the SBI for further consideration.
For the texts of these decisions, see Part Two, section I, of this
report.
VI. REPORTS OF OTHER SUBSIDIARY BODIES: ACTION ON
CONCLUSIONS
AND GUIDANCE ON FUTURE WORK(Agenda item
7)
A. Report of the Subsidiary Body for Scientific
and Technological Advice
(Agenda item 7 (a))
62. At its 2nd plenary meeting, on 8 July, the Conference
of the Parties, having heard a report from the Chairman of the SBSTA
on the question of the establishment of intergovernmental technical
advisory panel(s) (ITAPs), decided, on the proposal of the President,
to request the SBSTA to revert to the question of the establishment
of ITAPs, at a future session, to be specified, in the light of any
experience gained from the operation of any roster of
experts.
63. At its 8th plenary meeting, on 19 July, the Conference
of the Parties, having heard a report on the work of the SBSTA from
its Chairman, took note with appreciation of the reports of the
Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice on the work
of its first and second sessions (FCCC/SBSTA/1995/3 and
FCCC/SBSTA/1996/8), together with the oral report of the Chairman on
the work of its third session, and requested it to continue its work
in line with its mandate.
B. Report of the Subsidiary Body for
Implementation
(Agenda item 7 (b))
64. At its 8th plenary meeting, on 19 July, the Conference
of the Parties, having heard a report on the work of the SBI from its
Chairman, took note with appreciation of the reports of the
Subsidiary Body for Implementation on the work of its first and
second sessions (FCCC/SBI/1995/5 and Corr.1 and FCCC/SBI/1996/9),
together with the oral report of the Chairman on the work of its
third session, and requested it to continue its work in line with its
mandate. On the recommendation of the SBI, the Conference of the
Parties also adopted decision 2/CP.2 on the programme of work of the
Subsidiary Body for Implementation,
1996-1997, and decision 3/CP.2 on secretariat activities
relating to technical and financial support to Parties. For the texts
of these decisions, see Part Two, section I, of this
report.
C. Report of the Ad Hoc Group on Article
13
(Agenda item 7 (c))
65. At its 8th plenary meeting, on 19 July, the Conference
of the Parties, having heard a report on the work of the Ad Hoc Group
on Article 13 from its Chairman, took note with appreciation of the
reports of the Ad Hoc Group on Article 13 on the work of its first
and second sessions (FCCC/AG13/1995/2 and FCCC/AG13/1996/2) and
requested it to continue its work in line with its mandate. On the
recommendation of the Ad Hoc Group on Article 13, the Conference of
the Parties also adopted decision 4/CP.2 on the future work of the Ad
Hoc Group on Article 13, and decision 5/CP.2 on linkage between the
Ad Hoc Group on Article 13 and the Ad Hoc Group on the Berlin
Mandate. For the texts of these decisions, see Part Two, section I,
of this report.
VII. ADMINISTRATIVE AND FINANCIAL MATTERS
(Agenda item 8)
A. Establishment of the permanent secretariat
and arrangements for its functioning
(Agenda item 8 (a))
66. This sub-item was referred to the SBI by the
Conference of the Parties at its 2nd plenary meeting, on 8 July (see
para. 21 (f) above). At its 8th plenary meeting, on 19 July, the
Conference of the Parties, on the recommendation of the SBI, adopted
decision 14/CP.2 on establishment of the permanent secretariat and
arrangements for its functioning, and decision 15/CP.2 on the
Agreement concerning the headquarters of the Convention secretariat.
For the texts of these decisions, see Part Two, section I, of this
report.
67. In connection with decision 15/CP.2, attention was
drawn to a statement made by the Executive Secretary to the SBI on
that subject (see FCCC/SBI/1996/12, paras. 45 and 46).
B. Income and budget performance, and resource
deployment for 1997
(Agenda item 8 (b))
68. This sub-item, together with the question of
documentation, was referred to the SBI by the Conference of the
Parties at its 2nd plenary meeting, on 8 July (see para. 21 (a) and
(f) above). At its 8th plenary meeting, on 19 July, the Conference of
the Parties, on the recommendation of the SBI, adopted decision
16/CP.2 on income and budget performance, and resource deployment for
1997, and decision 17/CP.2 on volume of documentation. For the texts
of these decisions, see Part Two, section I, of this
report.
VIII. OTHER MATTERS
(Agenda item 9)
69. Under this item the Conference, at its 4th plenary
meeting, on 12 July, took up the question of the invitation to the
Conference of the Parties by the General Assembly, in its resolution
50/113, to provide an input to its special session on Agenda 21. On
the invitation of the President, the Conference of the Parties
decided to request the Subsidiary Body for Implementation to consider
this matter at its fifth session, in February 1997, and to provide an
input to the special session of the General Assembly on behalf of the
Conference of the Parties. It further requested the Convention
secretariat to submit a brief report to the Subsidiary Body for
Implementation, to facilitate its work on an input to the General
Assembly.
70. A statement was made under this item by the
representative of a Party.
IX. CONCLUSION OF THE SESSION
(Agenda item 10)
A. Adoption of the report of the Conference of
the Parties on its second session
(Agenda item 10 (a))
71. At its 9th plenary meeting, on 19 July, the Conference
of the Parties adopted the draft report on its second session
(FCCC/CP/1996/L.10), authorizing the Rapporteur, with the assistance
of the Convention secretariat, to complete the report, as
appropriate.
B. Closure of the session
(Agenda item 10 (b))
72. At the 9th plenary meeting, on 19 July, the Conference
of the Parties, having considered a draft resolution submitted by the
President (FCCC/CP/1996/L.6), adopted resolution 1/CP.2 entitled
"Expression of gratitude to the Government of Switzerland". For the
text of the resolution, see Part Two, section II, of this
report.
73. On the adoption of resolution 1/CP.2, a statement was
made by the representative of Switzerland.
74. Closing statements were made by the representatives of
Costa Rica (on behalf of the Group of 77 and China), El Salvador (on
behalf of the Group of Latin American and Caribbean States), Ireland
(on behalf of the European Community and its member States), Slovenia
(on behalf of the Eastern European States), the United States of
America and the Russian Federation. A statement was made by the
Executive Secretary.
75. The President, after making a closing statement in
which he thanked all participants for their constructive cooperation,
declared the second session of the Conference of the Parties
closed.
Annex I
Summaries of opening statements
(Agenda item 3(a))
1. At the lst plenary meeting, on 8 July, a message from
the Secretary-General of the United Nations was conveyed to the
Conference of the Parties by Mr. Nitin Desai,
Under-Secretary-General for Policy Coordination and
Sustainable Development. In that message the Secretary-General said
that the fact that the Convention now had 159 ratifications and that
the Parties were diligently moving forward to strengthen their
earlier commitments constituted significant progress towards global
climate security. The challenge facing the Parties to the Convention
was to find new ways of involving the whole of the international
community in its effective implementation. While industrialized
countries needed to take the lead in reducing greenhouse gas
emissions, developing countries could also contribute to that
process, particularly through increased energy efficiency, provided
however that they were given greater financial assistance in order to
strengthen their scientific, technological and institutional
capacities, and greater access to the best available technologies. In
view of the linkage between climate change and other sectors, there
was a need to ensure the
coordination and integration of the activities of
intergovernmental organizations and
United Nations bodies, to explore the possibility of new
partnerships and joint ventures, and to encourage the participation
of the private sector and of environmental organizations and others
at the grass roots level. Referring to the request by the General
Assembly for an input to the special session on Agenda 21, he
suggested that the Conference of the Parties might consider making
that contribution in four priority areas: the need for improved
energy efficiency; the importance of promoting the use of sustainable
and environmentally sound renewable energy sources; the need for
increased research by Governments and the private sector into energy
and material efficiency and more environmentally sound production
technologies; and arrangements that might foster links between energy
and sustainable development within the United Nations
system.
2. Elaborating on the message he had delivered on behalf
of the Secretary-General of the United Nations, Mr. Desai emphasized
the close links between implementation of the Convention and the
follow-up processes to Agenda 21 and the Rio principles. In June 1997
there was to be a special session of the General Assembly to review
the implementation of the Rio commitments, and later in that year
there would be the very important third session of the Conference of
the Parties. It was his hope that the preparatory processes of those
two major political events would interact and reinforce one another
as had happened in the preparatory processes leading to the
negotiation of the Convention and the negotiation of Agenda 21 and
the Rio principles. What was needed from both processes was a
reaffirmation of the political commitment which was so visible and
obvious to the world in 1992, but which was not always so visible and
obvious today. There was also a need to impart a sense of urgency to
the achievement of changes in patterns of production and consumption,
ways of
thought and modes of behaviour, in order to ensure a more
secure planet for the present and future generations. That was the
challenge facing both the Commission on Sustainable Development and
the Conference of the Parties. Both had a great responsibility which
had to be fulfilled with a full sense of urgency and
commitment.
3. Mr. Claude Haegi, Councillor of the Republic and Canton
of Geneva, speaking on behalf of the Geneva authorities, welcomed all
the participants to the city of Geneva. He recalled that the first
climate conference under the auspices of the World Meteorological
Organization, and many other important meetings on the subject, had
been held in that city, and he pledged the willingness of the Geneva
authorities to host future meetings if so requested by the Conference
of the Parties. He said that climate change was one of the most
complex issues ever addressed by scientists, involving philosophical
and ethical considerations of the role of man in the context of
nature as a whole. It was clear from the findings of the IPCC that
man was involved in climate change and that climate change posed
major problems at the international level. In meeting the challenge
of preserving a sustainable environment for future generations,
nothing could be dealt with in isolation. What was needed was a new
social contract, making man, the environment and the economy
inseparable. Enumerating a series of activities undertaken by the
Geneva authorities to meet environmental concerns, he emphasized the
moral responsibility of decision makers to safeguard the environment.
He recalled the words of the prophet Mohammed that the world was
green and good and had been given by God to men for keeping, and
added that everyone must understand that in the end the challenge was
indeed that of life.
4. Mr. Michael Zammit Cutajar, Executive Secretary of the
Convention secretariat, welcoming all participants to the second
session of the Conference of the Parties, expressed his gratitude to
the outgoing President for the part she had played in advancing the
Convention process and for the work of her Ministry in supporting the
transition of the Convention secretariat to its new headquarters in
Bonn. He also expressed his gratitude to the authorities of the Swiss
Federation and of the Republic and Canton of Geneva for all they had
done in providing the Convention secretariat with a supportive
working environment in the city of Geneva. Reviewing the present
situation in regard to the implementation of the Convention, he
emphasized that commitments entered into had to be seen to be
implemented in order to be credible, and that only credible
commitments provided a sound foundation on which to develop and
strengthen the Convention. Public awareness and public support were
essential for the achievement of the aims of the Convention. He
called on UNEP to be the standard bearer of Article 6, as WMO was the
champion of Article 5. The present session of the Conference provided
an opportunity for taking stock, for reviewing the implementation of
the Convention and for taking decisions to keep the machine turning
productively. It was his hope that, in addition, the ministerial
segment would provide an opportunity to focus on the future of the
Convention and to give political impetus to the negotiating phase of
the Berlin Mandate.
5. Professor G.O.P. Obasi, Secretary-General of the World
Meteorological Organization, said that the most significant
development since the first session of the Conference of the Parties
was the finding by the IPCC that there was "a discernible human
influence on global climate". The time for debate was over and the
onus was on the Parties to the Convention to take decisive action.
First, there was a pressing need to complete negotiations on the
stabilization of carbon dioxide emissions at a level that would
reverse the present trend within a reasonably specified time-frame.
Secondly, it was in his view important that the subsidiary bodies of
the Convention should continue to provide a solid scientific and
technical basis for deliberations by the Parties to the Convention.
WMO will continue to provide annual statements on the State of the
Global Climate. Thirdly, there was a continuing need to ensure the
reinforcement of national capabilities to provide high-quality and
continuous series of data and, in this connection, he appealed to all
Parties to increase their support for climate monitoring, research,
impact studies and climate services, pursuant to Article 4.1(g) and
Article 5 of the Convention. In this regard, WMO will consider any
request to coordinate the necessary international long-term
monitoring and climate research programmes. Fourthly, there was the
continuing need for special consideration of assistance to developing
countries and those with economies in transition to enable them to
limit their future emissions, through the development and transfer of
technology, as well as through the provision of adequate financial
support. In conclusion, he urged all Parties to encourage the
establishment or strengthening of national climate committees, as
well as national and regional action plans for climate change, in
support of the Climate Agenda, an inter-agency initiative to
establish an integrated framework for international climate-related
scientific and technical programmes, and reaffirmed WMO's strong
commitment to fully support the Convention and its implementation
process.
6. Ms. Elizabeth Dowdeswell, Executive Director of the
United Nations Environment Proramme, said that the IPCC, in the
conclusions reached in its Second Assessment Report, had been
forthright and clear in its message to the world. The implications
were equally clear: all further anthropogenic emissions of
radiatively-active gases needed to be regarded as deliberate acts of
pollution which governments were ethically bound to control within
limits that would not allow dangerous interference with the climate
system. Eventually, the IPCC would be able to define those limits,
but in the meantime a precautionary approach had to be followed. The
time had come to set meaningful targets for emission reduction,
including as soon as possible a global emission cap, and a timetable
for its achievement. To that end, the voluntary participation of
developing countries in emission reduction measures was essential.
For that purpose, those countries had to be given prompt and
unfettered access to international financial mechanisms and
appropriate technology free of political conditionality, involving
new and additional resources to those presently available for
development aid. The industrialized countries, for their part, needed
to give a clear lead by agreeing to reduce their carbon emissions
post-2000 to the very limit of their capacity to do so. There were a
number of opportunities for action: improvements in integrated and
sustainable resource management; greater coordination and dialogue
between existing structures at the international, regional and
national levels to ensure rationality in atmospheric protection
measures and actions that protect the environment; the engagement of
the private sector and civil society; the use of market and
non-market instruments to promote efficient energy end-use; and
activities implemented jointly. She also responded positively to the
proposal by the Executive Secretary that UNEP should lead the way on
the implementation of Article 6 of the Convention. UNEP was a willing
and committed partner in that process but, in the last analysis, the
choice of what to do lay squarely with the Parties to the
Convention.
7. Professor Bert Bolin, Chairman of the Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate Change, referring to the paragraph in the Summary
for Policy Makers in the Second Assessment Report of the IPCC in
which it was stated that "the balance of evidence suggests that there
is a discernible human influence on global climate", said that the
paragraph in question had been agreed upon after an extensive
discussion and very careful consideration by governments, in view of
the importance of the key finding for policy makers. While
uncertainties in the projection of regional changes of climate
obviously represented a major difficulty for any country to judge the
threat that a climate change might pose to itself and thus its
position in international negotiations on policies and measures,
there was a wealth of information in the Report regarding the
sensitivity and vulnerability of ecosystems and socio-economic
systems to potential climate change. The technical papers currently
under preparation in the IPCC in order to assist the Parties to the
Convention would include one on policies and measures, as well as one
containing possible stabilization scenarios consistent with Article 2
of the Convention, and one on the environmental implications of
emissions limitations. While the reception of the Second Assessment
Report had been generally positive, objections had been raised to
some of its conclusions and the IPCC had been criticised by one or
two non-governmental organizations for not having followed agreed
procedures in its work, a criticism which he rejected. The IPCC
welcomed critical comments based on careful scientific and technical
analyses, but many of the objections raised had already been
considered in the IPCC process and rejected because of inadequate
scientific bases. Other activities being undertaken in IPCC included
a revision of the IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas
Inventories, and in that connection he wished to stress that the IPCC
would not pursue revisions of the Guidelines for their own sake, but
only when requested by governments or when warranted by new
information or observational data. In conclusion, he observed that
the question most frequently asked by the public as well as policy
makers concerned the potential spatial distribution of global climate
change. In an attempt to see how that question might be answered in
the future, a workshop on the subject was to be held in London in
September 1996. This workshop was a first early step in the
preparations for producing the Third Assessment Report by the year
2000.
8. Mr. Mohamed El-Ashry, Chairman and Chief Executive
Officer of the Global Environment Facility, highlighting the main
developments and activities in the GEF since the first session of the
Conference of the Parties, pointed first of all to the dramatic
growth in the membership of GEF. As of June 1996, there were 156
country Participants in the GEF as compared with 27 at the beginning
of the pilot phase. For the period February 1995 to April 1996, the
GEF Council had approved GEF funding of US$215.2 million for climate
change activities. Since the pilot phase, GEF funding, together with
an additional US$2.6 billion leveraged from multilateral, bilateral
and other sources of financing, amounted to total project financing
of over US$ 3 billion in the climate change area. For the current
fiscal year, the three implementing agencies (UNDP, UNEP and the
World Bank) were planning to prepare GEF projects in the climate
change area requiring between US$150 million and 185 million. The GEF
Operational Strategy, which made clear that the GEF was not to
finance activities in the area of climate change that did not fully
conform to the guidance of the Conference of the Parties, had been
adopted by the GEF Council in October 1995. That Strategy provided
for three categories of operational activities: enabling activities;
operational programmes encompassing long-term measures; and
short-term response measures. The GEF had collaborated with the
Convention secretariat in preparing a draft Memorandum of
Understanding between the Conference of the Parties and the Council
of the GEF, and a draft annex on the determination of funding
necessary and available for implementation of the Convention. The
Memorandum of Understanding, including the annex, had been approved
by the GEF Council. Lastly, the GEF Council, at its last meeting, had
approved a GEF policy on public involvement in GEF-financed projects.
In conclusion, he welcomed the close and cooperative relationship
that existed between the Convention secretariat and the GEF
secretariat and expressed the hope that the Conference of the Parties
would consider taking the necessary steps to give definitive status
to the GEF as the operating entity of the financial
mechanism.
9. Mr. Robert Priddle, Executive Director of the
International Energy Agency (IEA), said that the IEA was deeply
involved in the Convention process because energy was a major part of
the climate change problem and hence needed to be a major part of the
solution to that problem. International cooperation on energy matters
increasingly involved cooperation on global environmental issues,
especially greenhouse gas emissions and climate change. Describing
the inputs already made by IEA to the Convention process, he said the
IEA ministers had reaffirmed their political commitment to the goals
of the Convention and to the aim expressed in the Berlin Mandate. It
was particularly important, in light of the experience gained since
the adoption of the Convention, that the commitments set for
time-frames beyond the year 2000 should be realistically attainable.
Describing the key underlying factors in the energy sector which
governed the scope for action on greenhouse gas emissions, he
emphasized the need to ensure that policy decisions were taken in
full awareness of the implications for energy use and resulting
emissions. The long time-scale for infrastructural change needed to
be matched by long-scale commitments to change and long-scale policy
instruments, including energy technology research and development.
The fact that the world's economy was at present highly geared to the
use of fossil fuels did not mean there was no theoretical economic
potential for action that would achieve substantial reductions in
energy use and related emissions. There was, however, a need to face
up to the distinction not only between what was technically possible
and what was economically reasonable, but also between what was
economically reasonable and what was commercially and politically
possible. In conclusion, he outlined a number of opportunities for
action and emphasized the need for all market participants to work
together to arrive at cost-effective solutions that were viable in
the real world.
10. At the 2nd plenary meeting, on 8 July, Dr. Assad
Kotaite, President of the Council of the International Civil Aviation
Organization (ICAO), describing the work undertaken by ICAO on the
question of aircraft emissions, said that the focus of attention had
recently changed, with the emergence of new environmental problems of
a global nature, including climate change, to which aircraft
emissions might be contributing. ICAO, in attempting to address those
issues, was considering, inter alia, the role of possible
technological improvements, through improved engine design;
operational measures designed specifically to reduce the amount of
fuel consumed or to reduce the impacts of emissions; increased use of
environmental charges; and a review of ICAO's existing tax policies
to take into account the environmental impact of aviation. The
Council of ICAO had, in May 1996, confirmed its willingness to
cooperate with the Conference of the Parties and, recognizing the
need for more reliable scientific information, expressed its support
for the preparation of a special report on aviation by the IPCC. In
conclusion, he emphasized that, in order to achieve closer
cooperation between the Conference of the Parties and ICAO, there
needed to be closer liaison at the national level between the
government departments concerned. It was important that each State
ensured that the views it expressed in the Conference of the Parties
and in ICAO were broadly consistent.
Annex II
Statements by ministers and by other heads of
delegation of Parties
during the ministerial segment of the second
session of the
Conference of the Parties: list of
speakers
Plenary
meeting
Albania Mr. Lirim Selfo 7
Chairman, Committee of Environmental
Protection
Argentina Ms. Maria Julia Alsogaray 6
Secretary of Natural and Human Environment
Armenia Mr. Aram Gabrielian 8
Head, Department for Protection of the
Atmosphere, Ministry of Environment
and Natural Resources
Australia Senator Robert Hill 5
Minister of the Environment
Austria Mr. Martin Bartenstein 7
Federal Minister for the Environment
Bangladesh Mr. Abdul Latif Mondal 7
Joint Secretary, Ministry of Environment
and Forests
Benin Mr. Sahidou Dango-Nadey 7
Minister of the Environment
Belgium Mr. Herman Merckx 7
Counsellor, Permanent Mission of Belgium
to the United Nations in Geneva
Bhutan Mr. Dasho Paljor J. Dorji 7
Deputy Minister, National Environment
Commission
Plenary
meeting
Bolivia Mr. Jorge Lena Patiño 8
Ambassador and Permanent Representative
of Bolivia to the United Nations in Geneva
Botswana(3) Ms. Margaret
Nasha 7
Assistant Minister of Local Government, Lands
and Housing
Brazil Dr. José Israel Vargas 7
Minister of Science and Technology
Bulgaria Mr. Yontcho Pelovski 6
Deputy Minister of Environment
Burkina Faso Mr. Jean-Baptiste Kambou 7
Technical Adviser, Ministry of
Environment and Water
Canada Mr. Sergio Marchi 5
Minister of the Environment
Central African Republic Mr. Lambert Gnapelet 7
Head, Implementation, Evaluation and
Planning, Ministry of Environment
and Tourism
Chad Mr. Abdallah Nassour Mahamat-Ali 7
Ambassador of Chad to France
China Mr. Li Zhaoxin 5
Vice-Minister, Ministry of Foreign Affairs
Colombia Mr. Ernesto Guhl 6
Vice-Minister of the Environment
Plenary
meeting
Costa Rica(4) Mr. Manuel B.
Dengo 5
Ambassador and Permanent Representative
of Costa Rica to the United Nations in Geneva
Côte d'Ivoire Mr. Albert Kakou Tiapani 6
Minister of Housing, Quality of Life and the
Environment
Cuba Dr. Fabio Fajardo Moros 7
President, Environment Agency
Czech Republic Mr. Vladimir Novotny 7
First Vice-Minister of the Environment
Democratic People's Mr. Han Chang On 7
Republic of Korea Minister and Deputy Permanent
Representative
of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea to the
United Nations in Geneva
Denmark Mr. Svend Auken 5
Minister for the Environment and Energy
Egypt Dr. Magda Shahin 7
Minister Plenipotentiary, Permanent Mission
of Egypt to the United Nations in Geneva
El Salvador Mr. Alexander Kravetz 8
Ambassador and Permanent Representative
of El Salvador to the United Nations in
Geneva
Ethiopia Mr. Abdilrashed Dulane 7
Vice-Minister, Ministry of Water Resources
European Community Ms. Ritt Bjerregaard 6
Commissioner for the Environment
Plenary
meeting
Finland Ms. Sirkka Hautojärvi 7
Secretary General, Ministry of the
Environment
France(5) Ms. Corinne
Lepage 6
Minister of the Environment
Gambia Mr. Musa Mbenga 7
Minister of Agriculture and Natural Resources
Georgia Mr. Nikoloz Beradze 7
Chairman, Hydrometeorology Department
Germany Dr. Angela Merkel 5
Federal Minister for the Environment, Nature
Conservation and Nuclear Safety
Ghana Mr. Sam P. Yalley 5
Deputy Minister of Environment, Science
and Technology
Greece(6) Ms. Elissavet
Papazoe 6
Deputy Minister of Environment
Guatemala(7) Dr. Luis
Flores Asturias 5
Vice-President of the Republic of Guatemala
Honduras Ms. Becky Myton 8
Scientific Adviser to the Minister
of Environment
Plenary
meeting
Hungary Dr. Katalin Szili 6
Parliamentary State Secretary, Ministry
for Environment and Regional Development
Iceland Mr. Tryggvi Felixson 7
Chief, International Division, Ministry
for the Environment
India Mr. Vijai Sharma 7
Joint Secretary, Ministry of
Environment and Forests
Indonesia Mr. Sarwono Kusumaatmadja 5
Minister of the Environment
Ireland(8) Mr. Brendan
Howlin 5
Minister of the Environment
Italy Mr. Valerio Calzolaio 6
Vice-Minister for the Environment
Japan Mr. Sukio Iwadare 5
Minister of State, Director-General,
Environment Agency
Mr. Noboru Endo 5
Vice-Minister, Ministry of International
Trade and Industry
Jordan Dr. Abdelrazaq Tobaishat 7
Minister of Municipal and Rural Affairs and
the Environment
Kenya(9) Mr. John K. Sambu
6
Minister for Environment and Natural
Resources
Plenary
meeting
Kiribati Mr. Timbo Keariki 6
Minister of Environment and Social
Development
Kuwait Mr. Dharar a. R. Razzooqi 7
Ambassador and Permanent Representative of
Kuwait to the United Nations in Geneva
Lao People's Prof. Souli Nanthavong 7
Democratic Republic Minister, President of the Science,
Technology
and Environment Organization
Lithuania Mr. Rapolas Liuzinas 6
Deputy Minister of Environment
Malaysia Dato' Abu Bakar Daud 6
Deputy Minister of Science, Technology
and Environment
Maldives Mr. Abdullahi Majeed 7
Executive Director, Department of
Meteorology
Marshall Islands Mr. Atbi Riklon 7
Deputy Attorney-General
Mauritius Mr. Samioullah Lauthan 7
Minister of the Environment and Quality of
Life
Mexico Mr. Antonio de Icaza 7
Ambassador and Permanent Representative
of Mexico to the United Nations in Geneva
Micronesia (Federated Mr. Epel K. Ilon 7
States of) Deputy Secretary, Department of
External Affairs
Plenary
meeting
Morocco Mr. Mohamed Bentaja 8
Counsellor, Permanent Mission of Morocco
to the United Nations in Geneva
Nepal Mr. Shambu Ram Simkhada 8
Chargé d'Affaires, Permanent Mission
of Nepal to the United Nations in Geneva
Netherlands Ms. Margaretha de Boer 5
Minister of Housing, Spatial Planning and
Environment
New Zealand Mr. Simon Upton 6
Minister for the Environment
Nigeria Chief Dan L. Etete 6
Minister of Petroleum
Niue Mr. Terry Coe 7
Minister of Finance, Post and Telecommunications
and Meteorology, Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries,
and Public Works Department
Norway Mr. Bernt Bull 6
State Secretary, Ministry of Environment
Pakistan Ms. Kahkeshan Azhar 7
Acting Permanent Representative of Pakistan
to the United Nations in Geneva
Panama Mr. Rolando Guillen 7
National Director, National Institute
of Renewable Natural Resources
Peru Mr. José Urrutia 7
Ambassador and Permanent Representative of
Peru to the United Nations in Geneva
Plenary
meeting
Philippines Mr. Antonio G. M. La Viña 7
Under-Secretary, Department of
Environment and Natural Resources
Poland Mr. Stanislaw Zelichowski 5
Minister of Environmental Protection, Natural
Resources and Forestry
Portugal Ms. Elisa Ferreira 5
Minister of the Environment and Natural
Resources
Republic of Korea Mr. Joun Yung Sun 7
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary,
Permanent Represntative of the Republic of Korea
to the United Nations in Geneva
Republic of Moldova Mr. Sergiu Fandofan 7
Director, State Department for the
Protection of Environment and Natural
Resources
Romania Mr. Ioan Jelev 6
Secretary of State, Department of Environment,
Ministry of Water, Forests and Environmental
Protection
Russian Federation Dr. Iuri Izrael 7
Academician and Director, Institute for
Global Climate and Ecology
Samoa(10) Mr. Tuiloma
Neroni Slade 5
Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary
of the Independent State of Western Samoa to
the United Nations in New York
Plenary
meeting
Saudi Arabia Dr. Abdulbar Al-Gain 7
Head, Meteorological and Environmental
Protection Administration
Senegal Ms. Absa Claude Diallo 6
Ambassador and Permanent Representative
of Senegal to the United Nations in Geneva
Slovenia Mr. Radovan Tavzes 7
State Secretary of Environment and Regional
Planning
Spain Mr. Raimundo Pérez-Hernandez y Torra 6
Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Spain
to the United Nations in Geneva
Sri Lanka Ms. Srimani Athulathmudali 7
Minister of Transport, Environment and Women's
Affairs
Sudan Mr. Fadlalla Elkhidir Elsayem 8
Deputy Director, Hydrometeorology Authority
Sweden Ms. Anna Lindh 5
Minister for the Department of the
Environment
Switzerland Ms. Ruth Dreifuss 5
Federal Councillor and Head, Federal Department
of the Interior
Syrian Arab Republic Mr. Abdul-Hamid Al Munajjed 7
Minister of State for Environmental Affairs
Thailand Mr. Krit Garnjarna-Goonchorn 7
Ambassador and Permanent Representative of
Thailand to the United Nations in Geneva
Tunisia Mr. Jaafar Friaa 6
Director, Ministry of Environment and
Land Use
Plenary
meeting
Turkmenistan Mr. A. M. Durdiev 8
Acting Director, Turkmenglavhydromet
Uganda Mr. Nathan Irumba 8
Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative
of Uganda to the United Nations in Geneva
United Kingdom of Mr. John Gummer 5
Great Britain and Secretary of State for the Environment
Northern Ireland
United Republic of Mr. Alli Mchumo 8
Tanzania Ambassador and Permanent Representative
of the United Republic of Tanzania to the
United Nations in Geneva
United States of America Mr. Timothy Wirth 5
Under-Secretary of State for Global Affairs
Uruguay Mr. Juan Antonio Chiruchi 6
Minister of Housing, Land Settlement and
Enviroment
Uzbekistan Mr. Victor E. Chub 6
Minister, Chief of the Main Administration
of Hydrometeorology at the Cabinet of Ministers
(Glavgidromet)
Venezuela Dr. Erwin Arrieta 7
Minister of Energy and Mines
Vietnam Mr. Nguyen Duc Ngu 7
Director General, Hydrometeorology Service
Zambia Mr. Patrick Sinyinza 7
Ambassador and Permanent Representative
of Zambia to the United Nations in Geneva
Zaire Mr. Raymond Tshibanda N'thungamulongo 7
Minister of Agriculture, Nature Conservation
and Tourism
Plenary
meeting
Zimbabwe Mr. July G. Moyo 7
Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Environment
and Tourism
Annex III
MINISTERIAL ROUND TABLE
Climate change: new scientific findings and
opportunities for action
Summary by the Chairperson, Ms. Ruth Dreifuss,
Federal Councillor and Head of the Federal
Department
of the Interior of Switzerland
I have the pleasure to present to you my personal
impressions of the discussions, in which a great number of ministers
participated actively.
The first question addressed by the round table concerned
the new scientific findings contained in the Second Assessment Report
of the IPCC and its consequences for political action.
I would like to thank Professor Bert Bolin for his
excellent presentation of the essential elements of the Second
Assessment Report. The participants in the round table recognized the
outstanding work of more than 2,500 scientists from all over the
world; they agreed that the Second Assessment Report provides
important scientific elements to be considered when taking decisions
in the area of climate change.
Many ministers noted with concern the conclusion of this
report that the balance of evidence suggests that there is a
discernible human influence on global climate. They stressed that
these findings, also taking into account the precautionary principle,
underline the need for urgent action at the widest possible level. I
am therefore in a position to confirm that a very large majority of
the Parties endorses the conclusions of the Second Assessment Report
and intends to use them as the basis for political
action.
It seems, however, important to note, in this context,
that we should not ask the IPCC to answer questions which are not of
a scientific, but of a political nature, as for example the
determination of the critical level of greenhouse gas concentrations
in the atmosphere above which a dangerous anthropogenic interference
with the climate system would occur.
Furthermore, ministers stressed the adverse social and
economic impacts of climate change. In several countries extreme
weather conditions, desertification and drought are perceived as
visible effects of climate change, affecting particularly the
important agricultural sector.
Small island States as well as African countries stated
with concern their particular vulnerability to the impacts of climate
change and the lack of technical and financial resources for
prevention and adaptation measures. The Global Environment Facility
should also play its role in enabling developing countries to meet
their commitments.
The second question addressed the efforts needed to
advance the existing commitments under the Convention.
Ministers reiterated that developed countries have to take
the lead in combating climate change, taking into account the common
but differentiated responsibilities of Parties. They considered it
important that Annex I Parties reaffirm their existing commitments
under the Convention and that many of them strengthen their efforts
to stabilize greenhouse gas emissions at 1990 levels by the year
2000.
Measures taken in this regard are strongly influenced by
different national circumstances. This was made clear when several of
my colleagues gave us examples of their national policies. However,
the identification of the obstacles we are facing is also part of our
efforts to implement effective policies in the area of climate
change. Furthermore, there is an urgent need for closer collaboration
between the different ministries dealing with questions related to
climate change.
In order to support developing countries in implementing
the Convention, industrialized countries should furthermore undertake
specific efforts to facilitate the transfer of environmentally sound
technologies and to provide financial support.
Some oil-exporting countries voiced their concern that
measures taken by Annex I Parties in order to reduce consumption of
fossil fuels might adversely effect their economies. One answer to
their concern lies in reevaluating and developing new uses of
petroleum products.
Finally, the round table addressed the process towards
strengthening commitments of Annex I Parties (the Berlin
Mandate).
The ministers of Annex I Parties confirmed their will to
accelerate negotiations under the Berlin Mandate so as to have a
protocol or other legal instrument adopted at the third session of
the Conference of the Parties in 1997 in Kyoto. They stressed that a
clear signal should be given by the Conference of the Parties at its
present session to start negotiating concrete text proposals in the
next session of the AGBM.
Furthermore, numerous participants expressed their wish to
adopt a ministerial declaration reflecting the outcome of this
Conference.
In concluding, Mr. President, I would like to congratulate
all participants in the round table and thank them for their
willingness to discuss frankly the essential questions we are facing
in the framework of the Climate Convention. Our gathering has given
us the chance to better understand each other's positions and
concerns and has thus helped us to build common ground for the
implementation and further development of the Convention.
Annex IV
Statements made in connection with the Geneva
Ministerial Declaration
A. Statement made by the delegation of
Australia
Australia has been a strong supporter of the development
and implementation of the Convention since negotiations commenced. We
remain committed to the Berlin Mandate, the negotiating process it
has launched and to a successful outcome at the Conference in Kyoto
next year.
We worked hard with others of our colleagues last evening
in order to assist you, Mr. President, in bringing before us today a
declaration. Our aim is to provide the impetus needed to take our
negotiation forward through the next series of meetings to that
successful outcome in Kyoto.
We contributed to and endorse almost all that is in the
statement we have before us today. We have a difficulty, however,
with that aspect of the text which commits the Parties to include in
the final instrument legally binding targets without the nature and
context of those commitments being clear. In our opinion, the text
before us goes further than our negotiating process has so far taken
us. It is COP 3 in Kyoto not COP 2 where we believe this critical
issue needs to be decided.
It is with regret, Mr. President, that I must inform you
that Australia cannot associate itself with the language on targets
in paragraph 8 of the draft text.
Mr. President I must stress that Australia is firmly
committed to continuing to work with all countries for an
environmentally effective and fair outcome under the Berlin
Mandate.
B. Statement made by the delegation of the United
States of America
The United States of America would like to whole-heartedly
endorse this excellent declaration. In our view, this declaration
makes three critical points:
- First, we must move forward on the basis of the new and
compelling scientific evidence;
- Second, next steps should focus on legally-binding
targets; and
- Third, the process needs to move forward rapidly to
complete its critical work by
COP 3 in Japan next year.
We would also like to add one point that was not specified
in the declaration. We believe, and we made clear yesterday, that our
negotiated outcome must ensure maximum national flexibility for all
Parties to implement their medium-term, legally-binding commitments.
We also need to continue working towards a longer term concentration
goal. To this end, we believe the inclusion of activities implemented
jointly on a global basis, and international emissions trading must
be part of any future regime. We believe these views are fully
reflected in the language of this admirable declaration.
C. Statement made by the delegation of New
Zealand
The text we have before us sends a strong message that
politically we are committed to working together to address the
threat of climate change.
New Zealand welcomes that and will continue to play an
active role in this important work.
In my statement earlier today, I said very clearly that
while Parties had to do their fair share of emissions reductions, a
way had to be found to reduce the disparity in abatement costs
between countries. A global least-cost approach should be adopted
that would be efficient and equitable. That is the only way to
achieve real progress.
In the light of this, New Zealand has difficulty with the
wording of the second star of the first tiret of paragraph eight
concerning targets. Our support for this formula must be justified by
our view that it can only be advanced on the basis of a least-cost
approach within Annex I.
As a more general comment, I suggest that we should avoid
prematurely narrowing the options for the status of the objectives to
be produced by the Berlin Mandate process.
D. Statement made by the delegation of Saudi
Arabia
The delegations of the following Parties: Bahrain, Jordan,
Kuwait, Nigeria, Oman, Qatar, the Russian Federation, Saudi Arabia,
Sudan, the Syrian Arab Republic, the United Arab Emirates, Venezuela
and Yemen, and of one observer State, the Islamic Republic of Iran,
formally object to adoption or approval or acceptance of the draft
Ministerial Declaration, dated 18 July 1996, for the following
reasons:
Lack of opportunity for the Conference of the Parties to
discuss the draft Ministerial Declaration;
Failure of the draft Ministerial Declaration to reflect
the views of many Parties as stated by them at the second session of
the Conference of the Parties, with the result that the draft
Ministerial Declaration reflects only some of the views that exist
among the Parties to the Convention;
Non-objective characterization and selective reference to
only some of the information in the IPCC Second Assessment Report,
with the result that the draft Ministerial Declaration is biased and
misleading; and
Failure to adhere to the customary procedures of United
Nations bodies in the absence of adoption of rules of procedure for
the Conference of the Parties.
E. Statement made by the delegation of
Ireland
Ireland, on behalf of the European Community and its
member States, confirms its full and unequivocal support for the
Ministerial Declaration.
The European Union stands ready to take the urgent action
necessary to respond to the challenge of climate change called for in
the Ministerial Declaration.
F. Statement made by the delegation of Venezuela
The delegation of Venezuela does not support the draft
Ministerial Declaration because, in its view, its content and scope
do not reflect the outcome of the discussions in a balanced and
objective manner.
The text contains a number of statements and affirmations
which have an economic and social impact whose consequences we are
far from being able to judge. Although progress has been made in
scientific knowledge, scientific uncertainties remain and these
uncertainties do not provide a sufficient basis for taking political
decisions.
Venezuela is concerned to ensure that the process of
discussion and agreement should be widely-based and transparent, and
reserves its position on the Ministerial Declaration.
G. Statement made by the delegation of the Russian
Federation
In addition to the statement issued by the group of
countries on 18 July, including the Russian
Federation(11), we would like to note
that one of the main reasons for our position is the absence, in the
draft Ministerial Declaration, of the opinion of a number of States
on the IPCC Report. According to this opinion, the IPCC Report does
not provide estimates of dangerous levels of GHG concentration in the
atmosphere. This fact is an obstacle to the complete use of the
Report for achieving the main goal of the Convention (Article
2).
H. Statement made by the delegation of Samoa
Mr. President, we see in the Ministerial Declaration a
statement by and of the political leadership of the international
community. It is a statement which is addressed to, and which needs
to be registered with, all fellow-humans, in and beyond these halls.
The statement is about a very serious global situation and one which
the AOSIS countries consider as fairly reflecting the nature of the
problem and the implications for us all. Of particular importance is
the underscoring of the urgency which we all acknowledged in Berlin
last year.
The Ministerial Declaration is not agreed with in all
aspects. Clearly, it makes no claim to unanimity, but, in our
judgement, it meets with the approval of most of the Parties. Its
very existence attests to this fact. Fundamentally, we accept the
Ministerial Declaration for what it is: a declaration of
determination to give force and direction to the Berlin
Mandate.
Annex V
List of intergovernmental and non-governmental
organizations attending the
second session of the Conference of the
Parties
I. Intergovernmental organizations
1. Agence de Coopération Culturelle et Technique
(ACCT)
2. Asian-African Legal Consultative Committee
3. International Energy Agency (IEA)
4. International Institute of Refrigeration
5. League of Arab States
6. Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries
(OAPEC)
7. Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development
(OECD)
8. Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)
9. South Pacific Regional Environment Programme
II. Non-governmental
organizations
1. Air Conditioning and Refrigeration Institute,
Arlington, United States of America
2. Alliance for Responsible Atmospheric Policy, Arlington,
United States of America
3. Alliance for Responsible Environmental Alternatives
(AREA), Ottawa, Canada
4. American Federation of Labor-Congress of Industrial
Organizations (AFL-CIO), Washington D.C., United States of America
5. Association Française du Froid /Alliance Froid,
Climatisation, Environnement (AFF/AFCE), Paris, France
6. Association pour un développement durable,
Nouakchott, Mauritania
7. Atmosphere Action Network in East Asia (AANEA), Seoul,
Korea
8. Australian Aluminium Council, Manuka, Australia
9. Berne Declaration, Zurich, Switzerland
10. Business Council for a Sustainable Energy Future,
Washington D.C., United States of America
11. Business Council of Australia, Canberra, Australia
12. Canadian Electrical Association, Ottawa, Canada
13. Center for Clean Air Policy, Washington D.C., United
States of America
14. Center for Energy, Environment, Science and Technology
(CEEST), Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania
15. Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry
(CRIEPI), Tokyo, Japan
16. Centre for Applied Studies in International
Negotiations, Geneva, Switzerland
17. Centre for Business and the Environment, London,
United Kingdom
18. Centre for International Climate and Energy Research
(CICERO), Oslo, Norway
19. Centre for International and European Environmental
Research (ecologic), Berlin, Germany
20. Cercle Mondial du Consensus/World Sustainable Energy
Coalition (CMDC/WSEC), Zurich, Switzerland
21. Citizens Alliance for Saving the Atmosphere and the
Earth (CASA), Kyoto, Japan
22. Climate Action Network Latin America (CANLA),
Santiago, Chile
23. Climate Action Network-Southeast Asia (CAN-SEA),
Quezon City, Philippines
24. Climate Action Network UK, London, United Kingdom
25. Climate Change Association of the Insurance Industry
in Support of the UNEP Initiative, Köln, Germany
26. Climate Institute, Washington D.C., United States of
America
27. Climate Network Africa, Nairobi, Kenya
28. Climate Network Europe, Brussels, Belgium
29. Earth Council, San José, Costa Rica
30. Edison Electric Institute (EEI), Washington D.C.,
United States of America
31. Energy 21, Boulogne, France
32. Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), Washington D.C.,
United States of America
33. European Business Council for a Sustainable Energy
Future, Velp, Netherlands
34. European Round Table of Industrialists (ERT),
Brussels, Belgium
35. European Wind Energy Association, Hemel Hempstead,
United Kingdom
36. Federal Association of the German Industry (BDI),
Köln, Germany
37. Forschungszentrum (Research Centre), Jülich,
Germany
38. Foundation for International Environmental Law and
Development (FIELD), London, United Kingdom
39. Foundation Joint Implementation Network (JIN),
Groningen, Netherlands
40. Free University, Berlin, Germany
41. Friends of the Earth International, Amsterdam,
Netherlands
42. German Advisory Council on Global Change, Bremerhaven,
Germany
43. German NGO-Forum on Environment and Development, Bonn,
Germany
44. Germanwatch, Bonn, Germany
45. Global Climate Coalition, Washington D.C., United
States of America
46. Global Commons Institute, London, United Kingdom
47. Global Industrial and Social Progress Research
Institute (GISPRI), Tokyo, Japan
48. Global Legislators Organisation for a Balanced
Environment (GLOBE), Brussels, Belgium
49. Greenpeace International, Amsterdam, Netherlands
50. Hamburg Institute for Economic Research, Hamburg,
Germany
51. Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI),
Taiwan, Province of China
52. Institut de recherche sur l'environnement (IREC), La
Roche-sur-Foron, France
53. Institute for Environmental Studies, Free University
Amsterdam (IES), Amsterdam, Netherlands
54. International Academy of the Environment (IAE),
Geneva, Switzerland
55. International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), Paris, France
56. International Climate Change Partnership, Arlington,
United States of America
57. International Confederation of Free Trade Unions,
Brussels, Belgium
58. International Council of Women, Paris, France
59. International Council for Local Environmental
Initiatives (ICLEI), Toronto, Canada
60. International Council of Environmental Law (CIDE),
Bonn, Germany
61. International Doctors for the Environment, Swiss
Section, Basel, Switzerland
62. International Federation of Industrial Energy
Consumers (IFIEC), Geneva, Switzerland
63. International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis
(IIASA), Laxenburg, Austria
64. International Institute for Energy Conservation (IIEC)
- Europe, London, United Kingdom
65. International Institute for Energy Conservation
(IIEC), Washington D.C., United States of America
66. International Network for Environmental Management
(INEM), Holstein, Germany
67. International Petroleum Industry Environmental
Conservation Association (IPIECA), London, United Kingdom
68. International Youth and Student Movement for the
United Nations (ISMUN), Geneva, Switzerland
69. Japan Federation of Economic Organizations, Tokyo,
Japan
70. Japan Industrial Conference for Ozone Layer
Protection, Tokyo, Japan
71. London School of Economics and Political Science,
London, United Kingdom
72. National Association of Regulatory Utility
Commissioners (NARUC), Washington D.C., United States of America
73. National Coal Association, Washington D.C., United
States of America
74. Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), Washington
D.C., United States of America
75. Natural Resource Users' Group (NRUG), Wellington, New
Zealand
76. New Energy and Industrial Technology Development
Organization (NEDO), Tokyo, Japan
77. Organisation Internationale de Constructeurs
d'Automobile (OICA), Paris, France
78. Peoples' Forum 2001, Tokyo, Japan
79. Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK),
Potsdam, Germany
80. ProClim - Forum for Climate and Global Change, Berne,
Switzerland
81. RainForest ReGeneration Institute, Washington D.C.,
United States of America
82. SEVEn7 - Energy Efficiency Center, Prague, Czech
Republic
83. Solar Electric Light Fund, Washington D.C., United
States of America
84. Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI), Stockholm,
Sweden
85. Tata Energy Research Institute (TERI), New Delhi,
India
86. The Climate Council, Washington D.C., United States of
America
87. The Nature Conservancy, Arlington, United States of
America
88. The Royal Institute of International Affairs (RIIA),
London, United Kingdom
89. The Skies Above Foundation, Victoria, Canada
90. The World Conservation Union (IUCN), Gland,
Switzerland
91. Union Internationale des Producteurs et Distributeurs
d'Energie Electrique (UNIPEDE), Paris, France
92. Union of Concerned Scientists, Washington D.C., United
States of America
93. United Mine Workers of America (UMWA), Washington
D.C., United States of America
94. University of Keele, Department of International
Relations, Staffordshire, United Kingdom
95. University of the Pacific, Stockton, United States of
America
96. University of Wyoming, International Studies
Association, Cheyenne, United States of America
97. US Climate Action Network (CAN-USA), Washington D.C.,
United States of America
98. Verification Technology Information Centre (VERTIC),
London, United Kingdom
99. Woods Hole Research Center, Woods Hole, United States
of America
100. World Business Council for Sustainable Development
(WBCSD), Geneva, Switzerland
101. World Coal Institute (WCI), London, United Kingdom
102. World Council of Churches (WCC), Geneva, Switzerland
103. World Energy Council, London, United Kingdom
104. World Federation of United Nations Associations
(WFUNA), Geneva, Switzerland
105. World Resources Institute (WRI), Washington D.C.,
United States of America
106. World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), Gland, Switzerland
107. Wuppertal Institute for Climate, Environment and
Energy, Wuppertal, Germany
Annex VI
List of documents before the Conference of the
Parties
at its second session
FCCC/CP/1996/1 Provisional agenda and annotations,
including suggestions for the organization of work
FCCC/CP/1996/1/Add.1 Ministerial round table
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/1996/2 Adoption of the rules of procedure
FCCC/CP/1996/3 Admission of organizations as
observers
FCCC/CP/1996/4 Credentials of the representatives of
Parties to the second session of the Conference of the Parties to the
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. Report of the
Bureau
FCCC/CP/1996/5 Consideration of the Second Assessment
Report
FCCC/SBSTA/1996/7/Rev.1 of the Intergovernmental Panel on
Climate Change
FCCC/CP/1996/5/Add.1 Consideration of the Second
Assessment Report
FCCC/SBSTA/1996/5/Add.1/Rev.1 of the Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate Change. The science of climate change: contribution
of Working Group I of the IPCC
FCCC/CP/1996/5/Add.2 Consideration of the Second
Assessment Report
FCCC/SBSTA/1996/7/Add.2/Rev.1 of the Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate Change. Scientific-technical analyses of impacts,
adaptations, and mitigation of climate change: contribution of
Working Group II of the IPCC
FCCC/CP/1996/5/Add.3 Consideration of the Second
Assessment Report
FCCC/SBSTA/1996/7/Add.3/Rev.1 of the Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate Change. The economic and social dimensions of
climate change: contribution of Working Group III of the
IPCC
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/1996/10 Consideration of the Second Assessment
Report
FCCC/SBSTA/1996/12 of the Intergovernmental Panel on
Climate Change. IPCC Second Assessment synthesis of
scientific-technical information relevant to interpreting Article 2
of the UNFCCC and summaries for policymakers of Working Groups I, II,
and III of the IPCC
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/CP/1996/MISC.2 Provisional list of
participants
FCCC/CP/1996/INF.1 Status of ratification of the United
Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
FCCC/CP/1996/INF.2 List of participants
FCCC/CP/1996/L.1 Report of the Ad Hoc Group on Article 13.
Recommendations of the Ad Hoc Group on Article 13. Future work of the
Ad Hoc Group on Article 13
FCCC/CP/1996/L.2 Administrative and financial matters.
Establishment of the Permanent secretariat and arrangements for its
functioning. Recommendation of the Subsidiary Body for
Implementation
FCCC/CP/1996/L.3 Administrative and financial matters.
Income and budget performance, and resource deployment for 1997.
Recommendation of the Subsidiary Body for Implementation
FCCC/CP/1996/L.4 Reports of other Subsidiary Bodies:
action on conclusions and guidance on future work. Report of the
Subsidiary Body for Implementation. Recommendation of the Subsidiary
for Implementation. Programme of work 1996-1997
FCCC/CP/1996/L.5 Reports of other Subsidiary Bodies:
action on conclusions and guidance on future work. Report of the
Subsidiary Body for Implementation. Recommendation of the Subsidiary
Body for Implementation. Secretariat activities relating to technical
and financial support to Parties
FCCC/CP/1996/L.6 Closure of the session. Expression of
gratitude to the Government of Switzerland. Draft resolution
submitted by the President
FCCC/CP/1996/L.7 Review of the implementation of the
Convention and of decisions of the first session of the Conference of
the Parties. Activities implemented jointly: annual review of
progress under the pilot phase. Recommendation of the Subsidiary Body
for Implementation and of the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and
Technological Advice
FCCC/CP/1996/L.8 Administrative and financial matters.
Income and budget performance, and resource deployment for 1997.
Recommendation of the Subsidiary Body for Implementation. Volume of
documentation
FCCC/CP/1996/L.9 Decisions to promote the effective
implementation of the Convention. Financial mechanism. Guidance to
the Global Environment Facility. Recommendation of the Subsidiary
Body for Implementation
FCCC/CP/1996/L.10 Adoption of the report of the Conference
of the Parties on its second session. Draft report of the Conference
of the Parties on its second session
FCCC/CP/1996/L.11 Review of the implementation of the
Convention and of decisions of the first session of the Conference of
the Parties. Second assessment report of the Intergovernmental Panel
on Climate Change (IPCC). SBSTA Chairman's summary of discussion and
draft decision for consideration by the Conference of the Parties at
its second session
FCCC/CP/1996/L.12 Decisions to promote the effective
implementation of the Convention. Communications by Parties.
Communications from Parties not included in Annex I: guidelines,
facilitation and process for consideration. Recommendation of the
Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice and the
Subsidiary Body for Implementation
FCCC/CP/1996/L.13 Decisions to promote the effective
implementation of the Convention. Communications by Parties.
Communications from Annex I Parties: guidelines, schedule and process
for consideration. Recommendation of the Subsidiary Body for
Scientific and Technological Advice and the Subsidiary Body for
Implementation
FCCC/CP/1996/L.13/Add.1 Decisions to promote the effective
implementation of the Convention. Communications by Parties.
Communications from Annex I Parties: guidelines, schedule and process
for consideration. Recommendation of the Subsidiary Body for
Scientific and Technological Advice and the Subsidiary Body for
Implementation. Addendum
FCCC/CP/1996/L.14 Administrative and financial matters.
Establishment of the Permanent secretariat and arrangements for its
functioning. Recommendation of the Subsidiary Body for
Implementation. Agreement concerning the Headquarters of the
Convention secretariat
FCCC/CP/1996/L.15 Organizational matters. Date and venue
of the third session of the Conference of the Parties. Draft decision
submitted by the President
FCCC/CP/1996/L.16 Review of the implementation of the
Convention and of decisions of the first session of the Conference of
the Parties. Development and transfer of technologies (Articles
4.1(c) and 4.5). Recommendation of the Subsidiary Body for Scientific
and Technological Advice and the Subsidiary Body for
Implementation
FCCC/CP/1996/L.17 Review of the implementation of the
Convention and of decisions of the first session of the Conference of
the Parties. Ministerial declaration
- - - - -
1. * Part Two of this report
is contained in document FCCC/CP/1996/15/Add.1.
2. For all decisions of the Conference
of the Parties at its first session, see document
FCCC/CP/1995/7/Add.1.
3. a The statement was
delivered on behalf of the Assistant Minister by a member of the
Botswana delegation.
4. b Speaking also on behalf
of the Group of 77 and China.
5. c The statement was
delivered on behalf of the Minister by Mr. Pierre Chemillier,
President, Interministerial Mission on Greenhouse Gas Effects.
6. d The statement was
delivered on behalf of the Deputy Minister by Prof. Dimitri Lalas,
Adviser, Ministry of Environment, Physical Planning and Public Works.
7. e Speaking also on behalf
of the Central American countries of Belize, Costa Rica, El Salvador,
Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama.
8. f Speaking also on behalf
of the European Community and its member States.
9. g Speaking also on behalf
of the Group of African States Parties to the Convention.
10. h Speaking also on
behalf of the 31 Parties to the Convention that are members of the
Alliance of Small Island States.
11. 1 See section D above.