Earlier SBSTA sessions
The relationship between efforts to protect the ozone layer and to mitigate climate change was placed on
the agenda at SBSTA 9 (Buenos Aires, November 1998). COP 4 (held during the same sessional period) invited
Parties, the bodies of the Montreal Protocol, intergovernmental organizations and NGOs to provide
information on "ways and means" of limiting HFC and PFC emissions, including their use as
replacements for ozone-depleting substances (decision 13/CP.4). In addition, COP 4 encouraged the convening of a joint workshop by the
IPCC and the Technology and Economic Assessment Panel (TEAP) of the Montreal Protocol.
At SBSTA 11 (Bonn October/November 1999), Parties considered the information submitted by Parties and
others in response to the request from COP 4, including a report on the joint IPCC/TEAP workshop, held in
Petten, the Netherlands, 26-28 May 1999. COP 5 (held in conjunction with SBSTA 11) then referred further
consideration of "information aspects" of this issue to SBSTA 14 (Bonn, June 2001) (decision 17/CP.5).
SBSTA 15 (Marrakesh, October/November 2001) recalled decision 17/CP.5 and invited Parties to provide their
views on information aspects noted in this decision (FCCC/SBSTA/2002/MISC.6 and Add.1). The SBSTA also requested the secretariat to prepare a document for consideration
by the SBSTA at its sixteenth session, drawing upon information provided by Parties (FCCC/SBSTA/2002/INF.1).
SBSTA 16 (Bonn, June 2002) considered the dissemination of policy-neutral information relating to
alternatives to ozone- depleting substances that also affect the climate system to be vital, and encouraged
Parties and organizations to continue to make such information available. The SBSTA noted the importance of
developing a balanced scientific, technical and policy-relevant information package to assist Parties and
stakeholders in making informed decisions when evaluating alternatives to ozone-depleting substances, while
at the same time contributing to the objectives of the Convention and the Montreal Protocol (FCCC/SBSTA/2002/6 paras 39-41).
The SBSTA invited the IPCC and the TEAP, in consultation with other organizations, to consider the
modalities, feasibility, resource implications and timing of providing such a balanced package of
information.
COP 8 (New Delhi, October/November 2002), by its decision 12/CP.8, invited
the IPCC and TEAP to develop a balanced scientific, technical and policy-relevant special report as
outlined in their response to an invitation of SBSTA 16 and urged the IPCC and TEAP to address all areas
into one single report and finalize the report by early 2005.
SBSTA 22 (Bonn, May 2005) expressed its gratitude to the IPCC and to the TEAP for the completion of the
Special
Report on Safeguarding the Ozone Layer and the Global Climate System: Issues Related to Hydrofluorocarbons
and Perfluorocarbons and noted with appreciation the high quality of this report. It encouraged Parties
to use information contained in this report when developing and implementing national climate change
strategies. It also encouraged Parties to work towards continuing research and development of technologies
that safeguard the ozone layer. The SBSTA invited Parties to submit to the secretariat their views on
aspects of the IPCC/TEAP special report relevant to the objectives of the Convention (FCCC/SBSTA/2006/MISC.2)
and considered these views at its twenty-fourth session (May 2006) with a view to finalizing the
consideration of this agenda item.
At SBSTA 24 (Bonn, May 2006), the SBSTA invited Parties to use opportunities under other relevant agenda
items as well as the in-session
workshop on non-CO2 emissions (organized at SBSTA 27) to share their domestic experiences of
managing and/or reducing emissions of HFCs and PFCs, including through implementing measures on the
containment, recovery, re-use and destruction of these substances.
The SBSTA recognized that actions to protect the ozone layer or to address climate change can have
implications for both the protection of the ozone layer and efforts to mitigate climate change and
encouraged all Parties to seek to ensure good communication between the areas of their governments that are
responsible for each of these issues. The SBSTA also encouraged the UNFCCC secretariat and the Ozone
Secretariat to continue to cooperate and, as appropriate, provide reports to the SBSTA on relevant
developments for the information of Parties and relevant organizations.
At SBSTA 25 (Nairobi, November 2006), the secretariat provided progress reports on different issues
including the special report on safeguarding the ozone layer and the global climate system: issues relating
to hydrofluorocarbons and perfluorocarbons.
At SBSTA 27 (Bali, December 2007), the secretariat organized an in-session workshop on "Non-CO2 emissions, including methane
recovery and utilization". Presentations included data on consumption and use of fluorinated gases
including HCFCs, HFCs and PFCs.
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