Distr.
GENERAL
FCCC/SBSTA/1996/1/Add.1
21 February 1996
ENGLISH ONLY
SUBSIDIARY BODY FOR SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL ADVICE
Second session
Geneva, 27 February - 4 March 1996
Item 2 (a) of the provisional agenda
1. The second session of the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and
Technological Advice (SBSTA) will be opened by the Chairman at 10
a.m. on Tuesday, 27 February 1996 in conference room XX.
(a) Adoption of the agenda
2. The provisional agenda for the second session of the SBSTA is
presented for adoption (see FCCC/SBSTA/1996/1).
GE.96-
(b) Organization of the work of the
session
(i) Documentation
3. A list of documents relating to the provisional agenda, as well
as other documents available at the session, is contained in annex I.
Other documents may be made available during the
session.
(ii) Schedule
4. During the sessional period 27 February to 4 March, a new
system of scheduling the meetings of the SBSTA and the Subsidiary
Body for Implementation (SBI) will be tried out. Formal meetings of
the SBSTA will be held in the mornings and those of the SBI will take
place in the afternoons. Furthermore, each subsidiary body will be
able to hold informal meetings during the half of the day in which it
will not have formal meetings.
5. The scheduling of meetings for the SBSTA session will be based
on the availability of facilities during normal working hours. Formal
meetings with interpretation will be held in the mornings from 10
a.m. to 1 p.m. and informal meetings (working, contact or subgroups
or other consultations) may be held in the afternoons from 3 p.m. to
6 p.m. with interpretation. However, interpretation facilities will
not be available in the afternoon of 28 February and 4 March when
they will be reserved for the informal workshops of the Ad Hoc Group
on the Berlin Mandate (AGBM). There will also be some facilities for
informal meetings without interpretation. Delegations are urged to
use these facilities fully by starting all meetings promptly at the
scheduled time. A suggested approach to the organization of work is
contained in annex II. In the event that the items scheduled for a
particular day are completed ahead of time, other items may be taken
up.
(iii) SBSTA recommendations for action by the Conference of the
Parties at its second session (COP 2)
6. At its third session, the SBSTA must agree on a report to COP
2, including recommendations for action by the COP. Therefore it is
proposed that priority consideration be given at the current session
to items that will give rise to such recommendations. Where relevant,
the SBSTA should ensure that its recommendations are consistent with
those of the SBI. Arrangements for COP 2 are being considered by the
SBI at its second session under item 8 of its provisional agenda. On
that item, the SBI has before it document FCCC/SBI/1996/8, including
possible elements for a provisional agenda for the session. The
following list of points for priority consideration by the SBSTA is
drawn from those agenda elements. For other matters on which the
SBSTA will not provide the COP with recommendations for action, it
will be necessary to provide a progress report for the COP to
consider and to give guidance on further work.
Implementation of the commitments in Article 4 of the Convention
and of the related decisions of COP 1, including those regarding the
development and the transfer of technologies
Decisions to advance the Convention process:
(a) Communications by Parties
(i) Methodological questions
(ii) Communications from Annex I Parties: guidelines
(iii) Communications from Parties not included in Annex I to the
Convention: guidelines
(b) Activities implemented jointly under the pilot
phase
(c) Inventory and assessment of technologies: further
work
(d) Intergovernmental technical advisory panel(s)
(e) Cooperation with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
(IPCC)
7. At its first session, the SBSTA invited Parties to submit to
the secretariat their views on the establishment of intergovernmental
technical advisory panels. Submissions received by 30 October 1995
are contained in documents FCCC/SBSTA/1995/MISC.3 and
Add.1.
8. The SBSTA also requested its Chairman to continue his
consultations on the establishment of the panels, particularly during
the week of the October/November session of the AGBM. The report of
the Chairman on his consultations is before the session in document
FCCC/SBSTA/1996/2, which contains a draft decision and programme of
work for consideration and adoption by the SBSTA.
(a) Consideration of the Second Assessment Report (SAR) of the Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate Change
(IPCC)
9. The IPCC adopted its Second Assessment Report, entitled
"Climate Change 1995: IPCC Second Report", at its eleventh plenary
session in Rome in December 1995. The SBSTA will have before it the
IPCC Assessment Synthesis of scientific-technical information
relevant to interpreting Article 2 of the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change, and the three Summaries for
Policymakers prepared by the three IPCC Working Groups. The four
published volumes of the Second Assessment Report, will comprise the
following:
Volume 1 The IPCC Assessment Synthesis of Scientific-Technical
Information Relevant to Interpreting Article 2 of the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change
Volume 2 The Science of Climate Change: Contribution of Working
Group I of the IPCC
Volume 3 Scientific-Technical Analyses of Impacts, Adaptations
and Mitigation of Climate Change: Contribution of Working Group II of
the IPCC
Volume 4 The Economic and Social Dimensions of Climate Change:
Contribution of Working Group III of the IPCC
The Chairman of the IPCC will present the Second Assessment Report
to the SBSTA. The SBSTA will also have before it a note prepared by
the secretariat (FCCC/SBSTA/1996/7 and Adds. 1, 2 and 3) to
facilitate a preliminary discussion of the Second Assessment Report.
The note will also contain proposals for initial consideration by the
SBSTA. The SBSTA may, inter alia, wish to provide any
related conclusions or advice to the AGBM on those aspects of the
Second Assessment Report that are relevant to the work of that body
(see FCCC/AGBM/1995/2, para. 19 (j)).
(b) Cooperation with the IPCC
10. The first session of the SBSTA requested its Bureau to hold joint meetings with the Officers of the IPCC with a view to identifying short- and long-term requirements (FCCC/SBSTA/1995/3, para. 24 (c)). The Chairman of the SBSTA will report on the outcome of the first of such meetings which was held in Geneva in October 1995. He will also report on the conclusions of the second meeting of the Joint Working Group which is scheduled to be held on 25 February 1996; this meeting will take into account the decisions taken by the IPCC during its eleventh session held in December 1995. The Chairman of the
IPCC will also contribute to this agenda item. The SBSTA will also
have before it a note prepared by the secretariat which contains
proposals for possible action by the SBSTA
(FCCC/SBSTA/1996/6).
(a) Communications from Parties included in Annex I to
the Convention
(i) Progress report on in-depth
reviews
11. The SBSTA, at its first session, agreed that the consideration
of in-depth reviews would be a standing item on its agenda. The SBSTA
will have before it a brief progress report on the status of in-depth
reviews undertaken to date (FCCC/SB/1996/2); it may wish to take note
of this report.
12. A number of in-depth review reports containing thorough and
comprehensive technical assessments of the implementation of the
Convention commitments are available in the original language under
the symbol FCCC/IDR.1/(country code). Summaries of these reports are
being made available in all official languages of the United Nations
under the symbol FCCC/IDR.1(SUM)/(country code). Since this is the
first occasion that a number of these reports are available, the
SBSTA is invited to consider the format, scope and approaches taken
in these reports and, if necessary, to give guidance to the review
teams and the secretariat to improve the form and substance of these
reports. In accordance with the division of labour with the SBI,
endorsed at the first session of the SBSTA, the meeting may wish to
focus its discussion on technical issues related to the optimal
utilization of information contained in these reports for the
purposes of the Convention. The SBSTA may also wish to offer initial
conclusions or advice to the AGBM on technical aspects of the
communications, on the basis of the in-depth review reports and/or
the document referred to in the following subsection (see also
FCCC/AGBM/1995/2, para. 19 (k)).
(ii) Elements of the second compilation and synthesis
report (technical aspects)
13. The SBSTA, at its first session, requested the secretariat to
present the first elements of the synthesis report of in-depth
reviews (FCCC/SBSTA/1995/3, para. 33 (c)). This document will be
available under the symbol FCCC/SB/1996/1 and Add. 1. The SBSTA may
take note of the provisional data presented, and may wish to provide
guidance to the secretariat as to the possible structure and
presentation of the synthesis report to be submitted to the SBSTA at
its third session, as a basis for conclusions or advice to COP
2.
(iii) Report on guidelines for the preparation of
communications
14. Decision 3/CP.1(1) requested
the secretariat to prepare a report on the guidelines for the
preparation of first communications by Annex I Parties before COP 2.
The SBSTA, at its first session, decided to consider the further
development of guidelines for the preparation of national
communications from Annex I Parties at its second and later sessions.
The SBSTA may wish to recommend revisions to the guidelines for the
preparation of future communications by Annex I Parties, taking into
account any advice that the SBI would give on this matter, and
request the secretariat to prepare a document containing revisions
for consideration at its third session. Subsequent to that
consideration, a proposal to COP 2 for the adoption of revised
guidelines could be prepared. A note outlining the present status of
the guidelines is before the session (FCCC/SBSTA/1996/3). The
document on the transfer of technology by Annex II Parties is also
relevant for consideration of guidelines; the SBI may give guidance
in this respect (see FCCC/SBI/1996/5).
(b) Communications from Parties not included in Annex I to the Convention: issues related to the preparation of communications
15. The COP, at its first session, by its decision 8/CP.1 on first
communications from Parties not included in Annex I to the
Convention, requested the subsidiary bodies to develop, for
consideration by COP 2, recommendations on guidelines for the
preparation of national communications from non-Annex I Parties and
proposals for the process to consider these communications. The
programme of work of these bodies, as discussed at their first
sessions, allocates responsibility for taking the lead to the SBSTA
with regard to recommendations on guidelines for the communications
and to the SBI with regard to the process for considering the
communications (FCCC/SBSTA/1995/2, paras. 23-27; FCCC/SBI/1995/2,
paras. 9-13; FCCC/SB/1995/INF.1, para. 2). The SBSTA, at its first
session, requested the secretariat to prepare, for consideration at
its second session, recommendations on guidelines for the preparation
of national communications from Parties not included in Annex I to
the Convention, taking into account the views expressed by the
Parties and the papers submitted by the Parties, including document
A/AC.237/MISC.40 (FCCC/SBSTA/1995/3, para. 35 (a)). At the second
session of the AGBM, Parties not included in Annex I to the
Convention expressed readiness to advance the preparation of their
initial communications taking into account Article 4.3, 4.5 and 4.7
of the Convention and paragraph 2 (b) of decision 1/CP.1, in order to
supplement their sustainable development (FCCC/AGBM/1995/7, para.
42).
16. A workshop on the preparation of national communications from
Parties not included in Annex I to the Convention, which is being
convened by the Group of 77 and China, will be held on Monday, 26
February. The workshop is being held in response to a request from
the AGBM. Conclusions of the workshop will be made available as an
input to item 5 (b) of the provisional agenda.
17. The SBSTA will have before it draft recommendations drawn up
by the secretariat elaborating on issues related to the preparation,
compilation and consideration of the communications from Parties not
included in Annex I (FCCC/SB/1996/3). The SBSTA will also be informed
of any relevant conclusions of the workshop on national
communications from Parties not included in Annex I to the
Convention.
18. The SBSTA is invited to consider these inputs with a view to
adopting recommendations to COP 2 regarding guidelines for
communications from non-Annex I Parties, which will be taken into
account by the SBI when discussing the facilitation of the
preparation of such communications and the process for their
consideration.
19. The COP, at its first session, by its decision 5/CP.1, decided
that the SBSTA would, in coordination with the SBI, establish a
framework for reporting, in a transparent, well defined and credible
fashion, on the possible global benefits and the national economic,
social and environmental impacts as well as any practical experience
gained or technical difficulties encountered in activities
implemented jointly under the pilot phase. The SBSTA, at its second
session, is expected to develop the framework for reporting and,
should it complete its work early enough in the session, the SBI
could take up the issue and provide its views on the framework to the
SBSTA. The SBSTA will have before it a compilation of views submitted
by delegations (FCCC/SBSTA/1996/MISC.1) as well as a note by the
secretariat on an approach to the framework for reporting
(FCCC/SBSTA/1996/5).
20. The COP, at its first session, by its decision 13/CP.1,
requested the secretariat to collect information from relevant
sources and to prepare an inventory and assessment of environmentally
sound and economically viable technologies and know-how conducive to
mitigating and adapting to climate change. The SBSTA will have an
initial report (FCCC/SBSTA/1996/4) prepared by the secretariat on
this subject. The SBSTA is invited to consider the report and provide
the secretariat with guidance concerning future work. The initial
report together with any conclusions of the SBSTA will also be
conveyed to the AGBM in accordance with the request of the first
session of the AGBM (FCCC/AGBM/1995/2, para. 19 (l)).
21. In view of the heavy schedule for the sessional period, and
taking into account a preference expressed by a large number of
non-governmental organizations, this workshop will be held on 2 March
1996. Since there will be insufficient time to prepare a written
report on the workshop, an oral report will be presented to the SBSTA
on 4 March. The report on the workshop will be submitted to the third
session of the SBSTA.
22. The SBSTA is to develop proposals on its longer term
activities and organizational arrangements; these proposals are to be
reported to COP 2.
23. One of the challenges that will face the SBSTA after COP 2 is
that its list of activities can no longer be fully handled at one
session. The establishment of an intergovernmental technical advisory
panel would modify this problem but not solve it, since the SBSTA
would still have to consider the advice and reports provided by that
panel. A possible approach to meet this challenge, in addition to
being more selective in putting items on the agenda of each session,
would be to present agenda items for each session in three
categories:
(a) Items to be discussed in substance;
(b) Items to be discussed briefly, for example, with the aim of
giving guidance to the panel or to the secretariat;
(c) Items on which progress will be noted.
An example of the second category is item 5 (a) of this
provisional agenda, which could be taken up in substance at the third
session on the basis of guidance given at the present
session.
24. If this general approach is acceptable, the secretariat will
further elaborate on it, taking into account progress made at this
session and consulting the Chairman and officers of the
SBSTA.
25. The Chairman may, on 4 March, subsequent to the meeting of the
Bureau of the COP on 2 March, provide an oral report on any further
decisions of that Bureau relating to the schedule of meetings under
the Convention in 1996 and 1997. This schedule will be relevant for
the capacity of the secretariat to respond in time to requests from
the Convention bodies.
26. The relatively short duration of the session may affect the
extent to which a draft text of the report on the work of the session
could be available at the end of the session. The SBSTA may wish to
adopt decisions or texts of substantive conclusions under the
relevant items and sub-items of the agenda and, as at the first
session, authorize the Rapporteur to complete the report after the
session, under the guidance of the Chairman and with the assistance
of the secretariat. While every effort will be made to have
conclusions available in all languages, this can only be possible if
sufficient time is available for translation.
FCCC/SBSTA/1996/1 Provisional agenda
FCCC/SBSTA/1996/1/Add.1 Annotations to the provisional
agenda
FCCC/SBSTA/1996/2 Establishment of intergovernmental technical
advisory panel(s): report by the Chairman on his informal
consultations
FCCC/SBSTA/1996/3 Communications from Parties included in Annex I
to the Convention: report on the guidelines for the preparation of
first communications by Annex I Parties
FCCC/SBSTA/1996/4 Technology inventory and assessment: initial
report on an inventory and assessment of technologies to mitigate and
adapt to climate change
FCCC/SBSTA/1996/4/Add.1 Technology inventory and assessment:
initial report on an inventory and assessment of technologies to
mitigate and adapt to climate change - technology inventory
database
FCCC/SBSTA/1996/5 Activities implemented jointly under the pilot
phase: options for reporting guidelines
FCCC/SBSTA/1996/6 Cooperation with the Intergovernmental Panel on
Climate Change
FCCC/SBSTA/1996/7 Scientific assessments: consideration of the
Second Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change
FCCC/SBSTA/1996/7/Add.1 Scientific assessments: consideration of
the Second Assessment Report of IPCC. The science of climate change:
contribution of Working Group I of the Intergovernmental Panel on
Climate Change
FCCC/SBSTA/1996/7/Add.2 Scientific assessments: consideration of
the Second Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on
Climate Change. Scientific-technical analyses of impacts, adaptations
and mitigations of climate change: contribution of Working Group II
of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
FCCC/SBSTA/1996/7/Add.3 Scientific assessments: consideration of
the Second Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on
Climate Change. The economic and social dimension of climate change:
contribution of Working Group III of the Intergovernmental Panel on
Climate Change
FCCC/SBSTA/1996/MISC.1 Activities implemented jointly under the
pilot phase: views from Parties on a framework for
reporting
FCCC/SBSTA/1996/MISC.2 Background documents for the workshop on
mechanisms for inputs from non-governmental
organizations
FCCC/SBSTA/1995/MISC.3 Establishment of intergovernmental technical
and Add.1 advisory panels: comments from Parties
FCCC/SB/1996/1 National communications from Parties included
and Add.1 in Annex I to the Convention: elements of the
second compilation and synthesis report
FCCC/SB/1996/2 National communications from Parties included in
Annex I to the Convention: progress report on in-depth
reviews
FCCC/SB/1996/3 National communications from Parties not included
in Annex I to the Convention: issues related to the preparation,
compilation and consideration
FCCC/SBI/1996/5 Transfer of technology
FCCC/SBI/1996/8 Arrangements for the second session of the
Conference of the Parties including elements for a provisional
agenda
FCCC/SBSTA/1995/2 Proposed programme of work
FCCC/SBSTA/1995/3 Report of the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and
Technological Advice on the work of its first session held at Geneva
from 28 August to 1 September 1995
FCCC/AGBM/1995/7 Report of the Ad Hoc Group on the Berlin Mandate
on the work of its second session, held at Geneva from 30 October to
3 November 1995
FCCC/AGBM/1995/2 Report of the Ad Hoc Group on the Berlin Mandate
on the work of its first session held at Geneva from 21 to 25 August
1995
FCCC/CP/1995/7 Report of the Conference of the Parties on its first
and Add.1 session held at Berlin from 28 March to
7 April 1995
FCCC/SB/1995/INF.1 Division of labour between the subsidiary
bodies established by the Convention
A/AC.237/55 Report of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee for a Framework Convention on Climate Change on the work of its ninth session held at Geneva from 7 to 18 February 1994
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10 a.m. |
Items 1 2 4 (a) 4 (b) |
Items 4 (a) 4 (b) 3 |
Items 6 5 (a) 5 (b) |
Items 7 9 Any unresolved items |
Items 8 10 |
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(The items of the provisional agenda are listed
below.)
Other meetings relevant to the work of the
SBSTA:
Formal meetings of the SBI will be held in the afternoons of the
days shown in the above schedule. The SBI may hold informal meetings
in the mornings, in parallel with meetings of the SBSTA.
The AGBM will hold informal workshops in the afternoons of 28
February and 4 March, in parallel with meetings of the
SBI.
On 26 February, the Group of 77 and China will convene a workshop
on the preparation of national communications from Parties not
included in Annex I to the Convention (relevant to agenda item 5
(b)).
On 2 March, a workshop will be held on mechanisms for inputs by
non-governmental organizations (relevant to agenda item
8).
Items of the provisional agenda:
1. Opening of the session.
2. Organizational matters:
(a) Adoption of the agenda;
(b) Organization of the work of the session.
3. Establishment of intergovernmental technical advisory
panel(s).
4. Scientific assessments:
(a) Consideration of the Second Assessment Report of the
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC);
(b) Cooperation with the IPCC.
5. National communications:
(a) Communications from Parties included in Annex I to the
Convention:
(i) Progress report on in-depth reviews;
(ii) Elements of the second compilation and synthesis report (technical aspects);
(iii) Report on guidelines for the preparation of
communications.
(b) Communications from Parties not included in Annex I to the
Convention: issues related to the preparation of
communications.
6. Activities implemented jointly under the pilot
phase.
7. Technology inventory and assessment.
8. Workshop on mechanisms for inputs by non-governmental
organizations.
9. Longer term activities.
10. Report on the session.
1. For decisions adopted by the Conference of the Parties at its first session, see document FCCC/CP/1995/7/Add.1.