Distr.
GENERAL
FCCC/SBSTA/1996/6
22 February 1996
ENGLISH ONLY
SUBSIDIARY BODY FOR SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL ADVICE
Second session
Geneva, 27 February - 4 March 1996
Item 4 (b) of the provisional agenda
Paragraphs Page
I. INTRODUCTION 1 - 6 3
A. Mandate 1 - 5 3
B. Scope of the note 6 4
II. GENERAL CONSIDERATIONS 7 - 9 4
III. FUTURE WORK PROGRAMME OF THE
INTERGOVERNMENTAL PANEL ON
CLIMATE CHANGE 10 - 12 5
IV. MEETINGS OF THE JOINT WORKING GROUP 13 - 14 7
V. BUDGET IMPLICATIONS 15 7
GE.96-
Paragraphs Page
VI. POSSIBLE ACTION BY THE SUBSIDIARY BODY FOR
SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL ADVICE 16 - 17 8
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change Programme on National
Greenhouse Gas Inventories 9
1. The Conference of the Parties (COP 1), at its first session, by
its decision 4/CP.1* on methodological issues, decided that the
Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA)
should propose a work plan and timetable for longer-term activities
relating to methodological questions (including inventory
methodologies and methodologies for analysing impacts and mitigation
options) and the establishment of working relations with other bodies
(in particular the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC))
and its working groups and programmes.
2. The COP also invited the relevant international organizations
and bodies, including the IPCC, to contribute to the work of the
SBSTA, especially on the scientific aspects of methodologies,
particularly those relating to inventories of anthropogenic emissions
by sources and removals by sinks of all greenhouse gases not
controlled by the Montreal Protocol on Substances that Deplete the
Ozone Layer, global warming potentials of those greenhouse gases,
vulnerability assessment and adaptation, projections of emissions by
sources and removals by sinks, the evaluation of the effects of
measures undertaken pursuant to the provisions of the Convention and
the allocation and control of emissions from international bunker
fuels.
3. Further, in its decision 6/CP.1, the COP invited the officers
of the SBSTA and the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI) to
submit, after due consultation with their respective bodies,
proposals for future cooperation between the SBSTA and the SBI and
the IPCC, to the second session of the Conference of the Parties. The
SBI, at its first session, decided that, in order to avoid
duplication of effort, cooperation between the subsidiary bodies of
the Convention and the IPCC should be addressed by the SBSTA and
without prejudice to paragraph 6 of decision 6/CP.1 (FCCC/SBI/1995/5,
para. 17).
4. At its first session, the SBSTA expressed strong support for
the continued functioning of the IPCC as one of the independent and
prominent sources of scientific and technical information relevant to
the implementation of the Convention, as specified in Article 9 of
the Convention (FCCC/SBSTA/1995/3, para. 24). It also identified a
list of areas in which it could draw upon the assistance of the IPCC
in order to provide the COP with timely information and advice on
relevant scientific and technical issues. The list was preliminary
and general and subject to modifications, refinements and additions
(FCCC/SBSTA/1995/3, annex).
* For decisions adopted by the Conference of the Parties at its
first session, see document FCCC/CP/1995/Add.1.
5. The SBSTA also noted the need to identify short- and long-term
requirements and requested its Bureau to hold joint meetings with the
relevant officers of the IPCC and report to each of its sessions on
the outcome of these meetings. In this context the SBSTA envisaged
the need for scientific and technical advice from the IPCC on special
emerging topics to be made available within short periods of time
(perhaps one year or so). It agreed therefore that there would be a
need for close coordination between the SBSTA and the IPCC in
identifying more specific proposals for jointly agreed tasks and
considering such matters as time-frames for implementation and
financial implications, including contributions to the IPCC from the
Convention budget. It felt that this would be particularly important
after the consideration by the SBSTA of the IPCC Second Assessment
Report at which time the secretariat should prepare a list of
priority areas and propose time-frames in which inputs from the IPCC
would be required for the future work of the SBSTA. The SBSTA would
keep the agenda item "Cooperation with competent international bodies
including the IPCC" under regular review (FCCC/SBSTA/1995/3, para.
24).
6. This note briefly reports on the first meeting of the Joint
Working Group of Officers of the Convention and the IPCC, which was
held in Geneva on 27 October 1995, and refers to the second meeting
to be held on 25 February 1996. Further, the note mentions the main
conclusions of the IPCC on its future work plan, as agreed at the
eleventh session of the IPCC in Rome in December 1995. The Joint
Working Group will discuss these conclusions on 25 February 1996 and
seek to develop a common view on the contributions that the IPCC may
make to the Convention process in the coming years. The note also
indicates possible action by the SBSTA. The annex to this note
provides some information on the IPCC programme for inventory
methodologies.
7. The IPCC has been the main source of scientific inputs for the
Convention process. The process was only formally launched in late
1990 after the First Assessment Report of the IPCC had been completed
earlier that year. Article 21.2 of the Convention recognizes the role
of the IPCC in responding to the need for objective scientific and
technological advice.
8. The importance of scientific assessment of the Convention
process cannot be overstated. It is the scientific findings on
climate change that interest the public and that motivate political
and economic responses. At the same time, scientific uncertainty is a
mitigating force, limiting the environmental drive of the Convention
process. More and better scientific information and assessment
reinforce the political resolve to implement and strengthen the
Convention. The adaptation of scientific information for use by the
public information media contributes to this end.
9. In the light of the IPCC Second Assessment Report, it is clear
that much scientific work still lies ahead to better define the
problems involved in climate change, to expand the range of options
and to reduce uncertainty. Emphasis may need to be placed in future
work on defining the impacts of climate change and on developing
innovative low cost solutions. At the same time, as these issues
approach real political choices, it will be important to keep the
scientific process distinct from politics. This means that the
frontier between the scientific/technical assessments of the IPCC and
the political process of the Convention needs to be carefully
monitored. What is fundamental, however, is that the IPCC has the
mandate and resources to continue its work and that it be allowed to
do so in a way that leaves its scientific integrity and credibility
unimpaired. The Joint Working Group could address any questions which
may arise on these fundamental issues, and, if necessary, bring them
to the attention of the relevant body or bodies.
ON CLIMATE CHANGE
10. The IPCC considered its future work programme at its eleventh
plenary session, held in Rome from 11 to 15 December 1995. The
session endorsed, with some amendments, the proposals presented by
the Chairman of the IPCC in document IPCC-X1/Doc. 7. The IPCC intends
to prepare a Third Assessment Report, beginning around 1998
and aiming for completion around 2000. The reports of the Working
Groups could possibly be released sequentially, for example at 6 to 9
months intervals. In the interim, a series of Special Reports
could be prepared. These would be on topics that would be helpful to
the Third Assessment Report, or, in a general way, to the Convention
process; their completion should take 12 to 18 months and would
follow the IPCC procedures. The IPCC Special Report of 1994 could be
regarded as an example. For the shorter term, the IPCC could also
prepare Technical Papers on request from the Convention
bodies; these reports would be based on material already in the IPCC
Assessment Reports. Further, the IPCC would organize
workshops, and continue its work on methodologies for
inventories.
11. The activities for 1996 and 1997 include:
(a) Technical Papers (drawing mainly upon the Second
Assessment Report)
The IPCC Bureau would initiate Technical Papers responding to
requests from the SBSTA in 1996, after consultation between the Joint
Working Group and the Bureau of the SBSTA. The Papers could be
on:
Technology transfer (from the contribution of Working Group II to the Second Assessment Report)
Impacts (scientific, economic, and environmental) of climate change and of response measures with emphasis on developing countries
Scenarios and pathways to stabilization of greenhouse gas concentrations
Simple climate models
The IPCC also adopted procedures for drafting, reviewing,
finalizing and releasing the Technical Papers.
(b) Special Reports (assessing new scientific
information on specific topics)
Any work on Special Reports would have to be approved by the IPCC
twelfth plenary session scheduled for September 1996. However, the
following were suggested, inter alia, as subject matters for
Special Reports:
Simple climate models
Global stabilization of greenhouse gas concentrations
Aquatic and terrestrial ecosystem vulnerability
Risk of instabilities
(c) Workshops
(i) The IPCC would organize workshops on the following topics in
1996:
Regional climate prediction
Landuse and biomass (related to work on methodologies for greenhouse gas inventories)
Methane from rice (related to work on methodologies for greenhouse
inventories)
(ii) The IPCC Bureau would consider ways and means to organize
workshops (aiming at cooperation with other organizations) on the
following topics:
Integrated assessments models
Comparison of top-down/bottom-up emissions inventories
Projections/scenario methodologies for the IPCC Third Assessment Report
Methodologies for economic/social impact assessment in developing countries
Methodologies for estimating climate change damages
Oceans/coral reefs and roles in the carbon cycle
Adaptation
(d) Programme on inventory
methodologies
12. Of particular interest was the decision that work on
methodologies for greenhouse gas inventories should continue at full
capacity in 1996 and 1997. This will allow incorporation of the new
information on emission factors that is underway, particularly from
developing countries. It will also allow the development of
methodologies that can be applied in an as wide as possible range of
countries. Some details of the programme are given in the annex to
this document. The IPCC will review the programme at its 1997 session
and decide on further work. Cooperation with the Convention will be
an important feature of the programme.
13. The first meeting of the Joint Working Group was held on 27
October 1995. It was attended by the Chairmen of the SBSTA and the
IPCC, by other officers of the FCCC and IPCC and by members of the
secretariats. Discussions focused on the initial list of items
identified by the SBSTA at its first session (see paragraph 4 above),
on the IPCC inventories and methodologies programme, on the Second
Assessment Report and on future IPCC reports. The meeting also
identified a number of areas where a measure of priority attention
was considered necessary. These comprise:
(a) The IPCC Synthesis Report on information relevant to the
implementation of Article 2 of the Convention
(b) The inventories and methodologies programme
(c) Technology transfer
(d) Socio-economic impacts of climate change and impacts of
response measures
(e) Adaptation measures
14. The second meeting of the Joint Working Group is scheduled to
take place on 25 February 1996. The Chairman of the SBSTA will brief
the SBSTA on the meetings of the Group, with particular reference to
its second meeting. The Chairman of the IPCC will also address the
SBSTA.
15. A new aspect of the relationship with the IPCC arises from the
approved Convention budget for 1996-1997, which provides for a
contribution towards the costs of services rendered to the Convention
process. This provision is intended to help the IPCC respond to
specific requests from the COP or its subsidiary bodies. An amount of
some US$ 620.000 has been provided for the biennium, assuming that
the Convention budget is fully subscribed. It is envisaged that, on
the basis of conclusions from the SBSTA with respect to cooperation
with the IPCC and with the help of the IPCC secretariat, the
Convention secretariat will provide information on financial aspects
of the cooperation to the third meeting of the SBI so that it can
advise the COP.
TECHNOLOGICAL ADVICE
16. The SBSTA may wish:
(a) To consider and endorse the conclusions of the Joint Working
Group of Officers of the SBSTA and the IPCC, as will be reported by
the Chairman of the SBSTA, and to welcome the continuing work
programme of the IPCC during the period 1996-1997 in the area of
methodologies for greenhouse gas inventories;
(b) To request the secretariat to prepare a long-term programme on
methodologies, as required by decision 4/CP.1 of the COP, taking the
IPCC activities into account;
(c) To invite the IPCC to work closely with the Convention
secretariat and the intergovernmental technical advisory panel, once
established, in relevant areas, inter alia, as concerns
methodologies for inventories to be used by Parties included in Annex
I to the Convention and non-Annex I Parties, in preparing national
communications, and technological issues;
(d) To request the Joint Working Group to consider the list of
priority areas identified by the SBSTA and propose timetables within
which inputs from the IPCC would be required for the future work of
the SBSTA, on the basis of information prepared by the Convention
secretariat (see paragraph 5 above);
(e) To request the IPCC to continue its work on Article 2 of the
Convention, as follow-up to its Synthesis Report, including the
possible convening of a special workshop to review and discuss the
main findings and/or difficulties;
(f) To request the Chairman of the SBSTA to continue his
activities with respect to the Joint Working Group, with a view to
further refining and adjusting the working arrangements between the
Convention bodies and the IPCC, and report back regularly to the
SBSTA.
17. The SBSTA may also wish to consider acting upon the suggestion included in the document on the Second Assessment Report, that it invites the IPCC, its parent bodies (the World Meteorological Organization and United Nations Environment Programme) and the Convention secretariat to collaborate in disseminating information from the SAR, in such a manner as to facilitate its absorption by different audiences, including the public information media (FCCC/SBSTA/1996/7, para. 29).
Specific elements of the 1996-1997 work programme undertaken by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change in close cooperation with the Organisation for Economic
Co-operation and Development and the International Energy Agency,
include:
Completing the work of the 1995 expert groups by issuing revised Guidelines as needed
Development of revised emission factors for methane from rice and land use change and forestry
Developing country capacity building in coordination and evaluation of activities on the IPCC Guidelines
Development of other recommendations for the IPCC
Guidelines
This programme covers completion of products from the existing
expert groups* by 1996 and includes initiating work on methane
emissions from rice production. A workshop on methane from rice would
be convened in early 1996 to review methane emission
factors.
The proposals are summarized in the table below. The time-frame
for the activities is shown in the attached figure.
* The products of the existing expert groups include methods for: "new gases" and other gases from industrial processes; N2O and CO2 from agricultural soils; and revisions to methods for land use change and forestry, waste, and fuel combustion.
|
Activity |
Product |
|
Core support |
IPCC staff unit (housed in the OECD) to support all activities of the Inventories Programme |
|
Revision of IPCC Guidelines (completion of the work of the 1995 expert groups by issuing revised Guidelines in five specific areas) |
Stand-alone IPCC Guidelines revisions (in English; French; Spanish; Russian). Based on the expert group work which was initiated in 1995.* Includes distribution, assimilation of comments; editing and publication; translation (3 languages only) |
|
Development of revised emission factors for methane from
rice and land use change and forestry -Methane from rice -Land use change and forestry |
Recommendations to be developed following in 1996 and 1997 IPCC workshops aimed to review recent information; possible preparation of IPCC Guidelines revisions (English only) |
|
Developing country capacity building in coordination and evaluation of activities on the IPCC Guidelines |
Summary report -- to be produced by a visiting developing country scientist residing at the OECD |
|
Development of other recommendations to improve overall Guideline methodologies |
Recommendations/workshop report to be drawn up following
a 1997 IPCC workshop aimed at reviewing experience and new
information emerging from all countries Budget does not include full IPCC review or production of revisions to the Guidelines |
* Includes methods for: "new gases" and other gases form
industrial processes; N2O and CO2 from
agricultural soils; and revisions to land use change and forestry,
waste and fuel combustion methods.