Distr.
GENERAL
FCCC/SBSTA/1996/14
11 November 1996
Original: ENGLISH
SUBSIDIARY BODY FOR SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL ADVICE
Fourth session
Geneva, 16-18 December 1996
Item 2 (a) of the provisional agenda
1. Arrangements have been made for the fourth session of the
Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA) to be
held at the Palais des Nations, Geneva, from 16 to 18 December 1996.
The session will be opened by the Chairman of the SBSTA at 10 a.m. on
16 December 1996, in conference room XX.
2. In accordance with the request made to the secretariat by the
SBSTA at its third session, a round table on activities implemented
jointly under the pilot phase will be held in conjunction with the
fourth session of the SBSTA, in Geneva, on 17 December
1996.
3. The provisional agenda for the fourth session of the SBSTA, proposed after consultation with its Chairman, is as follows:
1. Opening of the session.
GE.96-
2. Organizational matters:
(a) Adoption of the agenda;
(b) Election of officers other than the Chairman;
(c) Organization of the work of the session.
3. Cooperation with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate
Change.
4. Methodological issues:
(a) Longer-term programme of work;
(b) Possible revisions to the guidelines for the preparation of
communications by Parties included in Annex I to the
Convention.
5. National communications from Parties included in Annex I to the Convention.
6. Activities implemented jointly under the pilot
phase.
7. Development and transfer of technologies.
8. Report on the session.
4. The fourth session of the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and
Technological Advice will be opened by the Chairman at 10 a.m. on 16
December 1996 in conference room XX.
(a) Adoption of the agenda
5. The provisional agenda for the fourth session of the SBSTA is
presented for adoption (see paragraph 3 above).
6. The SBSTA at its third session proposed that the secretariat explore further with
non-governmental groups current mechanisms and procedures for
consultation with a view to establishing how they might be made more
efficient (FCCC/SBSTA/1996/13, para. 50 (d)). The suggestion was made
in this regard that it would be helpful also to examine the
initiatives that the IPCC is taking to obtain access to a wider range
of expertise in the technological areas. On the basis of these
discussions, a paper could be prepared for consideration by the SBSTA
at its fourth session. Work is under way on this issue, and it is
expected that a document will be available for the fifth session of
the SBSTA.
(b) Election of officers other than the
Chairman
7. At its third session, the Chairman of the SBSTA informed the
SBSTA that the President of the Conference of the Parties (COP) was
continuing his consultations on the election of officers of the
Bureau other than the President (FCCC/SBSTA/1996/13, para. 7). Since
the elections of officers of the Conference of the Parties and those
of the SBSTA, the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI) and the Ad
Hoc Group on Article 13 (AG13) were being considered as a package,
the SBSTA agreed at that session to the Chairman's proposal to await
the outcome of these consultations before considering further the
issue of the election of SBSTA officers other than the
Chairman.
8. The Chairman of the Ad Hoc Group on the Berlin Mandate reported
to the Conference of the Parties at its second session 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 SBSTA, the SBI and the AG13
(FCCC/CP/1996/15, para. 18). He stated that 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.
9. The Chairman will provide an oral report on the status of the
consultations. The SBSTA may consider the outcome of these
consultations, and, taking into account the results, elect its
officers other than the Chairman.
(c) Organization of the work of the
session
(i) Documentation
10. A list of documents relating to the provisional agenda, as
well as other documents available at the session, is contained in
annex I below.
(ii) Schedule
11. The scheduling of meetings for the session will be based on
the availability of facilities during normal working hours, when
services are available for one meeting with interpretation from 10
a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. 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 below.
12. The SBSTA, at its third session, requested the secretariat to
organize a round table on activities implemented jointly under the
pilot phase (AIJ) in conjunction with the fourth session of the SBSTA
to provide for the exchange of information and experience on ongoing
AIJ projects and programmes (FCCC/SBSTA/1996/13, para. 38 (b)). The
round table on AIJ will take place on Tuesday, 17 December
1996.
13. At its second session, the SBSTA noted the decisions of the
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) at its eleventh
session in Rome (December 1995) on its future work programme and
particularly that it intends to continue to work on methodologies for
greenhouse gas inventories (FCCC/SBSTA/1996/8, para. 38). The SBSTA
was informed of the conclusions of the meetings of the Joint Working
Group of officers of the United Nations Framework Convention on
Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the IPCC. Taking into account the
statements made during the session, it requested the IPCC to
undertake the activities in support of the SBSTA contained in annex
III to document FCCC/SBSTA/1996/8, and to advise the SBSTA
accordingly.
14. The Conference of the Parties, by its decision 9/CP.2,(1) requested the SBSTA to consider, at its fourth session, any possible additional revisions to the guidelines arising from, inter alia, any modifications to the IPCC Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories.
15. The IPCC held its twelfth plenary session in Mexico City from 11 to
13 September 1996, at which it revised the schedule and programme
of work approved by the SBSTA at its second session. According to
this revised schedule and programme, most of the technical papers
previously planned for this year will not be available until 1997.
The IPCC plenary also approved Phase II Guidelines for National
Greenhouse Gas Inventories as an addendum to the guidelines approved
by the IPCC and the Convention bodies and developed a specific work
programme for its greenhouse gas inventory activities during the year
1997. The IPCC plenary also requested guidance from the SBSTA
concerning the direction of its work in the area of inventories of
emissions from land-use change and forestry, as well as with regard
to future long-term work on emission profiles.
16. The SBSTA will have before it a progress report prepared by
the secretariat on cooperation with the IPCC (FCCC/SBSTA/1996/18) and
the addendum to this document on the Revised 1996 Guidelines for
National Greenhouse Gas Inventories (FCCC/SBSTA/1996/18/Add.1). The
IPCC will make available, for information purposes, copies of a
technical report entitled "Technologies, policies and measures for
mitigating climate change", prepared by the IPCC for the AGBM, as
well as copies of the Revised 1996 Guidelines for National Greenhouse
Gas Inventories.
17. The SBSTA will be informed of the conclusions of the meeting
of the Joint Working Group. The SBSTA may consider giving guidance to
the IPCC with respect to its work on inventories and future work on
long-term emission profiles. The SBSTA may also consider the revised
schedule and programme of work of the IPCC and the addendum on the
Revised 1996 Guidelines for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories. A
decision on whether and how to use the Revised 1996 Guidelines for
reporting will be particularly important as second national
communications and additional inventory data are due in April
1997.
(a) Longer-term programme of
work
18. At its first session, the Conference of the Parties, by its
decision 4/CP.1,(2) decided that the
SBSTA, "drawing upon existing competent international bodies,
including the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, ... should
consider the methodological issues arising from the review of
national communications, including those identified in the
compilation and synthesis of national communications, and in
available in-depth review reports, and make recommendations thereon
to the Conference of the Parties at its second session ... and
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)" (see
FCCC/CP/1995/7/Add.1).
19. At its third session, the SBSTA took note of a summary report
by the secretariat of a meeting on methodologies held with relevant
international organizations, and requested the secretariat to prepare
a report on the matter for the fourth session (FCCC/SBSTA/1996/13,
para. 70 (b)). The COP, by its decision 16/CP.2, requested the
secretariat to provide to the SBI, at its fifth session in
February/March 1997, some perspective of estimated financial
requirements for the biennium 1998/1999. In this respect, guidance is
sought on activities that might be undertaken by the secretariat and
the Convention bodies.
20. The SBSTA will have before it a document on a longer-term
programme of work for methodological issues (FCCC/SBSTA/1996/16). The
document provides an overview of current methodological programmes
supported by international organizations, identifies important gaps
and defines questions for consideration by the SBSTA. The SBSTA will
need to consider the priorities for methodological work, implications
for the budget and necessary institutional and financial
arrangements; it may also wish to indicate how it would like to
proceed.
(b) Possible revisions to the guidelines for the
preparation of communications by Parties included in Annex I to the
Convention
21. By its decision 4/CP.1, the Conference of the Parties decided
that the SBSTA should provide advice to the COP and to the SBI on
further development, refinement, improvement and use of comparable
methodologies for, inter alia, national inventories of
emissions and removals of greenhouse gases and for projecting
national emissions and removals of greenhouse gases and comparing the
respective contributions of different gases to climate change. In
addition to the methodological issues arising in the context of
cooperation with the IPCC (agenda item 3) and of activities
implemented jointly under the pilot phase (agenda item 6), a number
of other methodological issues need to be considered.
22. At its first session, the SBSTA considered the issue of the
allocation and control of emissions from international bunker fuels,
and requested the secretariat to provide an options paper on that
subject for consideration at a future session (FCCC/SBSTA/1995/3).
The SBSTA, at its second session, requested the secretariat to
prepare a report suggesting possible revisions to the guidelines for
the preparation of first communications by Annex I Parties
(FCCC/SBSTA/1996/8), taking into account the submissions by Parties
and the experience from the review process, for consideration at its
third session, aiming at adopting revised guidelines at the second
session of the COP in time for the preparation of the second national
communications by Annex I Parties. It requested the secretariat to
address issues such as electricity trade, bunker fuels, use of global
warming potentials, land-use change and forestry, and temperature
adjustments in the documentation to be prepared for consideration by
the SBSTA.
23. In response to the above requests, the secretariat prepared
several documents for consideration by the SBSTA (FCCC/SBSTA/1996/9
and Add.1 and 2). The SBSTA was not able to consider these addenda on
methodological issues at its third session.
24. By its decision 9/CP.2, the Conference of the Parties
requested the SBSTA to consider methodological issues relevant to
national communications and, in particular, at its fourth session, to
address those issues discussed in FCCC/SBSTA/1996/9/Add.1 and 2; and,
if relevant conclusions on such issues could be drawn, to revise
further the guidelines for the preparation of national communications
as appropriate.
25. Accordingly, these documents are before the SBSTA at its
fourth session. The SBSTA will also have available a compilation of
comments provided by the Parties on these subjects
(FCCC/SBSTA/1996/MISC.5).
26. The SBSTA may wish to take a decision at its fourth session on
how emissions should be reported, in view of the fact that national
communications from Annex I Parties are due in April 1997. Where
relevant, it may also wish to consider how emissions should be
allocated. The SBSTA may wish to bear in mind that these issues may
also be relevant to the work of the AGBM, in particular as they are
relevant to defining baselines and emission levels. In that regard,
it may be helpful to reach agreement on these issues as soon as
practical.
27. By its decision 9/CP.2, the Conference of the Parties decided
that the review process should be continued in accordance with the
relevant decisions of the Conference of the Parties. The secretariat
will make a short oral report on the progress achieved in the process
of review of communications from Parties included in Annex I to the
Convention.
Uniform reporting format
28. The SBSTA, at its second session, in coordination with the
SBI, adopted an initial reporting framework on activities implemented
jointly during the pilot phase, and decided to compile and
synthesize, in cooperation with the SBI, and with the assistance of
the secretariat, information transmitted by the Parties in the form
of a report to be considered annually by the Conference of the
Parties, and, based on this information, to develop suggestions for
improving the initial reporting framework and for addressing
methodological issues, as necessary (FCCC/SBSTA/1996/8).
29. At its third session, the SBSTA considered the progress report
prepared by the secretariat on the basis of submissions by Parties
(FCCC/CP/1996/14 and Add.1) and requested the secretariat to make
suggestions with regard to a uniform reporting format to promote the
consistency of reports with the initial reporting framework
(FCCC/SBSTA/1996/13, para. 38 (a)). In response to this request, the
secretariat has prepared document FCCC/SBSTA/1996/15 containing
suggestions for an initial uniform reporting format based on the
initial reporting framework. The SBSTA may consider this document and
adopt an initial uniform reporting format to be applied when Parties
report through designated national authorities on activities
implemented jointly.
Update on activities implemented jointly
30. At its third session, the SBSTA, noting that reports on
activities implemented jointly may be submitted at any time, invited
the secretariat to prepare in concise form a first update reflecting
reports and submissions by Parties for the fourth session of the
SBSTA in December (FCCC/SBSTA/1996/13, para. 38 (d)). The update is
contained in document FCCC/SBSTA/1996/17.
Methodological issues
31. At its third session, the SBSTA considered document
FCCC/CP/1996/14 containing, in section V on a proposed work plan,
some suggestions for methodological work, and requested the
secretariat to prepare a list of methodological issues for
consideration by the SBSTA at its fourth session (FCCC/SBSTA/1996/13,
para. 38 (a)). The secretariat is preparing such a list
(FCCC/SBSTA/1996/19), taking into account suggestions by Parties and
experts.
32. By its decision 7/CP.2, the COP requested the secretariat to
give high priority to the development and completion of a survey of
the initial technology needs, as well as technology information
needs, of Parties not included in Annex I to the Convention, with a
view to providing a progress report to the SBSTA at its fourth
session. The COP also requested the secretariat to expedite the
preparation of reports on adaptation technologies and the terms of
transfer of technology and know-how conducive to mitigating and
adapting to climate change, and, in preparing these reports, to draw
on nominees with expertise in these fields from Parties. The
secretariat will provide an oral report on progress achieved to date
in response to these requests.
33. The relatively short duration of the session, as well as the
nature and timing of the discussion, 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 previous sessions,
authorize the Rapporteur, if one is elected, 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/1996/9/Add.1 Communications from Parties included in
Annex I to the Convention: guidelines, schedule and process for
consideration. Possible revisions to the guidelines for the
preparation of national communications by Parties included in Annex I
to the Convention. Methodological issues
FCCC/SBSTA/1996/9/Add.2 Communications from Parties included in
Annex I to the Convention: guidelines, schedule and process for
consideration. Detailed information on electricity trade and
international bunker fuels
FCCC/SBSTA/1996/14 Provisional agenda and annotations
FCCC/SBSTA/1996/15 Activities implemented jointly under the pilot
phase. Uniform reporting format
FCCC/SBSTA/1996/16 Methodological issues. Longer-term programme of
work
FCCC/SBSTA/1996/17 Activities implemented jointly under the pilot
phase. Update
FCCC/SBSTA/1996/18 Cooperation with the Intergovernmental Panel on
Climate Change. Progress report
FCCC/SBSTA/1996/18/Add.1 Cooperation with the Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate Change. Progress report. Revised 1996 IPCC
guidelines for national greenhouse gas inventories
FCCC/SBSTA/1996/19 Activities implemented jointly under the pilot
phase. Initial list of methodological issues
FCCC/SBSTA/1996/MISC.5 Methodological issues. Comments from
Parties
FCCC/SBSTA/1996/8 Report of the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and
Technological Advice on the work of its second session, held at
Geneva from 27 February to 4 March 1996
FCCC/SBSTA/1996/13 Report of the Subsidiary Body for Scientific
and Technological Advice on the work of its third session, Geneva,
9-16 July 1996
A/AC.237/NC/1 - 14 Executive summaries of communications
and from Parties included in Annex I to the
FCCC/NC/1 - 19 Convention
FCCC/IDR.1/(...) Reports on in-depth reviews of communications
from Parties included in Annex I to the Convention
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/1996/15 Report of the Conference of the Parties on its
second session, held at Geneva from 8 to 19 July 1996. Part One:
Proceedings
FCCC/CP/1996/15/Add.1 Report of the Conference of the Parties on
its second session, held at Geneva from 8 to 19 July 1996. Part Two:
Action taken by the Conference of the Parties at its second
session
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Items 3 4 8 |
A round table on activities implemented jointly under the pilot
phase will be held at the Palais des Nations, Geneva, on 17 December
1996.
1. 1For decisions adopted by the Conference of the Parties at its second session, see document FCCC/CP/1996/15/Add.1.
2. For decisions adopted by the Conference of the Parties at its first session, see document FCCC/CP/1995/7/Add.1.