Distr.
GENERAL
FCCC/SBSTA/1996/20
27 January 1997
Original: ENGLISH
SUBSIDIARY BODY FOR SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL ADVICE
Fourth session
Geneva, 16-18 December 1996
Paragraphs Page
I. OPENING OF THE SESSION 1 - 4 3
(Agenda item 1)
II. ORGANIZATIONAL MATTERS 5 - 18 3
(Agenda item 2)
A. Adoption of the agenda 5 3
B. Election of officers other than the Chairman 6 - 9
4
C. Organization of the work of the session 10 - 16 4
D. Attendance 17 5
E. Documentation 18 6
III. COOPERATION WITH THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL
PANEL ON CLIMATE CHANGE 19 - 33 6
(Agenda item 3)
GE.97-
Paragraphs Page
IV. METHODOLOGICAL ISSUES 34 - 59 8
(Agenda item 4)
A. Longer-term programme of work 34 - 48 8
B. Possible revisions to the guidelines for the
preparation of communications by Parties included
in Annex I to the Convention 49 - 59 11
V. NATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS FROM PARTIES
INCLUDED IN ANNEX I TO THE CONVENTION 60 - 66 13
(Agenda item 5)
VI. ACTIVITIES IMPLEMENTED JOINTLY UNDER
THE PILOT PHASE 67 - 76 14
(Agenda item 6)
VII. DEVELOPMENT AND TRANSFER OF TECHNOLOGIES 77 - 83 15
(Agenda item 7)
VIII. REPORT ON THE SESSION 84 - 87 16
(Agenda item 8)
Documents before the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and
Technological Advice at its fourth session 17
1. The fourth session of the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and
Technological Advice (hereinafter referred to as "the SBSTA") was
held at Geneva from 16 to 18 December 1996.
2. The Chairman of the SBSTA, Mr. Tibor Faragó, opened the
session on 16 December 1996. He welcomed all delegates and observers
from non-parties, United Nations bodies and organizations, and
intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations. He noted the
need to work expeditiously, despite the substantial achievements of
the SBSTA and the Conference of the Parties (COP) at the previous
session.
3. The Chairman reported on the schedule of meetings of Convention
bodies as decided by the Bureau of the Conference of the Parties. The
fifth session of the SBSTA will be held from 25 to 28 February in
Bonn, with subsequent sessions to be organized within the following
periods:
Sixth session 28 July - 7 August 1997 Bonn
Seventh session 20 - 31 October 1997 Bonn
4. The Chairman informed the SBSTA that the Bureau of the COP had
also decided that there would be no meetings of the subsidiary bodies
during or immediately preceding the third session of the
COP.
5. At its 1st meeting, on 16 December, the SBSTA adopted the
following agenda:
1. Opening of the session.
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.
6. At its 1st, 2nd and 5th meetings, on 16 and 18 December, the
SBSTA considered the sub-item on election of officers other than the
Chairman.
7. At its 1st meeting, on 16 December, the Chairman provided an
oral report on the consultations on the election of the Vice-Chairmen
and Rapporteurs of the SBSTA, the Subsidiary Body for Implementation
(SBI) and the Ad Hoc Group on Article 13 (AG13), carried out by the
Chairman of the Ad Hoc Group on the Berlin Mandate (AGBM), at the
request of the President of the Conference of the Parties, in which
he indicated that agreement had not yet been reached on the
issue.
8. Statements were made by representatives of 10 Parties,
including one speaking on behalf of the Asian Group, one speaking on
behalf of the African Group and another speaking on behalf of the
Latin American and Caribbean Group.
9. At its 2nd meeting, on 16 December, the SBSTA considered a
proposal by its Chairman and statements by representatives of
Parties. In view of the persisting lack of agreement, it agreed to
consider the issue further at its next session. At its fifth meeting
on 18 December, a statement on this issue was made by a
representative of a regional group.
10. At its 1st meeting, on 16 December, the SBSTA considered the
sub-item on organization of the work of the session.
11. The Chairman recalled that services would be available for one morning and one afternoon meeting each day with interpretation from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 3 p.m. to
6 p.m. The SBSTA agreed to proceed on the basis of the proposed
schedule of work contained in document FCCC/SBSTA/1996/14, annex II,
with the addition, proposed by the Chairman following informal
consultations, that the item on activities implemented jointly under
the pilot phase be taken up also on the first day.
12. The Chairman reminded the SBSTA that the Bureau of the COP had
decided previously to continue its policy of allowing representatives
of non-governmental organizations access to the conference room
floor, before and after the meetings, but not during the
meetings.
13. As the Bureau had agreed to leave it to the discretion of the
Chairman of each subsidiary body whether, in the specific context of
a given body, wider access could be granted, the Chairman, invoking
this flexibility, decided to continue the same arrangements as in the
previous session, in which three representatives of non-governmental
organizations were granted access to the floor, as
observers.
14. The Chairman informed the SBSTA that the applications of 2
intergovernmental and 15 non-governmental organizations had been
screened by the secretariat on the basis of the provisions of Article
7.6 of the Convention and in accordance with the procedures
established by the COP for the admission of organizations as
observers. The SBSTA agreed to grant access to these organizations
for the current session of the SBSTA, pending formal action
on their accreditation by the Conference of the Parties at its third
session.
15. The SBSTA, at its third session, had 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 (see FCCC/SBSTA/1996/13, para. 38 (b)).
The round table on AIJ took place on Tuesday, 17 December
1996.
16. Statements were made by representatives of four
Parties.
17. The lists of attendance at the fourth session of the SBSTA are
given in document FCCC/1996/INF.5 and Corr. 1.
18. The documents prepared for the fourth session of the SBSTA, as
well as other documents available for information, are listed in the
annex below.
PANEL ON CLIMATE CHANGE
19. At its 1st, 2nd and 5th meetings, on 16 and 18 December, the
SBSTA considered the item on cooperation with the Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). It had before it two documents
prepared by the Convention secretariat, FCCC/SBSTA/1996/18 and Add.1.
Two additional documents, a technical report, "Technologies, policies
and measures for mitigating climate change", prepared by the IPCC for
the AGBM, and the Revised 1996 IPCC Guidelines for National
Greenhouse Gas Inventories were made available by the secretariat of
the IPCC, for information purposes.
20. The discussion was prefaced by statements by the Chairman of the IPCC and the
Co-Chairman of Working Group I of the IPCC, who both also
responded to questions.
21. Statements were made by representatives of 34 Parties,
including one speaking on behalf of the European Community and its
member States, one speaking on behalf of the African Group, one
speaking on behalf of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS) and
another speaking on behalf of the group of countries with economies
in transition.
22. A representative of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic
Commission of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization (UNESCO/IOC) also made a statement.
23. At its 5th meeting, on 18 December, having considered a
proposal made by the Chairman on the basis of informal consultations,
the SBSTA adopted the following conclusions.
24. The SBSTA welcomed the work of the IPCC to produce technical
papers and special reports. It took note of the revised schedule of
work and urged the IPCC to give high priority to the development of
regional scenarios of climate change, regional impacts of climate
change, and assessment of economic impacts on all Parties, including
developing country Parties, of any proposed new commitment undertaken
by Annex I Parties.
25. The SBSTA also took note of the preparations under way to
develop a Third Assessment Report, and noted with satisfaction that
the IPCC will send out a discussion paper on the preparation of the
report early in 1997. It urged the IPCC to develop a flexible work
programme as it plans this report so that the emerging needs of the
SBSTA can be considered. Parties are requested to submit comments on
the planned structure and content of the Third Assessment Report to
the secretariat, by 30 May 1997, for compilation into a miscellaneous
document.
26. The SBSTA considered the issues on longer-term emission profiles arising from its request to the IPCC for information on the implications of different emission limitation proposals in terms of projected increases in global mean temperatures, sea-level rise and other changes in climate. There were divergent views expressed by Parties regarding the format, timing, content and sensitivity studies to be used in developing such profiles. Some Parties expressed their deep concern regarding the lack of progress in giving guidance to the IPCC on this issue. The SBSTA requested Parties to make submissions on this issue by
15 January 1997.
27. The SBSTA requested the IPCC to complete this work as soon as
possible on the basis of these submissions in consultation with the
Joint Working Group of officers of the IPCC and the Convention (JWG).
The SBSTA decided to continue to elaborate on this issue during its
fifth session with a view to giving clear guidance to the IPCC on the
development of longer-term emission profiles.
28. The SBSTA also requested the IPCC to make a presentation on
the development of emission profiles and possible implications to the
climate system during its fifth session.
29. The SBSTA commended the IPCC, and the cooperating
organizations, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and
Development (OECD) and the International Energy Agency (IEA), on the
preparation of the Revised 1996 IPCC Guidelines for National
Greenhouse Gas Inventories (the revised 1996 guidelines), which, for
the first time, consider the gases HFCs, PFCs, SF6 and
SO2, and also improve the methodologies for the
calculation of greenhouse gas emissions under a number of source
categories. The revised guidelines contain additional data and
information, as well as simplified methodologies, that may be helpful
to developing country Parties.
30. The SBSTA took note of the revised 1996 guidelines adopted by
the IPCC for the reporting of national greenhouse gas inventory data,
and :
(a) Decided that the revised 1996 guidelines should be applied by
Annex I Parties on a voluntary basis for the inventories due in 1997
and on a mandatory basis for inventories due in 1998 and beyond. When
applying the revised 1996 guidelines, these Parties should also use
them to recalculate the base year greenhouse gas inventory. Annex I
Parties are urged to submit updated time series data for the years in
between. In providing greenhouse gas inventories due in the years
1997 and 1998, Annex I Parties should indicate clearly whether they
use the 1995 guidelines or the revised 1996 guidelines. Annex I
Parties with economies in transition may phase in the revised 1996
guidelines one year later than other Annex I Parties, but not later
than for the inventories due in 1999, at which time they should also
recalculate their base year inventory and inventories for the years
in between to the extent possible;
(b) Recalled decision 10/CP.2,(1)
and encouraged non-Annex I Parties to apply the revised 1996
guidelines, as appropriate and to the extent possible, in
communicating their national greenhouse gas inventories.
31. The SBSTA, based on paragraphs 27 (a) and (b) above,
encouraged Parties to report actual emissions of HFCs, PFCs and
SF6, given that these better reflect the real releases to
the atmosphere and encouraged Parties which are not in a position to
report actual figures to report potential emissions. Parties which
report actual emissions should also include figures for potential
emissions as a subset, for reasons of transparency and
comparability.
32. The SBSTA requested the secretariat, in consultation with the
IPCC, to work cooperatively with other organizations to ensure the
wide dissemination of the Revised 1996 Guidelines for Greenhouse Gas
Inventories to all Parties, through workshops, seminars and other
approaches.
33. The SBSTA welcomed the convening by the IPCC of an expert
group meeting on the technical aspects of methodologies for assessing
emissions from harvested wood products and requested the secretariat
to prepare a scoping study on such methodologies, taking into account
the outcome of this meeting, for consideration at the sixth session
of the SBSTA.
34. At its 4th and 5th meetings, on 17 and 18 December,
respectively, the SBSTA considered the sub-item on the longer-term
programme of work on methodological issues. It had before it two
documents prepared by the secretariat, FCCC/SBSTA/1996/16 and
Add.1.
35. Statements were made by representatives of 11 Parties,
including one speaking on behalf of the European Community and its
member States.
36. A representative of the IPCC also made a statement.
37. At its 5th meeting, on 18 December, having considered a
proposal made by the Chairman on the basis of informal consultations,
the SBSTA adopted the following conclusions.
38. The SBSTA had a first exchange of views on the development
of a longer-term programme of work related to methodologies as
mandated by decision 4/CP.1,(2) and in
particular, the need to "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
relationships with other bodies (in particular, the Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate Change and its working groups and
programmes)".
39. The SBSTA acknowledged the importance of and need for
adequate methodologies for all Parties, including financing for their
development and dissemination, particularly those related to the
preparation and consideration of national communications. It took
note of the extensive list of methods identified in paragraph 13 of
document FCCC/SBSTA/1996/16 that could be given consideration and
recognized the need for methods which assist the broad international
community.
40. The SBSTA considered the methodological topics that may
warrant special consideration as set out in FCCC/SBSTA/1996/16 and
Add.1. and decided that, in addition to improving methods for
greenhouse gas inventories, the following topics should initially be
given a particular priority in the context of the needs of the
Convention (without indicating a view on the relative ranking or the
forum for conducting the work), namely:
Methods for assessing mitigation measures and
policies
Methods for assessing adaptation options
Methods for projecting emissions
Methods for evaluating and monitoring the effectiveness and
effects of specific policies and measures to limit or enhance
removals of greenhouse gases
Methods to assess mitigation and adaptation technologies
Methods to assess the impacts of climate change
Methods for socio-economic cost benefit analyses of adaptation
options and mitigation measures and policies
41. In considering the longer-term programme of work, the
SBSTA noted the near-term methodological issues identified in
FCCC/SBSTA/1996/9/Add.1 and 2 and FCCC/SBSTA/1996/19 and the need to
integrate these issues into such a programme.
42. The SBSTA welcomed the efforts of the secretariat to encourage coordination of relevant methodological activities among international organizations, bodies of the
United Nations and related conventions and requested
the secretariat to further explore ways to enhance this coordination,
for example, on the monitoring of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere
with the World Meteorological Organization, and to advise the SBSTA
on these activities.
43. The SBSTA requested the secretariat to prepare an
initial draft of a work plan, as required by decision 4/CP.1, to
assist the SBSTA in its future deliberations, bearing in mind the
activities under way in other international organizations and bodies.
44. The SBSTA invited the Joint Working Group of
officers of the IPCC and the Convention (JWG) to advise on an
appropriate division of methodological tasks between the IPCC and the
bodies of the Convention, particularly on methods for emission
inventories, assessing impacts of climate change and assessing
mitigation and adaptation options, taking account of the need for
sustainable financing of these tasks and of work under way by other
international organizations (see FCCC/SBSTA/1996/16/Add.1). The SBSTA
decided to review, at its fifth session, the advice of the JWG and,
on that basis, decide what should be done by the Convention bodies
and, as appropriate, express its views to the IPCC.
45. The SBSTA noted that the development, testing and
diffusion of methods will require additional financial support. It
agreed that several options should be pursued including:
(a) Encouraging governments to provide greater support
to national, regional and international organizations and
institutions;
(b) Considering possibilities for Global Environment
Facility (GEF) funding; and
(c) Providing for additions to the secretariat budget
and/or contributions to the Supplementary Fund for the period
1998-1999.
It agreed to review, at its fifth session, the methodological component of the secretariat's outline of the Convention budget for the biennium 1998-1999, in the light of, inter alia, the advice of the JWG, the needs of other international organizations, and advise the
Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI)
thereon.
46. The SBSTA invited the SBI to consider whether the COP
could highlight the importance of securing adequate financial support
from the GEF for the methodological work needed by the Convention,
ensuring that such work corresponds to the programme priorities
established by the COP and the resultant operational programmes of
the GEF and that it is done in a cost-effective and non-duplicative
manner.
47. The SBSTA noted that many methodological topics are
complex issues that could benefit from the advice of experts. As in
the case of technology and technology transfer, the SBSTA requested
the secretariat to draw on nominees with expertise in these fields
from Parties to provide advice on methodological issues and to
consider, inter alia, the use of round tables, briefings and
other means to facilitate understanding of methodological issues by
Parties, particularly developing country Parties.
48. The SBSTA agreed to keep under review, at a minimum, once a year, the progress of work on methodological issues and its financing and, in support of this review, requested that one of its officers, or a delegate designated by the Chairman, would convene informal
open-ended consultations on these questions, in
conjunction with its sessions.
by Parties included in Annex I to the Convention
49. At its 3rd and 5th meetings, on 17 and 18 December,
respectively, the SBSTA considered the sub-item on possible revisions
to the guidelines for the preparation of communications by Parties
included in Annex I to the Convention, in the context of
methodological issues. It had before it two documents prepared by the
secretariat, FCCC/SBSTA/1996/9/Add.1 and 2. The SBSTA also had
available two documents containing comments provided by the Parties
on the subject, FCCC/SBSTA/1996/MISC.5 and Add.1.
50. Statements were made by representatives of 12 Parties,
including one speaking on behalf of the European Community and its
member States, and one on behalf of the Alliance of Small Island
States (AOSIS).
51. At its 5th meeting, on 18 December, having considered a
proposal made by the Chairman on the basis of informal consultations,
the SBSTA adopted the following conclusions.
52. The SBSTA, at its fourth session, considered the
methodological issues including those raised in secretariat documents
FCCC/SBSTA/9/Add.1 and 2. It was of the view that the guidelines for
the preparation of communications by Parties included in Annex I to
the Convention, as contained in the annex to decision 9/CP.2, already
request the relevant information related to the issues, and decided
not to revise the guidelines at this session. It decided to return to
these issues, as well as related matters, as necessary at future
sessions. The SBSTA noted that the issues, when their technical
aspects are clarified, could be important to address in the context
both of the Ad Hoc Group on Berlin Mandate (AGBM) and the Subsidiary
Body for Implementation (SBI).
53. The SBSTA stressed the necessity of reporting inventories in
mass units without adjustments according to paragraph 12 of the annex
to decision 9/CP.2. Adjustments are regarded as important information
in relation to the monitoring of emission trends and the performance
of policies and measures, and should be reported
separately.
54. The SBSTA noted that the issue of using global warming
potentials (GWP) was adequately addressed in the above-mentioned
documents, as requested in paragraph 5 of the annex to decision
9/CP.2.
55. The SBSTA noted that there are three separate issues related
to international bunker fuels: adequate and consistent inventories,
allocation of emissions and control options. Appropriate allocation
of responsibility for emissions from international bunker fuels would
be connected to inventory and control issues. The SBSTA noted that
eight options for allocation of bunker fuels were suggested in
document FCCC/SBSTA/1996/9/Add.1, and considered that options 1, 3,
4, 5 and 6 should be the basis for its further work on the issue.
With respect to option 1, it should be considered to recognize the
responsibilities of the international community to address issues
related to international bunker fuels. The SBSTA took note of the
work of the International Civil Aviation Organizaion (ICAO), as well
as the work of the Annex I expert group on policies and measures to
address these emissions. The SBSTA noted the role of ICAO and the
International Maritime Organization (IMO) in addressing the control
of international bunker fuel emissions, and the opportunity for
Parties to work through these bodies. The SBSTA encouraged Parties to
report emissions from international aviation and marine bunker fuels
as two separate entries in their national communications, in
accordance with the revised 1996 IPCC guidelines.
56. The SBSTA noted the ongoing IPCC activities to improve the
methodologies and reporting of the emissions and removals from the
land-use change and forestry sector.
57. The SBSTA recalled paragraph 51 of the guidelines for national
communications from Annex I Parties (see decision 9/CP.1). The SBSTA
noted two types of issues related to the electricity trade: first,
the issue of year by year variability depending on factors such as
precipitation and availability of hydropower; and secondly, the
allocation of emissions related to electricity trade.
58. The SBSTA requested the secretariat to compile and synthesize
for the sixth session of the SBSTA information on emissions as
affected by weather and electricity trade, as well as the
methodologies used for adjustments, from the national communications
and the in-depth reviews.
59. The SBSTA requested the secretariat to prepare a scoping paper
on the technical and policy issues related to the different aspects
of emissions adjustments and trade. Parties are invited to submit
information related to this issue by 15 April 1997, for the benefit
of the secretariat.
INCLUDED IN ANNEX I TO THE CONVENTION
60. At its 4th and 5th meetings, on 17 and 18 December,
respectively, the SBSTA considered the item on national
communications from Parties included in Annex I to the
Convention.
61. At the 4th meeting, on 17 December, the secretariat provided a
report on the progress achieved in the process of reviewing
communications from Parties included in Annex I to the
Convention.
62. A statement was made by a representative of a
Party.
63. At its 5th meeting, on 18 December, having considered a
proposal made by the Chairman, the SBSTA adopted the following
conclusions.
64. The SBSTA took note of the oral report of the secretariat on
the progress made in the process of review of the first national
communications from Annex I Parties.
65. The SBSTA urged the Annex I Parties which have not yet
submitted their first national communication to do so as soon as
possible, and encouraged Parties to submit second national
communications and inventory data on time.
66. The SBSTA expressed its gratitude to the Parties and
intergovernmental organizations which made available their experts
for participation in in-depth reviews and encouraged Parties that
have not yet nominated experts to do so.
67. At its 2nd, 3rd and 5th meetings, on 16, 17 and 18 December,
respectively, the SBSTA considered the item on activities implemented
jointly under the pilot phase. It had before it four documents
prepared by the secretariat, FCCC/SBSTA/1996/15, FCCC/SBSTA/1996/17
and Corr.1, and FCCC/SBSTA/1996/19.
68. Statements were made by representatives of 26 Parties,
including one speaking on behalf of the Group of 77 and China, one
speaking on behalf of the African Group, and another speaking on
behalf of the European Community and its member States.
69. At its 5th meeting, on 18 December, a report by the co-chairs of the round table on activities implemented jointly under the pilot phase was made by the one of the co-chairs
(see also paragraph 15 above).
70. A representative of the International Energy Agency made a
statement.
71. At its 5th meeting, on 18 December, having considered a
proposal made by the Chairman on the basis of informal consultations
in a contact group, the SBSTA adopted the following
conclusions.
72. The SBSTA invited Parties, taking note of the fact that
activities implemented jointly under the pilot phase are conducted on
a voluntary basis, to designate the relevant governmental authority
or ministry authorized to accept, approve or endorse projects of
activities implemented jointly and to report them to the Conference
of the Parties through the secretariat.
73. The SBSTA took note with interest of the report of the
co-chairs of the round table on activities implemented jointly held
during this session.
74. The SBSTA considered the proposed uniform reporting format
contained in document FCCC/SBSTA/1996/15, annexes I and II, and
requested the secretariat to prepare a revision of this format
reflecting sections agreed by the contact group and leaving unchanged
sections that could not be addressed. Parties were invited to submit
views on the unresolved issues related to the proposed uniform
reporting format, namely sections F to H of the aforementioned
annexes, and on methodological issues, by 15 January 1997. A contact
group will be convened during or on the margins of the fifth session
to continue the consideration of the uniform reporting format and of
the list of methodological issues.
75. The SBSTA took note of the update on activities implemented
jointly under the pilot phase.
76. The SBSTA invited Parties participating in the pilot phase of
activities implemented jointly to note that the deadline for the
submission of reports to be taken into account in the synthesis
report for the third session of the Conference of the Parties is 30
June 1997.
77. At its 4th and 5th meetings, on 17 and 18 December,
respectively, the SBSTA considered the item on development and
transfer of technologies.
78. At the 4th meeting, on 17 December, the secretariat provided a
report on the progress achieved on the various issues related to the
development and transfer of technologies.
79. Statements were made by representatives of five Parties,
including one speaking on behalf of the Group of 77 and China, and
another speaking on behalf of the Alliance of Small Island States
(AOSIS).
80. At its 5th meeting, on 18 December, having considered a
proposal made by the Chairman, the SBSTA adopted the following
conclusions.
81. The SBSTA took note with appreciation of progress made by the
secretariat on activities related to the development and transfer of
technologies, and requested the secretariat to intensify work on
these issues.
82. The SBSTA agreed to hold a substantive discussion of these
issues at its next session. In this connection, it looked forward to
considering the report on technology needs of Parties to be prepared
by the secretariat.
83. It recalled the request by the Conference of the Parties at
its second session in its decision 7/CP.2 to non-Annex I Parties to
communicate initial information to the Convention secretariat not
later than 1 December 1996 regarding technologies and know-how
required to address climate change and its adverse effects. In view
of the fact that so far only one non-Annex I Party had submitted
initial information, the SBSTA decided to extend the deadline for
submission to 31 January 1997.
84. At its 5th meeting, on 18 December 1996, the Chairman
presented the draft report on the session (FCCC/SBSTA/1996/L.2). The
SBSTA considered and adopted the draft report. It also requested the
Chairman, with the assistance of the secretariat, to complete the
report taking into account the discussions that had taken place
during the session and the need for editorial
adjustments.
85. A statement was made by a representative of a Party, speaking on behalf of the
Group of 77 and China. This representative expressed concern over
the recommendation by the Bureau of the COP to schedule the fourth
session of the Conference of the Parties for 1999; he referred to
Article 7.4 of the Convention, which states that ordinary sessions of
the Conference of the Parties shall be held every year. He also
referred to Article 4.2(d) on the review of the adequacy of Article
4.2(a) and (b), which stipulates that a second review of
sub-paragraphs 4.2(a) and (b) shall take place not later than 31
December 1998.
86. The Executive Secretary made a statement in which he invited
Parties included in Annex II to the Convention to contribute
generously to the Trust Fund for Participation in the UNFCCC Process
to enable the funding of the participation of one delegate from each
eligible Party in the next round of meetings. With respect to the
scheduling of the fourth session of the Conference of the Parties in
early 1999, he noted that this could be considered by the SBI at its
fifth session. He also noted that Article 7.4 gives the Conference of
the Parties flexibility to decide to schedule its sessions other than
once a year, and that the second review referred to in Article 4.2(d)
could already take place at the third session of the Conference of
the Parties.
87. The Chairman, after thanking all participants for their
constructive cooperation, declared the fourth session of the SBSTA
closed.
The following documents were before the SBSTA at its fourth
session:
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/1996/16/Add.1 Methodological issues. Longer-term
programme of work. Project descriptions
FCCC/SBSTA/1996/17 Activities implemented jointly under the pilot phase.
and Corr.1 Update on activities implemented jointly under the
pilot phase
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/MISC.5/Add.1 Methodological issues. Comments from
a Party
FCCC/SBSTA/1996/L.2 Draft report of the Subsidiary Body for
Scientific and Technological Advice on the work of its fourth
session
FCCC/SB/1996/MISC.4 Provisional list of participants
FCCC/1996/INF.4 Calendar of UNFCCC meetings
FCCC/1996/INF.5 List of participants
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/1996/8 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, held at
Geneva from 9 to 16 July 1996
A/AC.237/NC/1-14 Executive summaries of communications
and FCCC/NC/1-19 from Parties included in Annex I to the
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 by the secretariat
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