Distr.
GENERAL
FCCC/CP/1995/7
24 May 1995
Original: ENGLISH
CONFERENCE OF THE PARTIESFirst session
Berlin, 28 March - 7 April 1995
REPORT OF THE CONFERENCE OF THE PARTIES
ON ITS FIRST SESSION, HELD AT BERLIN FROM 28 MARCH TO 7
APRIL 1995
CONTENTS
PART ONE: PROCEEDINGS
Paragraphs Page
I. OPENING OF THE CONFERENCE
(agenda items 1, 2 and 3(a)) 1-5 6
A. Opening of the session 1 6
B. Election of the President 2-4 6
C. Opening statements 5 7
II. ORGANIZATIONAL MATTERS (agenda item 4) 6-37 8
A. Status of ratification of the Convention 6-8 8
B. Adoption of the rules of procedure 9-14 8
C. Adoption of the agenda 15 9
D. Election of officers other than the President 16-20
12
Paragraphs Page
E. Admission of organizations as observers 21-22 13
F. Organization of work 23-31 13
G. Attendance 32-36 16
H. Documentation 37 18
III. GENERAL STATEMENTS (agenda item 3(b)) 38-42 19
IV. REPORT OF THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL NEGOTIATING
COMMITTEE FOR A FRAMEWORK CONVENTION ON
CLIMATE CHANGE (agenda item 5) 43-44 20
V. MATTERS RELATING TO COMMITMENTS
(agenda item 5(a)) 45-75 21
A. Review of information communicated by Parties
included in Annex I to the Convention 45-47 21
B. Methodological issues 48-49 22
C. Review of the adequacy of Article 4, paragraph 2 (a) and (b)
of the Convention, including proposals related to a
protocol and decisions on follow-up 50-61 22
D. Criteria for joint implementation 62-68 24
E. The roles of the subsidiary bodies established by the
Convention, including their programmes of work and
calendars of meetings 69-71 25
F. Report on implementation 72-73 26
G. First communications from Parties not included in
Annex I to the Convention 74-75 26
Paragraphs Page
VI. MATTERS RELATING TO ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE
FINANCIAL MECHANISM: IMPLEMENTATION OF
ARTICLE 11, PARAGRAPHS 1-4 OF THE CONVENTION
(agenda item 5(b)) 76-84 27
A. Consideration of the maintenance of the interim
arrangements referred to in Article 21, paragraph 3
of the Convention 76-77 27
B. Modalities for the functioning of operational
linkages between the Conference of the Parties
and the operating entity or entities of the
financial mechanism 78-81 27
C. Guidance on programme priorities, eligibility
criteria and policies, and on the determination
of "agreed full incremental costs" 82-84 28
VII. PROVISION TO DEVELOPING COUNTRY PARTIES OF
TECHNICAL AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT (agenda
item 5(c)) 85-88 29
VIII. DESIGNATION OF A PERMANENT SECRETARIAT
AND ARRANGEMENTS FOR ITS FUNCTIONING
(agenda item 5(d)) 89-122 30
A. Institutional linkage 89-93 30
B. Financial procedures 94-99 31
C. Physical location 100-113 32
D. Adoption of the Convention budget for the
biennium 1996-1997 114-118 34
E. Extrabudgetary funding for the interim secretariat in 1995
119-122 36
IX. CONSIDERATION OF THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A
MULTILATERAL CONSULTATIVE PROCESS FOR THE
RESOLUTION OF QUESTIONS REGARDING
IMPLEMENTATION (ARTICLE 13) (agenda item 5(e)) 123-124
37
Paragraphs Page
X. REVIEW OF THE LISTS OF COUNTRIES INCLUDED IN THE
ANNEXES TO THE CONVENTION (agenda item 5(f)) 125 38
XI. MINISTERIAL SEGMENT (agenda item 6) 126-132 39
A. Address by the Chancellor of the
Federal Republic of Germany 126 39
B. Statements by ministers and by other heads
of delegation of Parties 127 39
C. Conclusion of outstanding issues and
adoption of decisions 128-132 39
XII. CONCLUSION OF THE SESSION (agenda item 7) 133-139
41
A. Adoption of the report on credentials 133 41
B. Date and venue of the second session of the
Conference of the Parties 134-135 41
C. Adoption of the report of the Conference
of the Parties on its first session 136 41
D. Closure of the session 137-139 42
Annexes
Page
Annex I Summaries of opening statements (agenda item 3(a))
43
Annex II Summary of the address by the Chancellor of the
Federal Republic of Germany (agenda item 6(a))
48
Annex III Statements by ministers and by other heads of
delegation of Parties during the ministerial segment
of the first session of the Conference of the Parties:
list of speakers (agenda item 6(b)) 52
Annex IV Organizations admitted as observers to the
Conference of the Parties 61
Annex V List of documents before the Conference of the
Parties at its first session 67
PART TWO: ACTION TAKEN BY THE CONFERENCE OF THE PARTIES
AT ITS FIRST
SESSION(1)
I. DECISIONS ADOPTED BY THE CONFERENCE OF THE
PARTIES
II. RESOLUTION ADOPTED BY THE CONFERENCE OF THE
PARTIES
III. OTHER ACTION TAKEN BY THE CONFERENCE OF THE
PARTIES
I. OPENING OF THE CONFERENCE
(Agenda items 1, 2 and 3(a))
A. Opening of the session
1. The first session of the Conference of the Parties,
convened pursuant to Article 7.4 of the United Nations Framework
Convention on Climate Change, was opened at the International
Congress Centre, Berlin, on 28 March 1995 by Mr. Michael Zammit
Cutajar, Executive Secretary, in his capacity as head of the interim
secretariat. Welcoming all participants to the Conference, he thanked
the Government and people of Germany, and the authorities and
citizens of Berlin, for their generosity in hosting the Conference,
and paid tribute to the two Chairmen of the Intergovernmental
Negotiating Committee for a Framework Convention on Climate Change,
Mr. Jean Ripert of France, and Ambassador Raúl Estrada-Oyuela
of Argentina, whose leadership had played such an important part in
the process of negotiation. That process was now in a stage of
transition: the Convention had to stand on its own and the Parties to
the Convention had to shoulder their responsibilities in reaching the
decisions needed to promote its effective
implementation.
B. Election of the President
2. The Executive Secretary informed the Conference that
the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee for a Framework
Convention on Climate Change had received nominations for 11 posts on
the Bureau of the Conference, including the nomination of the head of
the delegation of Germany to preside over the Conference. The latter
nomination corresponded to United Nations practice whereby a
government that was hosting a conference provided the chairperson. It
was to be understood, as well, within the context of the rotation of
the office of President among the five regional groups. Against that
background and in the absence of agreement on the rules of procedure,
the Committee had decided to recommend to the Conference of the
Parties that it elect the head of the delegation of the host country
as President of the Conference at the start of its first session.
Pursuant to that recommendation, the Conference elected by
acclamation Ms. Angela Merkel, Federal Minister for the Environment,
Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety, as President of the
Conference of the Parties.
3. On assuming office, the President of the Conference
made a statement welcoming the participants to Berlin. She stressed
that the first session of the Conference of the Parties was of major
importance in the follow-up process to the United Nations Conference
on Environment and Development at Rio de Janeiro. Considerable
progress had already been made: the Convention had been ratified by
126 countries and the European Community; some 20 industrialized
countries had already submitted national communications; and the
Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee had reached agreement on a
number of important questions. There remained, however, a number of
crucial issues that were as yet unresolved, in particular the
adequacy of the commitments of industrialised countries under the
Convention and the concept of joint implementation, and it was vital
that solutions should be found to those issues at the first session
of the Conference of the Parties in Berlin.
4. Climate protection was one of the most important
challenges to environment policy today and would continue to be so in
the future. Radical changes were needed in patterns of behaviour,
consumption and production and in lifestyles, and those were as much
a part of the quest for sustainable development as innovation and
technological development. There were differences of opinion among
the Parties but a common position had to be established in order to
achieve effective and sustained progress, taking account of our
common but differentiated responsibility. Hence, for the sake of
future generations, it was essential that nations should work
together, in a spirit of international cooperation and global
partnership, to achieve effective and sustainable progress towards
meeting the Convention's objectives. Individual interests must be set
aside and the challenges faced together so that the next step could
be taken for the period beyond 2000, which could in particular
include negotiations for an emission-reduction protocol, and so that
a positive message could emerge from the Berlin Conference.
C. Opening statements
5. At the 1st (opening) plenary meeting, on 28 March, a
message from the Secretary-General of the United Nations was conveyed
to the Conference; and opening statements were made by Ambassador
Lilia R. Bautista of the Philippines, speaking on behalf of the Group
of 77 and China; Ambassador Raúl Estrada-Oyuela of Argentina,
Chairman of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee for a
Framework Convention on Climate Change; Professor G.O.P. Obasi,
Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization; Ms.
Elizabeth Dowdeswell, Executive Director of the United Nations
Environment Programme; Mr. Nitin Desai, Under-Secretary-General for
Policy Coordination and Sustainable Development; Professor Bert
Bolin, Chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, and
Mr. Michael Zammit Cutajar, Executive Secretary of the interim
secretariat. At the 2nd plenary meeting, on 30 March, an opening
statement was made by Mr. James Gustave Speth, Administrator of the
United Nations Development Programme. At the 3rd plenary meeting, on
3 April, opening statements were made by Professor Klaus Töpfer,
Chairman of the United Nations Commission on Sustainable Development,
and Mr. Mohamed El-Ashry, Chief Executive Officer and Chairman of the
Global Environment Facility. Summaries of the above statements are
contained in annex I below.
II. ORGANIZATIONAL MATTERS
(Agenda item 4)
A. Status of ratification of the Convention
(Agenda item 4(a))
6. For its consideration of this sub-item at its 1st
plenary meeting, on 28 March, the Conference had before it an
information document on the status of ratification of the Convention
(FCCC/1995/Inf.2). In introducing the document, the President
expressed her conviction that the process of ratification of the
Convention would continue, and she welcomed the trend towards
universality.
7. At the invitation of the President, the Conference took
note with satisfaction that 115 States and one regional economic
integration organization were Parties to the Convention at the
opening of the session, and that two more States, namely Lao People's
Democratic Republic and Jamaica, would become Parties on 4 and 6
April respectively, thus bringing the total number of Parties to 118
before the closure of the session. It further noted that nine more
States (Central African Republic, Colombia, Kiribati, Latvia,
Lesotho, Lithuania, Oman, Togo and Zaire) had ratified the Convention
but would not become Parties until after the closure of the
session.
8. At the 4th plenary meeting, on 4 April, the President
informed the Conference that Cape Verde had deposited its instrument
of ratification on 29 March 1995. Consequently, the total number of
States and regional economic integration organizations that had
deposited final instruments was 128.
B. Adoption of the rules of procedure
(Agenda item 4(b)
9. At the 1st plenary meeting, on 28 March, the President
informed the Conference that several informal consultations on the
draft rules of procedure had been held between the eleventh session
of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee and the opening of the
Conference. Unfortunately, it had not yet proved possible to reach
agreement. She would, however, take on the responsibility, as
President of the Conference, of carrying forward consultations on
draft rule 42 on decision-making and other outstanding issues, with a
view to adopting the rules of procedure of the Conference of the
Parties and its subsidiary bodies by consensus at the present
session.
10. At the same meeting, the Conference, on the proposal
of the President, decided to apply the draft rules contained in
document A/AC.237/L.22/Rev.2, as amended by document FCCC/CP/1995/2,
with the exception of draft rule 42. One representative stated that
the application of the draft rules of procedure should not be
interpreted as prejudicing his delegation's proposal with regard to
draft rule 22. Another representative requested that a time limit
should be set on the informal consultations, and it was agreed that
the President would report back to the Conference on the outcome of
the informal consultations at the beginning of the second week of the
session.
11. At the 3rd plenary meeting, on 3 April, the President
informed the Conference that she was pursuing her consultations on
the rules of procedure, and that she proposed to take up that item,
as well as the item on election of other officers of subsidiary
bodies, as soon as her consultations were completed.
12. At its 10th plenary meeting, on 7 April, on the
proposal of the President, the Conference agreed to transmit the
draft rules of procedure, as contained in document
A/AC.237/L.22/Rev.2 under cover of document FCCC/CP/1995/2, to its
second session for further consideration.
13. The representative of Saudi Arabia expressed the view
that, as the draft rules of procedure had not yet been adopted and
were being applied provisionally, the officers that had been elected
pursuant to draft rule 22 should not be regarded as constituting the
Bureau of the Conference.
14. The President stated that, as the draft rules of
procedure were being applied, with the exception of draft rule 42,
the Bureau should be considered as constituted and would continue to
serve in accordance with rule 22, paragraphs 1 and 2, without
prejudice to the concerns of a number of delegations with regard to
that rule. She gave an assurance that the rules of procedure would be
the subject of intensive consultations, under her guidance, with a
view to advancing consensus before the second session of the
Conference of the Parties.
C. Adoption of the agenda
(Agenda item 4(c))
15. At its 1st plenary meeting, on 28 March, the
Conference adopted the following agenda:
1. Opening of the Conference.
2. Election of the President.
3. Statements:
(a) Statements at the opening of the session;
(b) Other statements.
4. Organizational matters:
(a) Status of ratification of the Convention;
(b) Adoption of the rules of procedure;
(c) Adoption of the agenda;
(d) Election of officers other than the President;
(e) Admission of organizations as observers;
(f) Organization of work, including the establishment
of a
Committee of the Whole.
5. Report of the Intergovernmental Negotiating
Committee for a Framework Convention on Climate Change:
recommendations to the Conference of the Parties and other decisions
and conclusions requiring action by the Conference of the
Parties:
(a) Matters relating to commitments:
(i) Review of information communicated by each Party
included in Annex I to the Convention;
(ii) Methodological issues;
(iii) Review of the adequacy of Article 4, paragraph
2(a) and (b) of the Convention, including proposals related to a
protocol and decisions on follow-up;
(iv) Criteria for joint implementation;
(v) The roles of the subsidiary bodies established by
the Convention, including their programmes of work and calendars of
meetings;
(vi) Report on implementation;
(vii) First communications from Parties not included in
Annex I to the Convention;
(b) Matters relating to arrangements for the financial
mechanism: implementation of Article 11, paragraphs 1-4 of the
Convention, including:
(i) Consideration of the maintenance of the interim
arrangements referred to in Article 21, paragraph 3 of the
Convention;
(ii) Modalities for the functioning of operational
linkages between the Conference of the Parties and the operating
entity or entities of the financial mechanism;
(iii) Guidance on programme priorities, eligibility
criteria and policies, and on the determination of "agreed full
incremental costs";
(c) Provision to developing country Parties of
technical and financial support;
(d) Designation of a permanent secretariat and
arrangements for its functioning:
(i) Institutional linkage;
(ii) Financial procedures;
(iii) Physical location;
(iv) Adoption of the Convention budget for the biennium
1996-1997;
(v) Extrabudgetary funding for the interim secretariat
in 1995;
(e) Consideration of the establishment of a
multilateral consultative process for the resolution of questions
regarding implementation (Article 13);
(f) Review of the lists of countries included in the
Annexes to the Convention.
6. Ministerial segment:
(a) Address by the Chancellor of the Federal Republic
of Germany;
(b) Statements by ministers and by other heads of
delegation of Parties;
(c) Conclusion of outstanding issues and adoption of
decisions.
7. Conclusion of the session:
(a) Adoption of the report on credentials;
(b) Date and venue of the second session of the
Conference of the Parties;
(c) Adoption of the report of the Conference of the
Parties on its first session and closure of the session.
D. Election of officers other than the President
(Agenda item 4(d))
16. At its 1st plenary meeting, on 28 March, the
Conference elected by acclamation the following officers to serve on
its Bureau:
Vice-Presidents
Mr. John Ashe (Antigua and Barbuda)
Mr. Raúl Estrada-Oyuela (Argentina)
Ms. Penelope Wensley (Australia)
Mr. T.P. Sreenivasan (India)
Mr. Takao Shibata (Japan)
Mr. A.L. Bedritsky (Russian Federation)
Mr. Tuiloma Neroni Slade (Samoa)
Chairman of the Subsidiary Body for
Implementation
Mr. Mohamed M. Ould El Ghaouth (Mauritania)
Chairman of the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and
Technological Advice
Mr. Tibor Faragó (Hungary)
Rapporteur
Ms. Rungano Karimanzira (Zimbabwe)
17. At its 10th plenary meeting, on 7 April, the
Conference elected the following officers of the subsidiary
bodies:
Subsidiary Body for Implementation
Vice-Chairman: Mr. Bert Metz (Netherlands)
Rapporteur: Mr. Jorge Benavides de la Sotta
(Peru)
Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological
Advice
Vice-Chairman: Mr. Soobaraj Nayroo Sok Appadu (Mauritius)
Rapporteur: Mr. Victor E. Chub (Uzbekistan)
18. At the same meeting, the Conference designated Mr.
Raúl Estrada-Oyuela (Argentina), Vice-President of the
Conference, as Chairman of the open-ended ad hoc group of Parties
established in paragraph 6 of decision 1/CP.1, authorizing him to
undertake consultations with the regional groups in respect of
nominations for the Bureau of the ad hoc group.
19. The spokesman for the African group, stating that his
group would submit such a nomination, proposed that the Chairman of
the Subsidiary Body for Implementation should be ex officio
member of the Bureau of the ad hoc group.
20. The President, referring to the establishment, in
paragraph 1 of decision 20/CP.1, of an ad hoc open-ended working
group of technical and legal experts on Article 13 of the Convention,
said that she would undertake consultations on the designation of the
Chairman of that ad hoc group.
E. Admission of organizations as observers
(Agenda item 4(e))
21. At its 1st plenary meeting, on 28 March, the
Conference, pursuant to recommendation 2, paragraph (c), of the
Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee, admitted the
intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations listed in
annexes I and II of document FCCC/CP/1995/3 as observers to the
Conference (see annex IV below).
22. At its 3rd plenary meeting, on 3 April, the
Conference, on the proposal of the President, agreed that the
secretariat should invite to the future sessions of the Conference
and of its subsidiary bodies all intergovernmental and
non-governmental organizations admitted at the present session and at
future sessions, unless an objection was raised to any particular
organization in accordance with the Convention and the rules of
procedure. Consequently, all the organizations admitted at the
present session would be invited to the second and subsequent
sessions, and the procedure for admission to the second session would
apply only to new applicants.
F. Organization of work
(Agenda item 4(f))
23. At its 1st plenary meeting, on 28 March, the
Conference, pursuant to the recommendation of the Intergovernmental
Negotiating Committee at its tenth session, approved the organization
of the session in two segments: a segment at the level of senior
officials, from 28 March to 4 April, during which Parties could
advance negotiations on any issues that were not resolved at the
eleventh session of the Committee and prepare decisions thereon; and
a ministerial segment, from 5 to 7 April 1995, during which the
Conference would finalize discussions and adopt decisions. On the
proposal of the President, the Conference agreed that the time limit
for statements during the ministerial segment should be set at five
minutes.
24. Pursuant to recommendation 2, paragraph (a), of the
Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee, the Conference established a
sessional Committee of the Whole, to be chaired by Ambassador
Raúl Estrada-Oyuela, Vice-President of the Conference, and
open to the participation of all delegations, which would have the
task of recommending decisions on outstanding issues for adoption by
the Conference and whose Chairman would have the authority to
delegate work, as appropriate, to drafting groups. In that
connection, the Conference endorsed the recommendation of the
Committee that not more than two meetings should be held
simultaneously.
25. On the proposal of the President, the Conference
allocated to the Committee of the Whole sub-items (a)(iii), (a)(iv),
(a)(v), (b)(iii) and (d) of agenda item 5, in respect of which
consensus had not been reached or some work remained outstanding,
with a request that the Committee complete the work undertaken by the
Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on those topics. The
Conference further agreed that the decisions recommended by the
Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee in its recommendations 1, 3,
4, 5, 7, 9, 10 and 11 would be referred directly to the ministerial
segment of the Conference for adoption under agenda item 6(c). In the
event that modifications might prove necessary to ensure consistency
with other decisions taken by the Conference, the Chairman of the
Committee of the Whole was requested to take responsibility for
proposing such modifications, in consultation, as appropriate, with
the Chairmen of the subsidiary bodies.
26. The President, referring to recommendation 3 on
national communications from Annex I Parties, noted that some
reservations had been made on the adoption of that recommendation by
the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee. She expressed the hope
that those Parties with economies in transition which had
reservations regarding the decision contained in recommendation 3
would be able to accept a formula whereby their particular
circumstances would be taken into account in the future communication
process.
27. The Conference approved the tentative schedule of
plenary meetings contained in annex II to document FCCC/CP/1995/1, as
orally amended by the Executive Secretary, and agreed that the
schedule of meetings for the Committee of the Whole should be
determined by the Committee itself.
28. At the 3rd plenary meeting, on 3 April, the Chairman
of the Committee of the Whole made an interim report to the
Conference on the state of progress of work on the items under
consideration in the Committee of the Whole.
29. At the same meeting, on the proposal of the President,
the Conference agreed that, in addition to the recommendations of the
Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee referred to in paragraph 25
above, action should be taken under agenda item 6(c) on the following
matters, on which conclusions had been reached by the
Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee at its tenth and eleventh
sessions:
(a) the modalities for the functioning of operational
linkages between the Conference of the Parties and the operating
entity or entities of the financial mechanism (agenda item
5(b)(ii));
(b) the provision to developing country Parties of
technical and financial support (agenda item 5(c)); and
(c) the establishment of a multilateral consultative
process for the resolution of questions regarding implementation
(agenda item 5(e)).
30. At the 4th plenary meeting, on 4 April, the Chairman
of the Committee of the Whole made a further report on the progress
of work in the Committee. He informed the Conference that the
Committee had reached agreement on two draft decisions relating to
item 5(d)(iv) on adoption of the Convention budget for the biennium
1996-1997, and one draft decision relating to item 5(d)(v) on
extrabudgetary funding for the interim secretariat in 1995, for
adoption under agenda item 6(c). He also informed the Conference that
there had been discussions in the Committee of the Whole on a draft
decision on transfer of technology that had been submitted by the
Group of 77 and China, resulting in an agreement to recommend the
draft decision, as amended, to the Conference for adoption under
agenda item 6(c). In that connection two delegations had requested
him to report to the Conference that they had not been given an
opportunity to express their concerns in respect of the approval of
that draft decision.
31. At the 10th plenary meeting, on 7 April, the Chairman
of the Committee of the Whole reported to the Conference on the
outcome of the work of the Committee, and presented a number of draft
decisions which the Committee of the Whole had recommended for
adoption by the Conference of the Parties under agenda item 6(c). The
President expressed appreciation of the work accomplished by the
Committee of the Whole and of the important contributions of the
Chairman of the Committee of the Whole, the Chairman of the
Subsidiary Body for Implementation and Ambassador Bo Kjellén
of Sweden in the negotiations.
G. Attendance
32. The first session of the Conference of the Parties was
attended by representatives of the following 116 Parties to the
United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change:
Albania
Algeria
Antigua and Barbuda
Argentina
Armenia
Australia
Austria
Bahamas
Bahrain
Bangladesh
Barbados
Belize
Benin
Bolivia
Botswana
Brazil
Burkina Faso
Cameroon
Canada
Chad
Chile
China
Comoros
Cook Islands
Costa Rica
Côte d'Ivoire
Cuba
Czech Republic
Democratic People's
Republic of Korea
Denmark
Dominica
Ecuador
Egypt
Estonia
Ethiopia
European Community
Fiji
Finland
France
Gambia
Georgia
Germany
Greece
Grenada
Guinea
Guyana
Hungary
Iceland
India
Indonesia
Ireland
Italy
Jamaica
Japan
Jordan
Kenya
Kuwait
Lao People's Democratic
Republic
Lebanon
Liechtenstein
Luxembourg
Malawi
Malaysia
Maldives
Mali
Malta
Marshall Islands
Mauritania
Mauritius
Mexico
Micronesia (Federated
States of)
Monaco
Mongolia
Myanmar
Nauru
Nepal
Netherlands
New Zealand
Nigeria
Norway
Pakistan
Papua New Guinea
Paraguay
Peru
Philippines
Poland
Portugal
Republic of Korea
Romania
Russian Federation
Saint Kitts and Nevis
Saint Lucia
Samoa
Saudi Arabia
Senegal
Seychelles
Slovakia
Solomon Islands
Spain
Sri Lanka
Sweden
Switzerland
Thailand
Trinidad and Tobago
Tunisia
Tuvalu
Uganda
United Kingdom of
Great Britain and
Northern Ireland
United States of
America
Uruguay
Uzbekistan
Vanuatu
Venezuela
Viet Nam
Zambia
Zimbabwe
33. The session was also attended by observers from the
following States not parties to the Convention:
Angola
Belgium
Bhutan
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Bulgaria
Burundi
Cambodia
Cape Verde
Central African Republic
Colombia
Croatia
Cyprus
Djibouti
Dominican Republic
El Salvador
Equatorial Guinea
Gabon
Ghana
Guinea-Bissau
Haiti
Holy See
Honduras
Iran (Islamic Republic of)
Israel
Kiribati
Latvia
Lesotho
Liberia
Libyan Arab
Jamahiriya
Lithuania
Morocco
Mozambique
Namibia
Nicaragua
Niger
Oman
Qatar
Republic of Moldova
Rwanda
Sao Tome and Principe
Sierra Leone
Slovenia
South Africa
Swaziland
Syrian Arab Republic
The former Yugoslav
Republic of Macedonia
Togo
Turkey
Ukraine
United Arab Emirates
United Republic of
Tanzania
Yemen
Zaire
34. The following United Nations offices and programmes
were represented:
United Nations Department for Policy Coordination and
Sustainable Development (DPCSD)
Interim Secretariat of the Intergovernmental Negotiating
Committee for a Convention
to Combat Desertification (DPCSD/INCD)
United Nations Department for Economic and Social
Information and Policy Analysis (UN/DESIPA)
United Nations Conference on Trade and Development
(UNCTAD)
United Nations Development Programme (UNDP)
Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of
Wild Animals (UNEP/CMS)
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
United Nations Institute for Training and Research
(UNITAR)
Economic Commission for Europe (ECE).
35. The following specialized agencies and other
organizations of the United Nations system were represented:
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
(FAO)
United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization (UNESCO)
Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission (UNESCO/IOC)
World Bank
Global Environment Facility of the World Bank/UNDP/UNEP
(GEF)
World Meteorological Organization (WMO)
WMO/UNEP Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC)
United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)
International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
36. For a list of the intergovernmental and
non-governmental organizations attending the Conference, see annex IV
below.
H. Documentation
37. The documents before the Conference of the Parties at
its first session are listed in annex V below.
III. GENERAL STATEMENTS
(Agenda item 3(b))
38. At the 3rd plenary meeting, on 3 April, a statement on
national communications was made by the representative of the Russian
Federation.
39. At the 2nd and 3rd plenary meetings, on 30 March and 3
April, statements were made by the representatives of the following
observer States: Israel, South Africa and Ukraine, the latter by the
Minister for Environmental Protection and Nuclear Safety. At the 8th
plenary meeting, on 6 April, a statement was made by the observer for
Colombia. At the 9th plenary meeting, on 7 April, a statement was
made by the observer for Turkey, setting out his country's position
as detailed in document FCCC/CP/1995/Misc.5.
40. Statements were also made by the representatives of
the World Bank, the United Nations Industrial Development
Organization (UNIDO) and of the United Nations Educational,
Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), the Executive
Secretary of the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of
UNESCO, the Executive Secretary of the interim secretariat of the
Convention to Combat Desertification and the representative of the
Economic Commission for Europe.
41. Statements were made by representatives of the
following intergovernmental organizations: International Energy
Agency, and South Pacific Regional Environment
Programme.
42. Statements were also made by the Mayor of Kampala,
Uganda (on behalf of the Second Municipal Leaders' Summit on Climate
Change, sponsored by the International Council for Local
Environmental Initiatives, a non-governmental organization); by a
member of the Philippine delegation (on behalf of the East Asia and
Pacific Parliamentarians Conference on Environment and Development, a
non-governmental organization); and by the representatives of the
following non-governmental organizations: Climate Action Network
Pacific (on behalf of the environmental non-governmental
organizations attending the Conference); Climate Network Europe (on
behalf of the international youth campaign, Climate is Ripe for a
Change); Global Legislators Organisation for a Balanced Environment;
and International Chamber of Commerce (on behalf of the business
non-governmental organizations attending the
Conference).
IV. REPORT OF THE INTERGOVERNMENTAL NEGOTIATING COMMITTEE
FOR A FRAMEWORK CONVENTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE
(Agenda item 5)
43. At the 1st plenary meeting, on 28 March, the report of
the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee for a Framework
Convention on Climate Change on the work of its eleventh session,
held at New York from 6 to 17 February 1995 (A/AC.237/91 and Add.1)
was introduced by the Chairman of the Intergovernmental Negotiating
Committee.
44. At the 10th plenary meeting, on 7 April, the President
paid tribute to the significant amount of substantive work
accomplished by the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee, which
had cleared the way for the important political negotiations
undertaken by the Conference of the Parties at its first session. On
the proposal of the President, the Conference of the Parties took
note, with appreciation, of the above-mentioned report of the
Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee.
V. MATTERS RELATING TO COMMITMENTS
(Agenda item 5(a))
A. Review of information communicated by Parties
included in
Annex I to the Convention
(Agenda item 5(a)(i))
45. At its 1st plenary meeting, on 28 March, the
Conference agreed that action on the decision on preparation and
submission of national communications from the Parties included in
Annex I to the Convention, recommended by the Intergovernmental
Negotiating Committee in its recommendation 3, and the decision on
review of first communications from the Parties included in Annex I
to the Convention, recommended by the Committee in its recommendation
4, should be taken under agenda item 6(c).
46. At its 10th plenary meeting, on 7 April, the
Conference adopted, under agenda item 6(c), decision 2/CP.1 on the
review of first communications from the Parties included in Annex I
to the Convention, and decision 3/CP.1 on the preparation and
submission of national communications from the Parties included in
Annex I to the Convention, the texts of which are contained in Part
Two, section I, of this report.
47. On the adoption of decision 3/CP.1, the representative
of Poland (speaking also on behalf of Estonia and Hungary) said that
the present guidelines for national communications might cause
problems to Annex I Parties undergoing the process of transition to a
market economy related to scarcity of resources and availability of
adequate data. That might require a certain degree of flexibility for
those Parties in applying the provisions of paragraph 2 of the
decision. It was for that reason that Poland and two other Parties
with economies in transition had expressed reservations with regard
to recommendation 3 of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee.
When discussing the organization of work of the Conference, the
President had expressed the hope that the countries that had
expressed reservations would be able to accept a formula whereby
those countries' particular circumstances would be taken into account
in the future communication process (see para. 26 above). The
representative of Poland wished to confirm that the countries in
question agreed to that proposal, on the understanding that the
Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice would
consider appropriate adjustments to the guidelines and procedures for
national communications.
B. Methodological issues
(Agenda item 5(a)(ii))
48. At its 1st plenary meeting, on 28 March, the
Conference agreed that action on the decision on methodological
issues, recommended by the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee in
its recommendation 7, should be taken under agenda item
6(c).
49. At its 10th plenary meeting, on 7 April, the
Conference adopted, under agenda item 6(c), decision 4/CP.1 on
methodological issues, the text of which is contained in Part Two,
section I, of this report.
C. Review of the adequacy of Article 4, paragraph 2 (a)
and (b) of the Convention,
including proposals related to a protocol and decisions
on follow-up
(Agenda item 5(a)(iii))
50. At its 1st plenary meeting, on 28 March, the
Conference decided to refer this sub-item to the Committee of the
Whole. The Committee of the Whole considered the sub-item at its 2nd,
3rd and 4th meetings, on 29 and 30 March. In addition to the
information provided by the IPCC, which was relevant to this
sub-item, the Committee had before it the following
documents:
(a) Report of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee
for a Framework Convention on Climate Change on the work of its
eleventh session, held at New York from 6 to 17 February 1995
(A/AC.237/91 and Add.1);
(b) Conclusions reached at the ninth and tenth sessions of
the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee (FCCC/CP/1995/Misc.1,
part II);
(c) The proposal for a protocol to the Convention on
greenhouse gas emissions reduction presented by Trinidad and Tobago,
on behalf of the Alliance of Small Island States
(A/AC.237/L.23);
(d) Proposals for further elements of a protocol to the
Convention submitted by Germany (A/AC.237/L.23/Add.1);
(e) Comments from Parties and other member States at the
eleventh session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee
(FCCC/CP/1995/Misc.1, part I, and Misc.1/Add.1);
(f) Review of the adequacy of commitments in Article 4,
paragraph 2(a) and (b): annotated compilation (A/AC.237/83);
and
(g) Compilation and synthesis of national communications
from Annex I Parties (A/AC.237/81 and Corr.1).
51. Introductory statements were made by the Chairman and
the representative of the interim secretariat, as well as by the
Chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, who
responded to questions raised. Statements under this sub-item were
made by representatives of 42 Parties, including one speaking on
behalf of the Group of 77 and China, one speaking on behalf of the
Alliance of Small Island States, one speaking on behalf of the
European Community, and one speaking on behalf of the African States.
Statements were also made by the representatives of two observer
States.
52. At its 4th meeting, on 30 March, the Committee decided
to constitute an open-ended consultation group on this sub-item, to
be convened by Ambassador Bo Kjellén of Sweden, and requested
the group to report back to the Committee as soon as
possible.
53. At the 9th plenary meeting, on 7 April, the President
informed the Conference that the open-ended consultation group
referred to above had not completed its work in time to report back
to the Committee of the Whole, and that she had held informal
consultations on a text developed in that group but still containing
a number of square brackets. As a result of those consultations, she
was now in a position to submit to the Conference, for its
consideration, a draft decision on review of the adequacy of Article
4, paragraph 2 (a) and (b) of the Convention, including proposals
related to a protocol and decisions on follow-up
(FCCC/CP/1995/L.14).
54. At the same meeting, the Conference of the Parties
adopted, under agenda item 6(c), decision 1/CP.1 on review of the
adequacy of Article 4, paragraph 2 (a) and (b) of the Convention,
including proposals related to a protocol and decisions on follow-up,
the text of which is contained in Part Two, section I, of this
report.
55. On the adoption of decision 1/CP.1, the representative
of India, recalling that his delegation, on behalf of a large number
of developing countries, had submitted the draft text (known as "the
green paper") which had formed the basis for discussion in the
open-ended consultation group, said that the "green paper" was a rare
example of cooperation between government representatives and
non-governmental organizations. He expressed his satisfaction that
decision 1/CP.1 had achieved the goal of providing a mandate for a
process that would lead to a strengthening of the commitments of
Annex I Parties and would not seek to introduce any new commitments
for developing country Parties.
56. The representative of France, speaking on behalf of
the European Community, stated that, in accordance with the
conclusions of the Council of Ministers of the European Union on 9
March 1995, the European Union and its member States understood that
the wording "developed country/other Parties" in subparagraph 2(a) of
decision 1/CP.1 must be interpreted as "developed country and/or
other Parties" and meant that that subparagraph applied to Annex I
Parties within the European Community, individually or jointly among
themselves, in accordance with Article 4.2 (a) and (b) of the
Convention.
57. On the proposal of the representative of the United
States of America, the Conference agreed that decision 1/CP.1 should
be known as the Berlin Mandate.
58. The representative of Samoa, speaking on behalf of the
Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), expressed its reservation on
the text in paragraph 5 of decision 1/CP.1 and its understanding that
the AOSIS protocol proposal, formally submitted in accordance with
Article 17 of the Convention, should form the basis for the process
established by that decision.
59. The representatives of Fiji, Malaysia, the Maldives,
the Marshall Islands, Mauritius and Papua New Guinea all associated
themselves with the above statement and expressed their
disappointment that the Conference had not been able to agree on
specific reduction targets and on a clearer mandate for the
forthcoming negotiations.
60. The representatives of Kuwait, Saudi Arabia and
Venezuela formally expressed their reservations on the decision
adopted, stating that full consideration had not been given to
meeting the specific needs and concerns of their countries in
accordance with the Convention and the practice of the United
Nations.
61. Statements were made by the representatives of two
observer States, namely, the Islamic Republic of Iran and the United
Arab Emirates.
D. Criteria for joint implementation
(Agenda item 5(a)(iv))
62. At its 1st plenary meeting, on 28 March, the
Conference decided to refer this sub-item to the Committee of the
Whole. The Committee of the Whole considered the sub-item at its 4th,
8th and 9th meetings, on 30 March and 4 and 6 April.
63. The Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee, having
discussed criteria for joint implementation at its eighth, ninth,
tenth and eleventh sessions, recommended that the Conference of the
Parties at its first session continue consideration of the subject,
taking into account comments made and views expressed by delegations,
including the draft texts proposed by the Group of 77 and China, the
European Community and its member States, and the United States of
America (A/AC.237/91/Add.1, recommendation 6, annexes I, II and
III).
64. Statements under this sub-item were made by the
Chairman and by representatives of 28 Parties, including one speaking
on behalf of the Group of 77 and China, one speaking on behalf of the
European Community, and one speaking on behalf of the African States.
A statement was also made by the representative of an observer
State.
65. At its 8th meeting, on 4 April, the Committee of the
Whole, on the proposal of the Chairman, decided to establish a
working group, under the chairmanship of Mr. Mohamed M. Ould El
Ghaouth, Chairman of the Subsidiary Body for Implementation, to carry
out informal open-ended consultations on joint
implementation.
66. At the 9th meeting, on 6 April, the Chairman informed
the Committee of the Whole that a consensus had been reached in the
working group. At the same meeting, the Committee of the Whole
recommended a draft decision on activities implemented jointly under
the pilot phase (FCCC/CP/1995/L.13) for adoption by the Conference of
the Parties under agenda item 6(c).
67. The representative of Brazil reaffirmed his
Government's continued belief that activities implemented jointly
were only an additional and supplemental means of implementing the
Convention and should not be linked to the fulfilment of mitigation
targets by Annex I Parties.
68. At its 10th plenary meeting, on 7 April, the
Conference of the Parties adopted, under agenda item 6(c), decision
5/CP.1 on activities implemented jointly under the pilot phase, the
text of which is contained in Part Two, section I, of this report.
E. The roles of the subsidiary bodies established by
the Convention,
including their programmes of work and calendars of
meetings
(Agenda item 5(a)(v))
69. At its 1st plenary meeting, on 28 March, the
Conference decided to refer this sub-item to the Committee of the
Whole, requesting the Chairman of the Committee, in consultation with
the Chairmen of the two subsidiary bodies, once elected, to make
proposals for updating the decision recommended by the
Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee in its recommendation 8,
without reopening the substance of what had already been agreed. The
Committee of the Whole considered the sub-item at its 5th and 7th
meetings, on 31 March and 3 April. Statements under this sub-item
were made by the Chairman and by representatives of three
Parties.
70. At the 7th meeting of the Committee, on 3 April,
the Committee recommended a draft decision on the subsidiary bodies
established by the Convention (FCCC/CP/1995/L.5/Rev.1) for adoption
by the Conference of the Parties under agenda item 6(c).
71. At its 10th plenary meeting, on 7 April, the
Conference of the Parties adopted, under agenda item 6(c), decision
6/CP.1 on the subsidiary bodies established by the Convention, the
text of which is contained in Part Two, section I, of this
report.
F. Report on implementation
(Agenda item 5(a)(vi))
72. At its 1st plenary meeting, on 28 March, the
Conference agreed that action on the decision on the report on
implementation, recommended by the Intergovernmental Negotiating
Committee in its recommendation 1, should be taken under agenda item
6(c).
73. At its 10th plenary meeting, on 7 April, the
Conference of the Parties adopted, under agenda item 6(c), decision
7/CP.1 on the report on implementation, the text of which is
contained in Part Two, section I, of this report.
G. First communications from Parties not included in
Annex I to the Convention
(Agenda item 5(a)(vii))
74. At its 1st plenary meeting, on 28 March, the
Conference agreed that action on the decision on first communications
from Parties not included in Annex I to the Convention, recommended
by the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee in its recommendation
5, should be taken under agenda item 6(c).
75. At its 10th plenary meeting, on 7 April, the
Conference of the Parties adopted, under agenda item 6(c), decision
8/CP.1 on first communications from Parties not included in Annex I
to the Convention, the text of which is contained in Part Two,
section I, of this report.
VI. MATTERS RELATING TO ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE FINANCIAL
MECHANISM: IMPLEMENTATION OF ARTICLE 11,
PARAGRAPHS 1-4 OF THE CONVENTION
(Agenda item 5(b))
A. Consideration of the maintenance of the interim
arrangements referred to in
Article 21, paragraph 3 of the Convention
(Agenda item 5(b)(i))
76. At its 1st plenary meeting, on 28 March, the
Conference agreed that action on the decision on maintenance of the
interim arrangements referred to in Article 21, paragraph 3, of the
Convention, recommended by the Intergovernmental Negotiating
Committee in its recommendation 9, should be taken under agenda item
6(c).
77. At its 10th plenary meeting, on 7 April, the
Conference of the Parties adopted, under agenda item 6(c), decision
9/CP.1 on maintenance of the interim arrangements referred to in
Article 21, paragraph 3, of the Convention, the text of which is
contained in Part Two, section I, of this report.
B. Modalities for the functioning of operational
linkages between the
Conference of the Parties and the operating entity or
entities of
the financial mechanism
(Agenda item 5(b)(ii))
78. At its 1st plenary meeting, on 28 March, the
Conference agreed that action on the decision on arrangements between
the Conference of the Parties and the operating entity or entities of
the financial mechanism, recommended by the Intergovernmental
Negotiating Committee in its recommendation 10, should be taken under
agenda item 6(c).
79. At its 3rd plenary meeting, on 3 April, the Conference
agreed that action on the conclusions on modalities for the
functioning of operational linkages between the Conference of the
Parties and the operating entity or entities of the financial
mechanism, agreed by the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee at
its tenth session, should be taken under agenda item
6(c).
80. At its 10th plenary meeting, on 7 April, the
Conference of the Parties adopted, under agenda item 6(c), decision
10/CP.1 on arrangements between the Conference of the Parties and the
operating entity or entities of the financial mechanism, the text of
which is contained in Part Two, section I, of this
report.
81. At the same meeting, the Conference endorsed the
conclusions on modalities for the functioning of operational linkages
between the Conference of the Parties and the operating entity or
entities of the financial mechanism, agreed by the Intergovernmental
Negotiating Committee at its tenth session. For the text of those
conclusions, see Part Two, section III, of this report.
C. Guidance on programme priorities, eligibility
criteria and policies,
and on the determination of "agreed full incremental
costs"
(Agenda item 5(b)(iii))
82. At its 1st plenary meeting, on 28 March, the
Conference agreed that action on the decision on initial guidance on
policies, programme priorities and eligibility criteria to the
operating entity or entities of the financial mechanism, recommended
by the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee in its recommendation
11, should be taken under agenda item 6(c). It also decided, in view
of the fact that a new need for guidance had arisen from the report
of the GEF, as the interim operating entity, on the development of an
operational strategy in the climate change area and on the initial
activities of the GEF in that field, to refer this sub-item to the
Committee of the Whole in that regard.
83. The Committee considered this sub-item at its 4th
meeting, on 30 March. It had before it the report of the GEF to the
Conference of the Parties on the development of an operational
strategy and on initial activities in the field of climate change
(FCCC/CP/1995/4). The Committee recommended a draft decision entitled
"Report of the Global Environment Facility to the Conference of the
Parties on the development of an operational strategy and on initial
activities in the field of climate change" (FCCC/CP/1995/L.1) for
adoption by the Conference of the Parties under agenda item
6(c).
84. At its 10th plenary meeting, on 7 April, the
Conference of the Parties adopted, under agenda item 6(c), decision
11/CP.1 on initial guidance on policies, programme priorities and
eligibility criteria to the operating entity or entities of the
financial mechanism, and decision 12/CP.1 on report of the Global
Environment Facility to the Conference of the Parties on the
development of an operational strategy and on initial activities in
the field of climate change, the texts of which are contained in Part
Two, section I, of this report.
VII. PROVISION TO DEVELOPING COUNTRY PARTIES OF TECHNICAL
AND FINANCIAL SUPPORT
(Agenda item 5(c))
85. At its 3rd plenary meeting, on 3 April, the Conference
agreed that action relating to the conclusions of the
Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee at its eleventh session on
provision to developing country Parties of technical and financial
support should be taken under agenda item 6(c).
86. At the 4th plenary meeting, on 4 April, the Chairman
of the Committee of the Whole informed the Conference that there had
been discussions in the Committee of the Whole on a draft decision on
transfer of technology that had been submitted by the Group of 77 and
China, resulting in an agreement to recommend that draft decision, as
amended (FCCC/CP/1995/L.10), for adoption by the Conference of the
Parties under agenda item 6(c).
87. At its 10th plenary meeting, on 7 April, the
Conference of the Parties adopted, under agenda item 6(c) decision
13/CP.1 on transfer of technology, the text of which is contained in
Part Two, section I, of this report.
88. At the same meeting, the Conference of the Parties
took note of the following conclusion reached in Working Group II of
the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee at its eleventh session:
"Bearing in mind the views expressed by representatives, and without
prejudice to the guidance that the Conference of the Parties may
provide in the future, the interim secretariat was requested to
continue to facilitate the provision of technical and financial
support to Parties, in cooperation with its partners, and to
periodically report back to the Conference of the Parties on progress
achieved, so that further guidance could be provided" (see Part Two,
section III(b), of this report).
VIII. DESIGNATION OF A PERMANENT SECRETARIAT AND
ARRANGEMENTS FOR ITS FUNCTIONING
(Agenda item 5(d))
A. Institutional linkage
(Agenda item 5(d)(i))
89. At its 1st plenary meeting, on 28 March, the
Conference decided to refer this sub-item to the Committee of the
Whole. It had before it the following documents:
(a) Report of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee
on its eleventh session (A/AC.237/91/Add. 1, section II, conclusions
(i) and (j));
(b) Designation of a permanent secretariat and
arrangements for its functioning: note by the Executive Secretary
(FCCC/CP/1995/5);
(c) Advice by the Secretary-General of the United Nations
on an institutional arrangement for the permanent secretariat
(A/AC.237/79/Add.1); and
(d) Understanding on support for the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change and cooperation with the
Convention secretariat (A/AC.237/79/Add.6).
90. The Committee considered this sub-item at its 1st and
6th meetings, on 28 March and 1 April. At its 6th meeting, on 1
April, the Chairman introduced a draft decision on institutional
linkage (FCCC/CP/1995/L.3). The representative of France, speaking on
behalf of the European Community, stated that the draft decision
would in due course need to be supplemented by action taken on
proposals from the Secretary-General of the United Nations concerning
an arrangement for administrative support to the Convention
secretariat.
91. At its 6th meeting, on 1 April, the Committee
recommended the draft decision on institutional linkage
(FCCC/CP/1995/L.3) for adoption by the Conference of the Parties
under agenda item 6(c).
92. At the 9th meeting of the Committee of the Whole, on 6
April, the Executive Secretary made a statement introducing a note by
the Secretary-General of the United Nations on an institutional
arrangement for the permanent secretariat (FCCC/CP/1995/5/Add.4).
After informal consultations, a revised draft decision was submitted
by the Chairman of the Committee of the Whole
(FCCC/CP/1995/L.3/Rev.1).
93. At its 10th plenary meeting, on 7 April, the
Conference of the Parties adopted, under agenda item 6(c), decision
14/CP.1 on the institutional linkage of the Convention secretariat to
the United Nations, the text of which is contained in Part Two,
section I, of this report.
.
B. Financial procedures
(Agenda item 5(d)(ii))
94. At its 1st plenary meeting, on 28 March, the
Conference decided to refer this sub-item to the Committee of the
Whole. It had before it the following documents:
(a) Report of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee
on its eleventh session (A/AC.237/91/Add. 1, section II, conclusion
(k));
(b) Designation of a permanent secretariat and
arrangements for its functioning: note by the Executive Secretary
(FCCC/CP/1995/5); and
(c) Indicative scales of contribution to the
administrative budget of the Convention for 1996 and 1997
(FCCC/CP/1995/5/Add.1/Rev.1);
95. The Committee considered this sub-item at its 1st and
5th meetings, on 28 and
31 March. Statements were made by the Executive Secretary
and by representatives of six Parties. At its 5th meeting, on 31
March, the Chairman introduced a draft decision on financial
procedures (FCCC/CP/1995/L.2).
96. The representative of Japan stated that, in regard to
the scale of contributions annexed to that decision, his Government
considered all contributions to the budget of the Convention as being
of a voluntary nature.
97. The representative of the European Community stated
that the Community was willing to contribute 2.5 per cent of the core
administrative budget of the Convention for the biennium 1996-1997,
over and above the contributions of the individual members of the
European Community.
98. At its 5th meeting, on 31 March, the Committee took
note with appreciation of the statement of the European Community and
recommended the draft decision on financial procedures
(FCCC/CP/1995/L.2/Rev.1) for adoption by the Conference of the
Parties under agenda item 6(c). The Executive Secretary pointed out
that, for matters not explicitly covered by the financial procedures,
the financial regulations and rules of the administrative host
organization, namely the United Nations, would apply.
99. At its 10th plenary meeting, on 7 April, the
Conference of the Parties adopted, under agenda item 6(c), decision
15/CP.1 on financial procedures, the text of which is contained in
Part Two, section I, of this report.
C. Physical location
(Agenda item 5(d)(iii))
100. At its 1st plenary meeting, on 28 March, the
Conference decided to refer this
sub-item to the Committee of the Whole. It had before it
the following documents:
(a) Report of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee
on its eleventh session (A/AC.237/91 and Add.1);
(b) Designation of a permanent secretariat and
arrangements for its functioning: note by the Executive Secretary
(FCCC/CP/1995/5);
(c) Physical location: Offers by Governments to host the
permanent secretariat (FCCC/CP/1995/Misc.3 and Add.1);
and
(d) Compilation of offers by Governments to host the
permanent secretariat (A/AC.237/Misc.45).
101. The Committee considered this sub-item at its 1st,
7th, and 8th meetings, on
28 March and 3 and 4 April. Statements were made under
this sub-item by the Executive Secretary, the Chairman and
representatives of 15 Parties. At its 1st meeting, on 28 March, the
Committee of the Whole requested its Chairman to conduct
consultations on this sub-item with the representatives of countries
offering to host the permanent secretariat of the
Convention.
102. At the 8th meeting of the Committee of the Whole, on
4 April, the Chairman proposed that, in order to reach a consensus on
the physical location of the Convention secretariat, an informal
confidential survey should be undertaken in up to three stages,
during which Parties could express their preferences among the
potential host cities, on the understanding that, after each round of
the survey, the city receiving least support would be withdrawn.
After a discussion of this proposal, the Chairman announced that he
would conduct the survey along the lines indicated.
103. At the 4th plenary meeting, on 4 April, the
representative of Uruguay informed the Conference that, in view of
the results of the first round of the confidential survey on the
location of the secretariat, his Government had decided to withdraw
its offer to host the Convention secretariat in Montevideo and to
give its backing to the Party that could muster the support of the
majority. He assured the Conference of his Government's continued
support for the implementation of the Convention.
104. At the 6th plenary meeting, on 5 April, the
representative of Canada said that his country had actively sought
the honour of hosting the Convention secretariat because of its
commitment to the Convention. His Government was, however, fully
prepared to accept the will of the Conference; consequently, in view
of the results of the second round of the confidential survey on the
location of the secretariat, his Government had decided to withdraw
its offer to host the Convention secretariat in Toronto. He assured
the Conference of Canada's continuing and active support of the
Convention.
105. At the same meeting, the Chairman of the Committee of
the Whole informed the Conference that, as a result of the third and
last round of the confidential survey, the city of Bonn had received
support from an absolute majority of the Parties participating in the
survey. In accordance with the agreement reached between the
delegations of the four countries offering to host the Convention
secretariat, it was therefore possible to arrive at a consensus
proposal that the city of Bonn should be chosen as the headquarters
of the Convention secretariat.
106. The representative of Switzerland thanked the
delegates that had supported the Swiss offer to host the Convention
secretariat in Geneva and reiterated Switzerland's commitment to
creating in that city the best possible environment for the pursuit
of international cooperation. She congratulated Germany on having
received majority support for its offer to host the Convention
secretariat and expressed her best wishes to the secretariat for
their future move to their new location in Bonn.
107. The representative of Germany said that the city of
Bonn and the Federal Government were fully conscious of the
responsibility they would assume in response to the agreement that
had been reached, and he wished to assure the Conference that they
would do their utmost to fulfil that responsibility. He paid tribute
to the vital role that the Chairman of the Committee of the Whole had
played; without his untiring efforts, it would not have been possible
to arrive at a consensus in Berlin. He wished to thank the
delegations that had expressed their preference for the city of Bonn,
and the delegations of the other countries that had offered to host
the Convention secretariat for accepting the informal procedures that
had been used to arrive at a consensus position. He was aware that
for the staff of the Convention secretariat the move represented not
only a move from one city to another, but also a move from one
language environment to another. He wished to assure the secretariat
that every effort would be made to reduce the difficulties to a
minimum. In that connection, he extended an invitation to the head of
the interim secretariat to visit Bonn as soon as possible to discuss
the details of the move. The environment-conscious and
climate-conscious public in Germany would very gladly fulfil the role
of host to the Convention secretariat.
108. The representative of Canada extended his
congratulations to the Federal Republic of Germany and expressed his
confidence that it would provide a friendly and hospitable
environment for the Convention secretariat, and he extended his best
wishes to the secretariat.
109. The representative of Uruguay said that his
Government wished to associate itself with the congratulations that
had been extended to the Federal Republic of Germany, which he was
confident would provide an environment in which the Convention
secretariat would be able to operate efficiently. He also wished to
associate himself with the tribute that had been paid to the Chairman
of the Committee of the Whole in the process of arriving at a
consensus.
110. The President expressed her warm appreciation to the
Governments of Canada, Switzerland and Uruguay, stating that she
looked forward to their continuing support and cooperation.
111. The Executive Secretary said that he had already told
his colleagues that, whatever the result of the survey, it could only
be a positive one. It was positive because it was a process in which
five cities and five Governments had expressed their support for the
Convention and its secretariat by offering to host the permanent
secretariat. He was confident that, now that one city had emerged as
the choice of the Conference, the other four Governments would remain
committed to the support of the Convention and of the secretariat and
would be ready to play their part in the implementation of the
Convention.
112. On behalf of the interim secretariat, he wished to
thank the city of Geneva and the Swiss Government for the hospitality
they had extended to the interim secretariat ever since its
establishment in 1991, and hoped to be able to count on their
hospitality until the time came for the move to Bonn. Looking to the
future, he was confident that the permanent Convention secretariat
could count on the full support of the host Government, which was
eager to demonstrate that it could play its full part in the work of
the United Nations as a member of the international community. Now
that the Conference had been able to reach agreement on the location
of the permanent secretariat and on a budget, and now that it would
be able to consider a proposal that had just been received from the
Secretary-General of the United Nations concerning an administrative
arrangement for the secretariat, there was, he believed, a very good
basis for the head of the permanent secretariat to organize the team
in Bonn. He, as the head of the interim secretariat, would do all he
could to ensure a smooth transition and, as a first step in that
direction, he would be very glad to accept the invitation extended by
the representative of Germany to visit Bonn in the near
future.
113. At its 10th plenary meeting, on 7 April, the
Conference of the Parties, having considered a proposal submitted by
the Chairman of the Committee of the Whole, adopted, under agenda
item 6(c), decision 16/CP.1 on the physical location of the
Convention secretariat, the text of which is contained in Part Two,
section I, of this report.
D. Adoption of the Convention budget for the biennium
1996-1997
(Agenda item 5(d)(iv))
114. At its 1st plenary meeting, on 28 March, the
Conference decided to refer this sub-item to the Committee of the
Whole. It had before it the following documents:
(a) Report of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee
on its eleventh session (A/AC.237/91 and Add.1);
(b) Designation of a permanent secretariat and
arrangements for its functioning: note by the Executive Secretary
(FCCC/CP/1995/5); and
(c) Adoption of the proposed budget of the Convention for
the biennium
1996-1997: note by the Executive Secretary
(FCCC/CP/1995/5/Add.2).
115. The Committee considered this sub-item at its 1st,
8th and 9th meetings, on 28 March and 4 and 6 April. Statements were
made by the Executive Secretary and by representatives of five
Parties, one speaking on behalf of the European Community. At its 1st
meeting, on 28 March, the Committee of the Whole decided to
constitute an open-ended drafting group on sub-items 5(d)(iv) and
(v), to be chaired by Mr. Mohamed M. Ould El Ghaouth, Chairman of the
Subsidiary Body on Implementation, and requested the drafting group
to report its conclusions to the Committee of the Whole as soon as
possible.
116. At its 8th meeting, on 4 April, the Chairman of the
drafting group reported to the Committee on the outcome of the work
of the group. The Committee recommended a draft decision on the
adoption of the Convention budget for the biennium 1996-1997
(FCCC/CP/1995/L.4/Rev.1), and a draft decision on other voluntary
funding for the biennium 1996-1997 (FCCC/CP/1995/L.8/Rev.1), for
adoption by the Conference of the Parties under agenda item
6(c).
117. At the 9th meeting of the Committee of the Whole, on
6 April, the Executive Secretary, referring to the draft decision on
the adoption of the Convention budget for the biennium 1996-1997
(FCCC/CP/1995/L.4/Rev.1), which the Committee of the Whole had
already recommended for adoption by the Conference of the Parties,
said that the agreement that had been reached to locate the
Convention secretariat in Bonn affected the figures in the budget,
especially those relating to staff costs, which had been calculated
on the basis of costs in Geneva. There were, however, a number of
uncertainties, in particular the timing of the establishment of the
secretariat in Bonn and the consequent transfer of staff, the
administrative costs of servicing the secretariat in Bonn and the
timing of the availability of the host Government's additional
financial contributions (both the additional annual contribution and
the contribution to cover events organized by the secretariat under
the Convention). There was a need to clarify whether one or both of
those contributions would be available from the beginning of the
biennium or only when the Convention secretariat was located in Bonn.
The secretariat would consult with the host Government in order to
clarify those uncertainties and would issue, by the end of May,
revised budget tables reflecting available information and a list of
contributions due from Parties on 1 January 1996 in accordance with
the indicative scale adopted.
118. At its 10th plenary meeting, on 7 April, the
Conference of the Parties adopted, under agenda item 6(c), decision
17/CP.1 on the adoption of the Convention budget for the biennium
1996-1997, taking into consideration the comments made by the
Executive Secretary contained in paragraph 117 above, and decision
18/CP.1 on other voluntary funding for the biennium 1996-1997. The
texts of these decisions are contained in Part Two,
section I, of this report.
E. Extrabudgetary funding for the interim secretariat
in 1995
(Agenda item 5(d)(v))
119. At its 1st plenary meeting, on 28 March, the
Conference decided to refer this sub-item to the Committee of the
Whole. It had before it the following documents:
(a) Report of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee
on its eleventh session (A/AC.237/91 and Add.1);
(b) Designation of a permanent secretariat and
arrangements for its functioning: note by the Executive Secretary
(FCCC/CP/1995/5); and
(c) Extrabudgetary funding for the interim secretariat in
1995: note by the Executive Secretary
(FCCC/CP/1995/5/Add.3).
120. The Committee considered this sub-item at its 1st and
8th meetings, on 28 March and 4 April. Statements were made by the
Executive Secretary and by representatives of five Parties, one
speaking on behalf of the European Community. At its 1st meeting, on
28 March, the Committee of the Whole decided to constitute
an open-ended drafting group on sub-items 5(d)(iv) and (v), to be
chaired by Mr. Mohamed M. Ould El Ghaouth, Chairman of the Subsidiary
Body for Implementation, and requested the drafting group to report
its conclusions to the Committee of the Whole as soon as
possible.
121. At its 8th meeting, on 4 April, the Chairman of the
drafting group reported to the Committee on the outcome of the work
of the group. The Committee recommended a draft decision on
extrabudgetary funding for the interim secretariat for 1995
(FCCC/CP/1995/L.7) for adoption by the Conference of the Parties
under agenda item 6(c).
122. At its 10th plenary meeting, on 7 April, the
Conference of the Parties adopted, under agenda item 6(c), decision
19/CP.1 on extrabudgetary funding for the interim secretariat in
1995, the text of which is contained in Part Two, section I, of this
report.
IX. CONSIDERATION OF THE ESTABLISHMENT OF A MULTILATERAL
CONSULTATIVE PROCESS FOR THE RESOLUTION OF QUESTIONS
REGARDING IMPLEMENTATION (ARTICLE 13)
(Agenda item 5(e))
123. At its 3rd plenary meeting, on 3 April, the
Conference agreed that action on the establishment of a multilateral
consultative process for the resolution of questions regarding
implementation (Article 13) should be taken under agenda item 6(c).
The President informed the Conference that she would propose an
appropriate draft decision for consideration by the
Conference.
124. At its 10th plenary meeting, on 7 April, the
Conference of the Parties, having considered a proposal submitted by
the President (FCCC/CP/1995/L.9), adopted, under agenda item 6(c),
decision 20/CP.1 on the establishment of a multilateral consultative
process for the resolution of questions regarding the implementation
of the Convention (Article 13), the text of which is contained in
Part Two, section I, of this report.
X. REVIEW OF THE LISTS OF COUNTRIES INCLUDED IN THE
ANNEXES TO THE CONVENTION
(Agenda item 5(f))
125. At its 3rd plenary meeting, on 3 April, the
Conference decided that no action was required on this sub-item at
the present session.
XI. MINISTERIAL SEGMENT
(Agenda item 6)
A. Address by the Chancellor of the Federal Republic of
Germany
(Agenda item 6(a))
126. At the 5th plenary meeting, on 5 April, Dr. Helmut
Kohl, Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, addressed the
Conference of the Parties. For a summary of that address, see annex
II below.
B. Statements by ministers and by other heads of
delegation of Parties
(Agenda item 6(b))
127. At the 6th, 7th and 8th plenary meetings, on 5 and 6
April, statements were made by 85 ministers and other heads of
delegation of Parties and by 11 ministers representing Observer
States. For a list of the 96 ministers and heads of delegation who
made statements under this sub-item, see annex III
below.
C. Conclusion of outstanding issues and adoption of
decisions
(Agenda item 6(c))
128. At its 9th plenary meeting, on 7 April, the
Conference of the Parties adopted the Berlin Mandate: Review of the
adequacy of Article 4, paragraph 2 (a) and (b), of the Convention,
including proposals related to a protocol and decisions on follow-up
(decision 1/CP.1).
129. At its 10th plenary meeting, on 7 April, the
Conference of the Parties adopted the following decisions that had
been recommended for adoption by the Intergovernmental Negotiating
Committee:
- The report on implementation (decision 7/CP.1);
- Methodological issues (decision 4/CP.1);
- Maintenance of the interim arrangements referred to in
Article 21, paragraph 3, of the Convention (decision 9/CP.1);
- Arrangements between the Conference of the Parties and
the operating entity or entities of the financial mechanism (decision
10/CP.1);
- Initial guidance on policies, programme priorities and
eligibility criteria to the operating entity or entities of the
financial mechanism (decision 11/CP.1);
- Review of first communications from the Parties included
in Annex I to the Convention (decision 2/CP.1);
- First communications from Parties not included in Annex
I to the Convention (decision 8/CP.1);
- Preparation and submission of national communications
from the Parties included in Annex I to the Convention (decision
3/CP.1); and
- Establishment of a multilateral consultative process for
the resolution of questions regarding the implementation of the
Convention (Article 13) (decision 20/CP.1).
130. At the same meeting, the Conference of the Parties
adopted the following decisions that had been recommended for
adoption by the Committee of the Whole:
- Report of the Global Environment Facility to the
Conference of the Parties on the development of an operational
strategy and on initial activities in the field of climate change
(decision 12/CP.1);
- Financial procedures (decision 15/CP.1);
- Adoption of the Convention budget for the biennium
1996-1997(decision 17/CP.1);
- The subsidiary bodies established by the Convention
(decision 6/CP.1);
- Extrabudgetary funding for the interim secretariat in
1995 (decision 19/CP.1);
- Other voluntary funding for the biennium 1996-1997
(decision 18/CP.1);
- Transfer of technology (decision 13/CP.1);
- Physical location of the Convention secretariat
(decision 16/CP.1);
- Activities implemented jointly under the pilot phase
(decision 5/CP.1); and
Institutional linkage of the Convention secretariat to the
United Nations (decision 14/CP.1).
131. For the texts of the decisions referred to in
paragraphs 129-130 above, see Part Two, section I, of this
report.
132. Statements were made in connection with the adoption
of the following decisions:
- Decision 1/CP.1, the Berlin Mandate: Review of the
adequacy of Article 4, paragraph 2 (a) and (b), of the Convention,
including proposals related to a protocol and decisions on follow-up
(see paras. 55-61 above);
- Decision 3/CP.1, Preparation and submission of national
communications from the Parties included in Annex I to the Convention
(see para. 47 above); and
- Decision 17/CP.1, Adoption of the Convention budget for
the biennium 1996-1997 (see paras. 117-118 above).
XII. CONCLUSION OF THE SESSION
(Agenda item 7)
A. Adoption of the report on credentials
(Agenda item 7(a))
133. At its 10th plenary meeting, on 7 April, the
Conference of the Parties, having considered the report on
credentials of the Bureau of the first session of the Conference of
the Parties (FCCC/CP/1995/6 and Corr.1) and the recommendation
contained therein, approved the report on credentials submitted by
the Bureau of the first session of the Conference of the Parties, as
amended orally by the Executive Secretary.
B. Date and venue of the second session of
the Conference of the Parties
(Agenda item 7(b))
134. At the 9th plenary meeting, on 7 April, the
representative of Uruguay made a statement, expressing his country's
interest in hosting the second session of the Conference of the
Parties.
135. At its 10th plenary meeting, on 7 April, the
Conference of the Parties, having considered a proposal submitted by
the President (FCCC/CP/1995/L.15), adopted decision 21/CP.1 on the
date and venue of the second session of the Conference of the Parties
and arrangements for the third session, the text of which is
contained in Part Two, section I, of this report.
C. Adoption of the report of the Conference of the
Parties
on its first session
(Agenda item 7(c))
136. At its 10th plenary meeting, on 7 April, the
Conference of the Parties adopted the draft report on its first
session (FCCC/CP/1995/L.6 and Add.1-2), authorizing the Rapporteur,
with the assistance of the interim secretariat, to complete the
report, as appropriate.
D. Closure of the session
(Agenda item 7(c))
137. At the 10th plenary meeting, on 7 April, the
representive of the Philippines, on behalf of the Group of 77 and
China, presented a draft resolution entitled "Expression of gratitude
to the Government and people of Germany" (FCCC/CP/1995/L.11), which
was adopted by the Conference of the Parties. For the text of
resolution 1/CP.1, see Part Two, section II, of this
report.
138. Closing statements were made by the representatives
of the Philippines (on behalf of the Group of 77 and China), Algeria
(on behalf of the African Group), Antigua and Barbuda (on behalf of
the Group of Latin American and Caribbean Countries) and Chile (on
behalf of the Valdivia Group, comprising Argentina, Australia, Chile,
New Zealand, South Africa and Uruguay). A statement was made by the
Executive Secretary.
139. The President, thanking all participants for their
constructive cooperation, declared the first session of the
Conference of the Parties closed.
ANNEX I
Summaries of opening statements
(Agenda item 3(a))
1. At the 1st plenary meeting, on 28 March 1995, a message
from the Secretary-General of the United Nations was conveyed to the
Conference by Mr. Nitin Desai, Under-Secretary-General for Policy
Coordination and Sustainable Development. In that message the
Secretary-General recalled that, at the United Nations Conference on
Environment and Development at Rio de Janeiro in 1992, he had
declared that the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate
Change was a milestone for the Earth. Since that time 126 countries
and the European Community had ratified the Convention. The
remarkable speed with which the first Conference of the Parties had
been convened was evidence of the ability of nations to reach a
consensus on matters of global concern. The role of the Conference
was to take the Convention to its next stage, from consensus to
cooperation, from commitment to action. Actions under the Convention
could be brought into a process of intergovernmental policy
coordination in which appropriate linkages could be established
between climate protection and the key issues of sustainable
development. The Conference would need to go forward in a spirit of
commonality and cooperation in efforts to make the Convention a
reality. In that same spirit the United Nations would endeavour to
provide a supportive home for the Convention, and he was encouraged
that the Conference would consider modalities for establishing
institutional linkages to the United Nations.
2. Ambassador Lilia R. Bautista of the Philippines,
speaking on behalf of the Group of 77 and China, expressed her
Group's gratitude to the Government of Germany for its generosity in
hosting the Conference. Congratulating the President on her election,
she assured her of the continued support of the Group of 77 and China
in the tasks that lay ahead during the first session of the
Conference of the Parties.
3. Ambassador Raúl Estrada-Oyuela of Argentina,
Chairman of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee for a
Framework Convention on Climate Change, in presenting the final
report of that Committee, recalled the difficult negotiation of the
Convention and paid tribute to Mr. Jean Ripert of France, who had
been Chairman of the Committee during that period. The option had
been chosen of negotiating a framework convention which could provide
a basis for future action, as opposed to a strict regulatory
instrument that would have attracted a notably lower number of
ratifications. After the adoption of the Convention at Rio de Janeiro
in 1992, the Committee had remained in existence to prepare the bases
for the implementation of the Convention. The results of the
Committee's work were before the Conference in the report on its
eleventh session. The Committee had succeeded in reaching agreement
on a number of issues, such as a legally-binding process for the
submission of national communications, the methodology for their
preparation and review, and the financial mechanism.
4. Several issues, however, remained pending. One of the
most important of those issues was the question of whether the
existing commitments under the Convention were adequate to meet the
overall goals. A number of initiatives had been proposed, including
the negotiation of a protocol to the Convention, and it was up to the
Conference of the Parties to give a new impetus to that process. On
the question of joint implementation, he would urge the Parties to
focus on initiatives which, in real terms, would transfer efficient
technologies and reduce emissions. In conclusion, he stated that,
while each step taken by the Committee might appear to be modest, the
cumulative result was that today 126 States and the European
Community had committed themselves to a process designed to mitigate
the causes of the concentration of greenhouse gases in the
atmosphere. In face of the global challenge of climate change, he
urged the Conference of the Parties to consolidate and strengthen
that process.
5. Professor G.O.P. Obasi, Secretary-General of the World
Meteorological Organization (WMO), recalled WMO's role in initiating
the negotiating process which led to the adoption of the United
Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. WMO and the National
Meteorological and Hydrological Services (NMHSs) provided a durable
framework for the collection, exchange, processing and management of
climate and other meteorological, hydrological and related
geophysical data, the development of climate forecasting and research
and the conduct of studies on climate impacts and assessments.
He drew attention to certain events such as the frequent
occurrences of extreme weather events and the recent findings on the
warming of lower ocean layers in parts of the Atlantic Ocean as
possible signals of changing climate. He urged Governments to act
quickly and not to wait for further scientific progress before
adopting the relevant protocols on adequate reduction of greenhouse
gases by 1997. He called for support to the developing countries and
guaranteed resources for implementation of the Convention,
development of transparent methodologies, the establishment of
National Climate Committees as well as national and regional Action
Plans for Climate Change. He also urged Governments to support the
NMHSs and assured the Conference that WMO's support for the
implementation of the Convention would continue, particularly through
the strengthened Global Atmosphere Watch (GAW), the Global Climate
Observing System (GCOS) the World Climate Programme (WCP) and the
World Weather Watch (WWW). WMO would also collaborate closely with
the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA),
especially in the fields of climate monitoring, systematic
observation and research and the implementation of the relevant
Articles of the Convention. He also pledged WMO's continued staff
support to the secretariat of the Convention and renewed the offer of
WMO to host that secretariat, if requested, in the new WMO
Headquarters Building to be completed by the end of
1997.
6. Ms. Elizabeth Dowdeswell, Executive Director of the
United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), said that, for the
process of implementation of the Convention to be successful, the
first requirement was for a sound scientific basis, and in that
connection she commended to the Parties the climate agenda, a
proposal for an integrated framework for international climate
science, to ensure that the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
(IPCC) and the Parties to the Convention had access to the finest
investigative science in a timely fashion. Another requirement was
continuing commitment and burden-sharing. It was essential to secure
a renewed dedication to the objectives of the Convention, and she
urged in that regard close examination of the draft protocol
submitted on behalf of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS).
Successful implementation of the Convention would also depend on
adopting effective and innovative policies and measures, and UNEP was
convening a meeting to extend the dialogue on effective mechanisms,
including joint implementation, as a contribtion to that process.
Lastly, success could not be achieved without the mobilization of
society. People, as well as their governments, had a part to play in
energy conservation and ecological improvement, and important
contributions could be made at the grass-root, business and community
levels.
7. Mr. Nitin Desai, Under-Secretary-General for Policy
Coordination and Sustainable Development, while acknowledging the
achievements of the past, said that the tasks that lay ahead
represented a considerable challenge. In meeting that challenge, the
United Nations was both ready and willing to support the work of the
Convention. The agenda of the Commission on Sustainable Development
shared many issues of common interest linked to climate change, such
as production and consumption patterns, sustainable development
indicators, environmental accounting, economic instruments, national
reporting procedures and various sectoral issues. For its part, the
Convention represented a significant contribution to the United
Nations system. It was a practical application of both the
precautionary principle and of the principle of common but
differentiated responsibilities. It established a political process
by which all groups could articulate their interests, and Parties
could move forward together. The Conference of the Parties must
ensure the credibility and responsiveness of that process, which, in
turn, required a culture of compromise combined with
responsibility.
8. Professor Bert Bolin, Chairman of the Intergovernmental
Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), said that, even though there were
still uncertainties about the magnitude of climate change and its
possible impacts, important conclusions could already be drawn from
the reports prepared by the IPCC, which could provide the basis for
governments to develop and pursue a global policy. It was now for the
Conference of the Parties to agree on further measures that might be
required to protect the global environment. Describing the main
conclusions from the IPCC reports, he emphasized that, while initial
measures might not involve large costs, later short-term
interventions could prove much more costly. The issue at stake was
not to agree on policies for decades into the next century but rather
to adopt a strategy whereby immediate actions could be formulated as
more knowledge became available. It was essential that collaboration
between the Conference of the Parties and the IPCC should be
organized in a manner that permitted the most efficient use of the
scientific information provided by the IPCC. The third assessment
would be completed about the year 2000 (the second assessment being
scheduled for completion in December 1995), and in the meantime
special assessments could be carried out to meet the needs of the
Conference of the Parties, and methodologies could be developed or
improved. Four key areas for attention had been identified by the
Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee at its last session, and the
IPCC was most anxious that the Conference of the Parties and the IPCC
should confirm the topics, schedule and other aspects of future
working relations as soon as possible.
9. Mr. Michael Zammit Cutajar, Executive Secretary of the
interim secretariat, assured the President of his support, and of
that of the secretariat, at all times. He said that the Convention
presented an opportunity to fashion a new culture of international
cooperation, with each member of the global community playing its
part in accordance with the principles of the Convention. The way
ahead lay in partnership and the beginnings of such partnership could
be seen in the processes being established under the Convention:
processes for measuring emissions, processes for policy review and
processes for financial and technological cooperation. The Convention
also provided an opportunity for enlightened enterprise:
entrepreneurs able to recognize and to realize the opportunities
afforded by shifts in technologies and in patterns of production and
consumption would be a key ingredient of the future success of the
Convention. Pointing to the fact that energy was a subject that
remained on the sidelines of multilateral discourse, he suggested
that the Convention might serve as an entry point for a constructive
discussion by the international community on energy futures. In
conclusion, he reiterated his hope that work on the Convention would
contribute to a more efficient and equitable use of the world's
resources for the future welfare of the planet.
10. At the 2nd plenary meeting, on 30 March, Mr. James
Gustave Speth, Administrator of the United Nations Development
Programme (UNDP), expressed the hope that the Berlin Conference would
prove a milestone in the history of the implementation of the
Convention. For that to happen, there had to be a clear recommitment
by Annex I Parties to return their climate-threatening emissions to
1990 levels by the year 2000; a clear commitment to negotiate,
without delay, a protocol yielding significant global reductions in
climate-altering emissions, particularly CO2, by a defined
date early in the next century; the establishment of a workable
system that could respond to new information, including at the very
least workable rules of procedure and an adequately staffed and
budgeted secretariat; and sufficient attention to the need for
development assistance, so that developing countries could receive
adequate technical assistance, financing and access to technology. In
order to meet the threat posed by climate change, Annex I countries
had the obligation to act first and to act most, since they were most
responsible for depleting the earth's capacity to assimilate
greenhouse gases, while the poorer countries, which were likely to
suffer the most, had more limited capacity to adapt and greater need
for economic development. The long-term solution to the climate
change problem lay in technological innovation, and it was essential
to strengthen the capacity of developing countries to build, operate
and manage such technologies. UNDP could contribute to the
implementation of the Convention by assisting developing countries in
capacity-building to enable them to develop and implement plans and
projects required by Article 12 of the Convention; by assisting them
in sectors of particular relevance, in partnership with
non-governmental organizations and the private sector; by linking
work in those areas to funding through the GEF and other sources of
financing; and by providing support to the Conference of the Parties
and substantive and administrative services to the secretariat,
always ensuring its full independence.
11. Professor Klaus Töpfer, Chairman of the United
Nations Commission on Sustainable Development, said that
sustainability was the essence of the global environment strategy
adopted in Rio de Janeiro in 1992 and that promoting economic growth
at the expense of the environment was as serious a threat to world
peace as political and military conflicts. During the coming year,
the Commission would review all Agenda 21 programme areas related to
land use, organize an international panel on forests in conjunction
with FAO and review progress on cross-sectoral issues. Future tasks
included developing measures to ensure that appropriate collective
action could be taken when necessary; encouraging dialogue between
environmental policy-makers on the one hand, and economic, trade and
fiscal policy-makers on the other; addressing the need for
capacity-building and enablement at the global, regional and local
levels; establishing a global system for monitoring progress towards
sustainable development; and promoting common action and cooperation.
In conclusion, he expressed the view that the Berlin Conference
should reach agreement on a specific mandate for the negotiation of a
protocol that would include legally-binding commitments to stabilize
greenhouse gas emissions at 1990 levels by the year 2000 and to
achieve a reduction in those levels after the year 2000.
12. Mr. Mohamed El-Ashry, Chief Executive Officer and
Chairman of the Global Environment Facility (GEF), said that, since
the acceptance of the Instrument for the Establishment of the
Restructured GEF in March 1994, the GEF Council had approved a work
programme for 1995, established a Project Preparation and Development
Facility and an Operations Committee, and had begun discussion of a
streamlined project cycle. The Council had made clear its expectation
that GEF would operate with an administrative budget that maximized
financial resource flows to projects, programmes and activities and
that GEF resources would not be used for activities that should be
financed through the regular budgets of international organizations.
In February 1995, the Council had earmarked $9.29 million for climate
change projects and, at its meeting in July, would consider the GEF
operational strategy, which would fully reflect the policies,
priorities and criteria adopted at the current Conference. Noting
that the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee, at its eleventh
session, had been unable to make a more definitive recommendation
concerning the role of the GEF, he reiterated the view of the GEF
Council that the restructured GEF fully responded to the requirements
of Article 21.3 and Article 11 of the Convention and was therefore an
appropriate international entity to be entrusted with the operation
of the financial mechanism.
ANNEX II
Summary of the address by the Chancellor of the
Federal Republic of Germany
(Agenda item 6(a))
1. At the 5th plenary meeting, on 5 April, Dr.Helmut Kohl,
Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, inaugurating the
ministerial segment of the first session of the Conference of the
Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change,
welcomed all participants to Berlin, the capital of a reunited
Germany. He recalled that, in 1989, the fall of the Berlin wall,
which had been seen as a symbol of the division of Germany and of
Europe, had cleared the way for the reunification of Germany and had
marked the end of East-West confrontation. Never again must walls of
enmity be erected between peoples, nations or States, between East
and West or between North and South: that was the lesson to be
learned from the history of Berlin. The fall of the wall had opened
up new opportunities for freedom, understanding and cooperation
across borders. The end of the global East-West confrontation also
gave mankind a chance to tackle the great humanitarian task of the
future, namely, the preservation of creation and the maintenance of
the sources of life.
2. The outcome of the Rio Conference remained a mandate
and an obligation. There, the countries of the world had taken up the
question of environment and development as a central theme of
international politics and had documented their readiness to look
beyond very divergent positions and interests in seeking common
solutions. Because of the recent worldwide recession, however, the
expected momentum had failed to develop. National self-interest had
come to the fore and, in the desire for economic recovery,
environmental considerations had often been disregarded and
forward-looking projects placed on the back-burner as expensive
luxuries, indicating that Rio's message of sustainable development
was not yet accorded sufficient importance by States. Yet it was a
dangerous mistake to believe that long-term positive economic
development could be achieved at the expense of the environment.
Global environmental problems were increasing rapidly and no country
alone could overcome the dangers arising from global climate change.
What was needed, therefore, was not only joint action by States, but
a streamlining and strengthening of international environmental
protection machinery within the United Nations.
3. Scientists attributed the warming of the earth's
atmosphere by 0.7 C in the current century predominantly to human
influence. Without an active climate policy, the earth's temperature
was likely to increase by an average of 1.5 to 4.5 C by the end of
the twenty-first century, thus threatening efforts to achieve
economic development and increased prosperity. Climate-related
natural disasters in recent years had caused substantial damage to
economies worldwide, and the Alliance of Small Island States had
pointed out with some urgency that a further increase in global
carbon dioxide emissions would threaten their very
existence.
4. Securing sustainable development was a task for the
whole of mankind. The rapid growth in world population was placing
additional burdens on the earth's ecosystem, making it even more
urgent to halt the reckless exploitation of natural resources in
order to preserve development opportunities for succeeding
generations. Everyone was affected by the repercussions of
environmental neglect. The destruction of the ozone layer,
overfishing of the seas, desertification, water pollution and
deforestation all endangered the survival of nature and mankind and
called for resolute action.
5. Since 1950, worldwide energy consumption had more than
quadrupled. A growing world population and an expanding world economy
would intensify that trend, bringing the threat of increased
greenhouse gas emissions, unless mankind succeeded in making better
use of natural resources and technological capabilities. Ecology and
the economy were compatible, and intelligent solutions linking
environmental protection and economic development must be found.
Improved energy efficiency could not only supply more people with
heat and electricity using the same quantity of resources, but could
at the same time reduce environmental pollution. Modern technology
could not only make a large contribution towards ensuring that
environmental conditions allowed a decent life for future
generations, it also made long-term economic sense.
6. Since reunification, modern internationally competitive
industries had been created in the eastern part of Germany, and
highly polluting production methods had been replaced with modern,
environment-friendly processes. With funding and technology transfer,
eastern German productivity had been increased markedly and at the
same time pollution had been considerably reduced. Thus,
carbon-dioxide emissions in the eastern part of Germany had been
reduced by 43 per cent between 1990 and 1994. Germany remained
committed to reducing carbon dioxide emissions to 25 per cent below
1990 levels by the year 2005, while maintaining economic
growth.
7. In Rio, it had been agreed to reduce production of
greenhouse gases to 1990 levels by the year 2000. Efforts must be
made, however, to ensure that emissions did not start to rise again
after that date. The high energy consumption and large emissions of
greenhouse gases by the industrial nations meant that they had a
special responsibility to take the lead in environment protection
measures. Developments over the past few years had shown that it was
economically and technically possible to adjust to ecological
necessities, given the political will. He therefore expressly
welcomed the good example set by the European Union in committing
itself to preventing a rise in carbon-dioxide emissions after the
year 2000. He called on all industrialized States to join the
European Union in that commitment. Above all, the Conference must
provide for the further limitation and reduction of greenhouse gas
emissions after the year 2000. He therefore appealed to all
participants in the Conference to agree on a substantial mandate for
the negotiation, by 1997, of an internationally binding protocol
laying down clear objectives, target dates and measures for reducing
all greenhouse gases.
8. It would be pointless for the industrialized countries
to make environmental demands which exceeded the economic or
financial resources of some developing nations. The Rio Conference
had laid down the principle of common but differentiated
responsibilities, varying according to each country's capacity. In
the joint battle against greenhouse gases, consideration must be
given to ways of achieving a substantial transfer of knowledge and
technology to the developing countries, while using the funds
globally available for climate protection as effectively as possible.
One promising way of combining both goals was the joint
implementation of measures already envisaged in the
Convention.
9. In many countries, industrial facilities and power
stations could be made considerably more efficient through
modernization. While pollutant emissions from modern power stations
could of course be further reduced, such improvements were minimal
compared to those that could be achieved with the same financial
resources in the case of out-of-date power stations. Consequently, as
part of joint implementation, the industrialized States, which would
have to bear the greater financial burden, should be given incentives
to undertake climate protection investment outside their own borders
and allowed to set off part of those efforts against their
obligations to reduce greenhouse-gas emissions.
10. The reservations of developing countries regarding
joint implementation must be taken seriously. Joint implementation
must be a matter of joint responsibility and must not enable the
industrialized countries to neglect their own climate protection
efforts. The use of available technology and know-how to improve
international climate protection called for scientific and
technological dialogue, in particular with the developing countries.
Consistent use should be made of the opportunities arising from the
resulting transfer of know-how and technology. Experience could be
gained and mutual trust created in a relatively short time by means
of voluntary pilot projects. On that basis, specific agreements could
be reached at the following session of the Conference.
11. A habitable environment, for which climate protection
was a basic prerequisite, was something to which all human beings
were entitled. The international community had a responsibility not
only towards people currently in need of food, work and social
security, but also towards future generations. There was no room for
short-term thinking or for shirking uncomfortable
decisions.
12. The Conference should not be content with
non-committal declarations, but should achieve breakthroughs without
delay on three central issues. Firstly, the industrialized countries
had the responsibility to limit carbon-dioxide emissions permanently
beyond the year 2000; that was a vital first step and should remain a
firm goal. Secondly, with a substantial negotiating mandate, the
Conference must set the course for a marked reduction in greenhouse
gases after the year 2000. Thirdly, industrialized and developing
countries should reach agreement on the joint implementation of
climate protection measures and thus make possible the necessary
transfer of know-how and technology. The international community must
continue boldly and steadfastly along the path embarked upon in Rio.
The adoption of the measures necessary to protect the global climate
would be justified in the eyes of future generations. He therefore
urged participants to make the Conference a success and communicate
to the peoples of the Earth their genuine concern about the future of
the planet and their readiness to take innovative decisions and
measures.
ANNEX III
Statements by ministers and by other heads of
delegation of Parties
during the ministerial segment of the first
session of the
Conference of the Parties: list of
speakers(2)
(Agenda item 6 (b))
Plenary
meeting
Algeria M. Noureddine Kasdalli 6
Ministre délégué aux
collectivités locales
et à la réforme administrative
Argentina Sra. María Julia Alsogaray 6
Secretario de Recursos Naturales y
Ambiente Humano
Australia Mr. John Faulkner 6
Minister for the Environment, Sports and
Territories
Austria Ms. Maria Rauch-Kallat 7
Federal Minister for Environmental Affairs
Bahrain Mr. Ahmed Abbas Ahmed 8
Chargé d'affaires a.i., Embassy in
Bonn
Bangladesh Mr. Syed Amir-ul-Mulk 8
Additional Secretary-in-Charge,
Ministry of Environment and Forest
Benin M. Saturnin Soglo 8
Ambassadeur près la République
fédérale
d'Allemagne
Bolivia Sr. Oscar Paz Rada 7
Coordinador del Programa Nacional de
Cambios Climáticos
Botswana Ms. Margaret Nasha 8
Assistant Minister of Local Government,
Lands and Housing
Brazil Mr. José Israel Vargas 6
Minister of Science and Technology
Bulgaria* Mr. Georgi Dimitrov Georgiev 8
Minister of Environment
Burkina Faso M. Anatole G. Tiendrebeogo 6
Ministre de l'environnement et du tourisme
Canada Ms. Sheila Copps 6
Minister of the Environment and
Deputy Prime Minister
Central African Republic* M. Martin Gbafolo 8
Ministre des eaux, forêts, chasses,
pêches, du tourisme et de
l'environnement
Chad M. Mbailaou Naimbaye Lossimian 8
Ambassadeur en République fédérale
d'Allemagne
Chile Sr. Jorge Berguño 8
Embajador ante la Oficina de las
Naciones Unidas en Ginebra
China Mr. Chen Yaobang 7
Vice Chairman, State Planning Commission
Costa Rica Mr. Alvaro Umaña 8
Presidente, Comisión Nacional de Cambio
Climático
Côte d'Ivoire M. Lanciné Gon Coulibaly 7
Ministre de l'environnement et du tourisme
Croatia* Mr. Vladimir Krtali 8
Deputy Minister of Physical Planning,
Building and Housing
Cuba Sr. Carlos Gómez Gutiérrez 8
Viceministro, Ministerio de Ciencia,
Tecnología y Medio Ambiente
Czech Republic Mr. Frantisek Benda 7
Minister of Environment
Denmark Mr. Svend Auken 6
Minister for the Environment and Energy
Estonia Mr. Andres Tarand 8
Prime Minister
European Community Mrs. Ritt Bjerregaard 6
Commissioner, Environment and Nuclear
Safety
Fiji Mr. Jonetani Kaukimoce 7
Minister for Housing, Urban Development
and Environment
Finland Mr. Asko Numminen 8
Ambassador, Ministry for Foreign Affairs
France(3) M. Michel Barnier
6
Ministre de l'environnement
Gambia Mr. Sulayman Samba 7
Deputy Permanent Secretary,
Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources
Germany Mr. Erhard Jauck 6
State Secretary,
Federal Ministry for the Environment,
Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety
Greece Mrs. Elisavet Papazoe 7
Deputy Minister,
Ministry of Environmental Protection
Guinea M. Dorank Assifat Diasseny 7
Ministre de l'energie et de l'environnement
Guinea-Bissau* Mr. Cipriano Cassama 7
Secretary of State, Ministry of Tourism,
Environment and Arts and Crafts
Hungary Ms. Katalin Szili 8
Secretary of State, Ministry for Environment
and Regional Policy
India Mr. Kamal Nath 7
Minister for Environment and Forests
Indonesia Mr. Sarwano Kusumaatmadja 6
Minister of State for Environment
Ireland Mr. Brendan Howlin 7
Minister for the Environment
Italy M. Emilio Gerelli 8
Secrétaire d'Etat pour l'environnement
Jamaica Mr. Donald Mills 8
Special Advisor on International Environmental Matters,
Ministry of Environment and Housing
Japan Mr. Sohei Miyashita 6
Minister of State, Director-General of the
Environment Agency
Kenya Mr. Justus T. N. Sabari 7
Permanent Secretary,
Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources
Kuwait Dr. Abdulrahman S. Al-Muhailan 8
Minister of Health, Chairman of the Environment
Protection Council
Latvia* Mr. Indulis Emsis 8
State Minister for the Environment
Lesotho* Mr. Tseliso Makhakhe 7
Minister of Natural Resources
Liechtenstein M. Thomas Büchel 8
Ministre de l'environnement, de l'agriculture
et des forêts
Luxembourg M. Johny Lahure 6
Ministre de l'environnement
Malaysia Mr. Renji Sathiah 6
Ambassador to Belgium
Maldives Mr. Ismail Shafeeu 8
Minister of Planning, Human Resources
and Environment
Mali M. Mohamed Ag Erlaf 8
Ministre des travaux publics et des
transports
Malta Mr. Stanley Zammit 7
Parliamentary Secretary, Ministry for the
Environment
Marshall Islands Mr. Tom D. Kijiner 7
Minister of Health and Environment
Mauritania M. Sghair Ould M'bareck 6
Ministre du développement rural et de
l'environnement
Mauritius Mr. Bashir Ahmud Khodabux 6
Minister of the Environment and Quality of
Life
Mexico Mr. Carlos Gay García 6
Coordinador del Instituto de Cooperación
y Convenios Internacionales
Micronesia Mr. Isaac Figir 8
(Federated States of) Senator, Chairman of the Committee
on
External Affairs
Monaco M. Bernard Fautrier 8
Ambassadeur en Suisse
Mongolia Mr. Damdingiin Dagvadorj 8
Deputy Director, Hydrometeorological Institute, Ministry
of Nature and Environment
Morocco* M. Noureddine Benomar Alami 8
Ministre de l'environnement
Mozambique* Mr. Bernardo Pedro Ferraz 8
Minister for Environmental Affairs
Myanmar U Win Aung 6
Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Germany
Nepal Mr. Durgesh Man Singh 8
Ambassador to Belgium
Netherlands(4) Mrs.
Margaretha de Boer 6
Minister of Housing, Spatial Planning
and Environment
New Zealand Mr. Simon Upton 6
Minister for the Environment
Nigeria Mr. E. O. A. Aina 8
Director-General, Federal Environmental
Protection Agency
Norway Mr. Thorbjørn Berntsen 6
Minister of the Environment
Pakistan Mr. Shah Mahmood Qureshi 8
Minister of State for Parliamentary Affairs
Papua New Guinea Mr. Peter Tsiamalili 6
Ambassador to Belgium
Peru Sr. Luis Silva Santisteban 8
Embajador en la República de Alemania
Philippines(5) Mr. Angel
C. Alcala 6
Secretary of Environment and Natural
Resources
Poland Mr. Stanislaw Zelichowski 6
Minister for Environmental Protection,
Natural Resources and Forestry
Portugal Mrs. Teresa Patricio Gouveia 8
Minister of Environment and Natural Resources
Republic of Korea Mr. Soon-Young Hong 7
Ambassador Extraordinary and
Plenipotentiary to the Federal Republic of
Germany
Romania Mr. Aurel Constantin Ilie 8
Minister of Waters, Forests and
Environmental Protection
Russian Federation Mr. V. I. Danilov Daniljan 6
Minister of Environment and
Natural Resources
Samoa(6) Mr. Tuiloma
Neroni Slade 7
Permanent Representative to the United
Nations
Saudi Arabia Mr. Abdulbar Al-Gain 8
President, Meteorological and Environmental
Protection Administration
Senegal M. Mbaye Ndoye 6
Directeur de Cabinet du Ministre
de l'environnement et de la protection
de la nature
Slovakia Mr. Jozef Zlocha 8
Minister of the Environment
Slovenia* Mr. Pavel Gantar 8
Minister of Environment and Physical Planning
Solomon Islands Mr. S. R. Horoi 8
Permanent Representative to the United
Nations
Spain Sr. José Borrell Fontelles 6
Ministro de Obras Públicas y Medio
Ambiente
Sri Lanka Mr. Reggie Ranatunga 8
Deputy Minister of Transport, Environment
and Women's Affairs
Sweden Mr. Måns Lönnroth 7
Under-Secretary of State,
Ministry of the Environment
Switzerland Mme. Ruth Dreifuss 6
Conseillère fédérale,
Cheffe du Département fédéral de
l'intérieur
Syrian Arab Republic* Mr. Abdul Hamid Al-Mounajed 8
Minister of State for Environment
Thailand Mr. Suwat Liptapanlob 8
Minister of Science, Technology and
Environment
Togo* M. Yao Do Felli 8
Ministre du développement rural,
de l'environnement et du tourisme
Tunisia M. Mohamed Mehdi Mlika 8
Ministre de l'environnement et de l'aménagement
du territoire
Uganda Mr. Besueri K. L. Mulondo 8
Minister of State for Natural Resources
United Kingdom of Mr. John Gummer 6
Great Britain and Secretary of State for the Environment
Northern Ireland
United States of America Mr. Timothy E. Wirth 6
Under Secretary for Global Affairs,
Department of State
Uruguay Sr. Juan A. Chiruchi 8
Ministro de Vivienda, Ordenamiento Territorial
y Medio Ambiente
Uzbekistan Mr. Victor E. Chub 8
Chief, Main Administration of
Hydrometeorology
Vanuatu Mr. Edward Tambisari 7
Minister for Health
Venezuela Sr. Erwin Arrieta 6
Ministro de Energía y Minas
Zimbabwe Mr. Denis R. Norman 7
Minister for Transport and Energy
ANNEX IV
Organizations admitted as observers
to the Conference of the
Parties(7)
I. Intergovernmental organizations
1. African Development Bank*/
2. African Regional Centre for Technology*/
3. Agence de Coopération Culturelle et Technique
(ACCT)
4. Asian-African Legal Consultative Committee
5. Caribbean Meteorological Organization
6. Commonwealth Secretariat
7. Council of Europe's Congress of Local and Regional
Authorities (CLRAE)
8. European Free Trade Association*/
9. International Energy Agency (IEA)
10. International Institute of Refrigeration
11. International Organization for Migration*/
12. International Tropical Timber Organization*/
13. League of Arab States*/
14. North American Commission for Environmental
Cooperation (NACEC)
15. Organization of African Unity (OAU)*/
16. Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Countries
(OAPEC)
17. Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development
(OECD)
18. Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries
(OPEC)
19. Regional Organization for the Protection of the Marine
Environment (ROPME)*/
20. South Pacific Regional Environment
Programme
II. Non-governmental
organizations
1. African Centre for Technology Studies (ACTS), Nairobi,
Kenya
2. Air Conditioning and Refrigeration European
Association, Brussels, Belgium
3. Alliance for Responsible Atmospheric Policy, Arlington,
United States of America
4. Alliance for Responsible Environmental Alternatives
(AREA), Ottawa, Canada
5. Arbeitsgemeinschaft Selbständiger Unternehmer e.V.
(Association of Independent Entrepreneurs), Bonn, Germany*/
6. Association Française du Froid /Alliance Froid,
Climatisation, Environnement (AFF/AFCE), Paris, France
7. Association of the Manufacturers of Air Conditioning
and Heat Pump Equipment (ANIMA), Milan, Italy
8. Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU), Melbourne,
Australia*/
9. Battelle Memorial Institute, Washington D.C., United
States of America
10. Berne Declaration, Zurich, Switzerland
11. BIOMASS Users Network (BUN), Sao Paulo, Brazil
12. British Fire Protection Systems Association Ltd.
(BFPSA), Kingston, United Kingdom
13. Brot für die Welt (Bread for the World),
Stuttgart, Germany*/
14. Bundesverband der Deutschen Industrie e.V. (BDI)
(Federal Association of the German Industry), Cologne, Germany
15. Bundesverband Deutscher Wasserkraftwerke (Federal
Association of German Water Power Companies), Munich, Germany
16. Business Council for a Sustainable Energy Future,
Washington D.C., United States of America
17. Canadian Electrical Association, Ottawa, Canada
18. Canadian Industry Program for Energy Conservation
(CIPEC), Toronto, Canada
19. Carl Duisberg Gesellschaft e.V. (Carl Duisberg
Society), Berlin, Germany
20. Center for Clean Air Policy, Washington D.C., United
States of America
21. Center for Environmental Information Inc., Rochester,
United States of America
22. Center and Workingteam for Appropriate Technology
(KATE), Berlin, Germany
23. Central Research Institute of Electric Power Industry
(CRIEPI), Tokyo, Japan
24. Centre for Applied Studies in International
Negotiations, Geneva, Switzerland
25. Centre for Business and the Environment, London,
United Kingdom
26. Centre for International Climate and Energy Research
(CICERO), Oslo, Norway
27. Centre for Social and Economic Research on the Global
Environment (CSERGE), Norfolk, United Kingdom
28. Cercle Mondiale du Consensus/World Sustainable Energy
Coalition (CMDC/WSEC), Zurich, Switzerland
29. Church of the Brethren General Board, Elgin, United
States of America
30. Citizens Alliance for Saving the Atmosphere and the
Earth (CASA), Kyoto, Japan
31. Climate Action Network Latin America (CANLA),
Santiago, Chile
32. Climate Action Network-Southeast Asia (CAN-SEA),
Quezon City, Philippines
33. Climate Action Network UK, London, United
Kingdom*/
34. Climate Institute, Washington D.C., United States of
America
35. Climate Network Africa, Nairobi, Kenya
36. Climate Network Europe, Brussels, Belgium
37. Conservation Law Foundation, Boston, United States of
America*/
38. Consortium for International Earth Science Information
Network (CIESIN), Washington D.C., United States of America
39. Cornell University, Ithaca, United States of America
40. Costa Rican Office for Sustainable Development,
Washington D.C., United States of America
41. Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (German Research
Society), Bonn, Germany
42. Development Alternatives, New Delhi, India
43. Earth Council, San José, Costa Rica
44. EarthSavers Movement, Quezon City,
Philippines*/
45. East Asia & Pacific Parliamentarians' Conference
on Environment and Development (EAPPCED), Manila, Philippines
46. Edison Electric Institute (EEI), Washington D.C.,
United States of America
47. Energiewende Saarland e.V. (Energy Alternative
Saarland), Saarbrucken, Germany
48. Environmental and Energy Study Institute (EESI),
Washington D.C., United States of America
49. Environmental Defense Fund (EDF), Washington D.C.,
United States of America
50. European Cement Association, Brussels, Belgium
51. European Consortium for the Responsible Application of
Refrigerants (EUCRAR), Brussels, Belgium
52. European Insulation Manufacturers Association
(EURIMA), Brussels, Belgium
53. European Nuclear Society, Berne, Switzerland
54. Evangelische Berufsschularbeit Der Evangelischen
Kirche (Evangelist Professional Training School), Berlin,
Germany*/
55. FACE Foundation, N.V. Sep, Arnhem, The Netherlands
56. Fachhochschule (Technical College), Aalen, Germany
57. Federación de Organizaciones para el futuro de
Orinoquia y Amazonía (FEDEORAMA), Caracas, Venezuela
58. Forschungszentrum (Research Centre), Jülich,
Germany*/
59. Foundation for International Development Economics
(IDE), Groningen, The Netherlands
60. Foundation for International Environmental Law and
Development (FIELD), London, United Kingdom
61. Free University, Berlin, Germany
62. Friends of the Earth International, Amsterdam, The
Netherlands
63. German Advisory Council on Global Change, Bremerhaven,
Germany
64. German Foundation for International Development (DSE),
Berlin, Germany
65. German NGO-Forum on Environment and Development, Bonn,
Germany
66. German Union of Teachers of Geography, Berlin Regional
Association, Berlin, Germany
67. Germanwatch, Bonn, Germany
68. Gesellschaft für Bedrohte Völker (Society
for Threatened Peoples), Gttingen, Germany
69. Global Climate Coalition, Washington D.C., United
States of America
70. Global Commons Institute, London, United Kingdom
71. Global Industrial and Social Progress Research
Institute (GISPRI), Tokyo, Japan
72. Global Legislators Organisation for a Balanced
Environment (GLOBE), Brussels, Belgium
73. Greenpeace International, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
74. Guinea Ecology, Conakry, Guinea
75. Hadley Centre for Climate Prediction and Research,
Berkshire, United Kingdom
76. Hamburg Institute for Economic Research, Hamburg,
Germany
77. Houston Advanced Research Center (HARC), Houston,
United States of America
78. Hugh O'Brian Youth Foundation, Los Angeles, United
States of America
79. Imperial College of Science, Technology and Medicine,
Centre for Environmental Technology (ICCET), London, United Kingdom
80. Industrial Technology Research Institute (ITRI),
Taiwan, Province of China
81. Information, Alternatives and Opposition Network
International to Monitor the Flood Action Plan Bangladesh, Berlin,
Germany
82. Institut de recherche sur l'environnement (IREC), La
Roche-sur-Foron, France
83. Institute for Environmental Studies, Free University
Amsterdam (IES), Amsterdam, The Netherlands
84. Institute for Resource and Security Studies,
Cambridge, United States of America*/
85. International Academy of the Environment (IAE),
Geneva, Switzerland
86. International Chamber of Commerce (ICC), Paris, France
87. International Climate Change Partnership, Arlington,
United States of America
88. International Confederation of Free Trade Unions,
Brussels, Belgium
89. International Council of Environmental Law (CIDE),
Bonn, Germany
90. International Council for Local Environmental
Initiatives (ICLEI), Toronto, Canada
91. International Council of Women, Paris, France*/
92. International Doctors for the Environment, Swiss
Section, Basel, Switzerland
93. International Federation of Building and Woodworkers
(IFBWW), Geneva, Switzerland
94. International Federation of Industrial Energy
Consumers (IFIEC), Geneva, Switzerland
95. International Federation of Institutes for Advanced
Study (IFIAS), Toronto, Canada
96. International Gas Union (IGU), Grningen, The
Netherlands
97. International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis
(IIASA), Laxenburg, Austria
98. International Institute for Energy Conservation,
Washington D.C., United States of America*/
99. International Institute for Sustainable Development,
Winnipeg, Canada*/
100. International Insurance Initiative on Climate Change,
Hamilton, Bermuda*/
101. International Network for Environmental Management
(INEM), Holstein, Germany
102. International Peace Research Association, Yellow
Springs, United States of America*/
103. International Petroleum Industry Environmental
Conservation Association (IPIECA), London, United Kingdom
104. International Project for Sustainable Energy Paths
(IPSEP), El Cerrito, United States of America
105. International Society on Optics Within Life Sciences
(OWLS), Münster, Germany
106. International Solar Energy Society (ISES), Freiburg,
Germany
107. International Union of Producers and Distributors of
Electrical Energy (UNIPEDE), Paris, France
108. Japan Flon Gas Association, Tokyo, Japan
109. Japan Industrial Conference for Ozone Layer
Protection, Tokyo, Japan
110. King's College London, School of Law, London, United
Kingdom
111. Klima-Bündnis (Climate Alliance), Frankfurt,
Germany
112. Lloyd's Underwriters' Non-Marine Association Limited
(NMA), London, United Kingdom
113. London School of Economics and Political Science,
London, United Kingdom
114. Macquarie University, North Ryde, Australia
115. Max-Planck-Institute, Cologne, Germany
116. Münster University, Münster, Germany
117. National Association of Regulatory Utility
Commissioners, Washington D.C., United States of America
118. National Coal Association, Washington D.C., United
States of America
119. National Committee for Sustainable Development, Bonn,
Germany
120. National Institute of Public Health and Environmental
Protection (RIVM), Bilthoven, The Netherlands
121. National Rural Electric Cooperative Association,
Washington D.C., United States of America
122. Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), Washington
D.C., United States of America
123. Natural Resource Users' Group (NRUG), Wellington, New
Zealand
124. New Energy and Industrial Technology Development
Organization (NEDO), Tokyo, Japan
125. New Zealand Forest Owners' Association Inc.,
Wellington, New Zealand
126. Norwegian Confederation of Trade Unions, Oslo, Norway
127. O. Ö. Energiesparverband (Energy Conservation
Association), Linz, Austria*/
128. Organisation Internationale de Constructeurs
d'Automobile (OICA), Paris, France
129. Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research (PIK),
Potsdam, Germany
130. ProClim - Forum for Climate and Global Change, Berne,
Switzerland
131. RainForest ReGeneration Institute, Washington D.C.,
United States of America
132. Resource Renewal Institute (RRI), La Ferrière,
France
133. Scottish Academic Network on Global Environmental
Change (SANGEC), Glasgow, United Kingdom
134. Sierra Club, Washington D.C., United States of
America
135. Sonneschweiz (Sun Switzerland), Basel, Switzerland
136. Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI), Stockholm,
Sweden
137. Swiss Federal Institute of Technology, Zurich,
Switzerland
138. Tata Energy Research Institute (TERI), New Delhi,
India
139. The Catholic University of Nijmegen, Department of
Environmental Policy Studies, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
140. The Centre for Our Common Future, Bellevue,
Switzerland
141. The Climate Council, Washington D.C., United States
of America
142. The EarthAction Network, London, United Kingdom
143. The Japan Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Industry
Association (JRAIA), Tokyo, Japan
144. The Nature Conservancy, Arlington, United States of
America
145. The Royal Institute of International Affairs (RIIA),
London, United Kingdom
146. The Skies Above Foundation, Victoria, Canada
147. The Uranium Institute, London, United Kingdom
148. Trier University, Institute for Environmental Law,
Trier, Germany
149. UmverkehR (Swiss Traffic Alternative), Zurich,
Switzerland
150. Union of Concerned Scientists, Washington D.C.,
United States of America
151. United Methodist Church/General Board of Church and
Society, Washington D.C., United States of America
152. United Mine Workers of America (UMWA), Washington
D.C., United States of America
153. University College London, Department of Economics,
London, United Kingdom
154. University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen and
Nürnberg, Germany
155. University of Keele, Department of International
Relations, Staffordshire, United Kingdom
156. University of Linköping, Linköping, Sweden
157. University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia
158. University of Tübingen, Center for International
Relations, Tübingen, Germany
159. University of Washington, Seattle, United States of
America
160. University of Wyoming, International Studies
Association, Cheyenne, United States of America*/
161. US Climate Action Network (CAN-USA), Washington D.C.,
United States of America
162. Utrecht University, Faculty of Chemistry, Utrecht,
The Netherlands
163. Verification Technology Information Centre (VERTIC),
London, United Kingdom
164. Verkehrsclub Deutschland (Traffic Association of
Germany), Stuttgart, Germany
165. Woods Hole Research Center, Woods Hole, United States
of America
166. World Business Council for Sustainable Development
(WBCSD), Geneva, Switzerland
167. World Coal Institute (WCI), London, United Kingdom
168. World Conference on Religion and Peace (WCRP),
Geneva, Switzerland
169. World Council of Churches (WCC), Geneva, Switzerland
170. World Energy Council, London, United Kingdom
171. World Federation of United Nations Associations
(WFUNA), Geneva, Switzerland
172. World Resources Institute (WRI), Washington D.C.,
United States of America
173. World Watch Institute, Washington D.C., United States
of America
174. World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), Gland, Switzerland
175. World Wildlife Fund, Washington D.C., United States
of America*/
176. Wuppertal Institut for Climate, Environment and
Energy, Wuppertal, Germany
177. Zonta International Committee, Chicago, United States
of America
ANNEX V
List of documents before the Conference of the
Parties
at its first session
A/AC.237/91 Report of the Intergovernmental Negotiating
Committee for a Framework Convention on Climate Change on the work of
its eleventh session, held at New York from 6-17 February
1995
A/AC.237/91/Add.1 Report of the Intergovernmental
Negotiating Committee for a Framework Convention on Climate Change on
the work of its eleventh session. Recommendations to the Conference
of the Parties and other decisions and conclusions of the
Committee
FCCC/CP/1995/1 Provisional agenda and annotations,
including suggestions for the organization of work
FCCC/CP/1995/2 Adoption of the rules of procedure of the
Conference of the Parties
FCCC/CP/1995/3 Admission of observers: intergovernmental
and
non-governmental organizations
FCCC/CP/1995/4 Report of the Global Environment Facility
to the Conference of
(English only) the Parties on the development of an
operational strategy and on initial activities in the field of
climate change
FCCC/CP/1995/5 Designation of a permanent secretariat and
arrangements for its functioning
FCCC/CP/1995/5/Add.1/ Financial procedures: indicative
scales of contributions to the
Rev.1 administrative budget of the Convention for 1996 and
1997
FCCC/CP/1995/5/Add.2 Adoption of the proposed budget of
the Convention for the biennium 1996-1997
FCCC/CP/1995/5/Add.3 Extrabudgetary funding for the
interim secretariat in 1995
FCCC/CP/1995/5/Add.4 Note by the Secretary-General of the
United Nations on an institutional arrangement for the permanent
secretariat
FCCC/CP/1995/6 Credentials of the representatives of
Parties to the first session and Corr.1 of the Conference of the
Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.
Report of the Bureau
FCCC/CP/1995/Misc.1 Review of the adequacy of Article 4,
paragraph 2(a) and (b) of
and Add.1 the Convention. Comments from Parties and other
member States
FCCC/CP/1995/Misc.2 A review of selected non-compliance
procedures, dispute resolution and implementation review
procedures
FCCC/CP/1995/Misc.3 Designation of a permanent secretariat
and arrangements for its
and Add.1 functioning. Offers by Governments to host the
permanent secretariat
FCCC/CP/1995/Misc.4 Consideration of the establishment of
a multilateral consultative process for the resolution of questions
regarding implementation (Article 13). Submission by the Government
of Canada
FCCC/CP/1995/Misc.5 Review of the list of countries
included in Annex I to the Convention. Submission by the Government
of Turkey
FCCC/CP/1995/CRP.1 Review of the adequacy of Article 4,
paragraph 2 (a) and (b). Proposed elements of a mandate for
consultations on commitments in Article 4.2 (a) and (b)
FCCC/1995/Inf.1 Information for participants at the first
session of the Conference of the Parties
FCCC/1995/Inf.2 Status of ratification of the United
Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
FCCC/1995/Inf.3 Status of submissions of first
communications from Annex I Parties
FCCC/1995/Inf.4 Preliminary information from national
communications not
and Corr.1 addressed in document A/AC.237/81
FCCC/1995/Inf.5/Rev.2 Directory of
participants
FCCC/1995/Inf.6 Bibliography. Acquisitions of the Climate
Change Convention Library since August 1994
FCCC/CP/1995/L.1 Draft decision on agenda item 5(b)(iii)
submitted by the Chairman of the Committee of the Whole. Report of
GEF to the Conference of the Parties on the development of an
operational strategy and on initial activities in the field of
climate change
FCCC/CP/1995/L.2/Rev.1 Draft decision on agenda item
5(d)(ii) submitted by the
Chairman of the Committee of the Whole. Designation of a
permanent secretariat and arrangements for its functioning: financial
procedures
FCCC/CP/1995/L.3/Rev.1 Draft decision on agenda item
5(d)(i) submitted by the
Chairman of the Committee of the Whole. Designation of a
permanent secretariat and arrangements for its functioning:
institutional linkage
FCCC/CP/1995/L.4/Rev.1 Draft decision on agenda item
5(d)(iv) submitted by the
Chairman of the Committee of the Whole. Designation of a
permanent secretariat and arrangements for its functioning: adoption
of the Convention budget for the biennium 1996-1997
FCCC/CP/1995/L.5/Rev.1 Draft decision on agenda item
5(a)(v) submitted by the
Chairman of the Committee of the Whole. The subsidiary
bodies established by the Convention
FCCC/CP/1995/L.6 Draft report of the Conference of the
Parties on its first
and Add.1-2 session
FCCC/CP/1995/L.7 Draft decision on agenda item 5(d)(v)
submitted by the Chairman of the Committee of the Whole. Designation
of a permanent secretariat and arrangements for its functioning:
extrabudgetary funding for the interim secretariat for
1995
FCCC/CP/1995/L.8/Rev.1 Draft decision under agenda item
5(d)(iv) submitted by the
Chairman of the Committee of the Whole. Designation of a
permanent secretariat and arrangements for its functioning: other
voluntary funding for the biennium 1996-1997
FCCC/CP/1995/L.9 Proposal on agenda item 5(e) submitted by
the President. Consideration of the establishment of a multilateral
consultative process for the resolution of the questions regarding
implementation of the Convention
FCCC/CP/1995/L.10 Draft decision on transfer of technology
submitted by the Chairman of the Committee of the Whole
FCCC/CP/1995/L.11 Draft resolution submitted by the
Philippines. Expression of thanks to the people and Government of
Germany
FCCC/CP/1995/L.12 Proposal on agenda item 5(d)(iii)
submitted by the Chairman of the Committee of the Whole. Designation
of a permanent secretariat and arrangements for its functioning:
physical location
FCCC/CP/1995/L.13 Draft decision under agenda item
5(a)(iv) submitted by the Chairman of the Committee of the Whole.
Activities implemented jointly under the pilot phase
FCCC/CP/1995/L.14 Proposal on agenda item 5(a)(iii)
submitted by the President of the Conference. Review of the adequacy
of Article 4, paragraph 2 (a) and (b) of the Convention, including
proposals related to a protocol and decisions on follow-up (The
Berlin Mandate)
FCCC/CP/1995/L.15 Proposal on agenda item 7(b) submitted
by the President. Date and venue of the second session of the
Conference of the Parties and arrangements for the third session
1. Part Two of this report is contained
in document FCCC/CP/1995/7/Add.1.
2. a/ Observer States
represented by a Minister are indicated by an asterisk.
3.
b/ Speaking on behalf of the
European Union.
4. c/
Speaking also on behalf of several States members of the Organisation
for Economic Cooperation and Development.
5.
d/ Speaking also on behalf of the
Group of 77 and China.
6. e/
Speaking on behalf of the Alliance of Small Island States.
7. a/ The
organizations with an asterisk after their title were admitted as
observers to the Conference of the Parties but did not attend the
first session.