Distr.

GENERAL

FCCC/SB/1995/1

16 August 1995

Original: ENGLISH

SUBSIDIARY BODY FOR SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL ADVICE

SUBSIDIARY BODY FOR IMPLEMENTATION

First sessions

Geneva, 28 August - 1 September 1995

Item 3 (a) of the provisional agendas

1. The Conference of the Parties at its first session (COP 1), by its decision 2/CP.1 (see FCCC/CP/1995/7/Add.1), provided guidance on the review of first communications from Parties included in Annex I to the Convention, including provisions for the in-depth review of first national communications from such Parties. The present note documents progress achieved on work on the in-depth reviews as mandated by this decision and by decisions 9/2 (see A/AC.237/55, annex I) and 10/1 (see A/AC.237/76, annex I) of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee for a Framework Convention on Climate Change.

2. Table 1 provides an update on the dates of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession of Parties included in Annex I to the Convention and on the national communications received following the entry into force of the Convention. Table 2 summarizes the schedule of in-depth reviews undertaken so far and the dates of the country visits. So far, eight in-depth reviews of national communications have taken place. The reports of these and a number of additional reviews are expected to be ready for submission to the subsidiary bodies before their second sessions.

GE.95-

3. According to decision 2/CP.1, paragraph 2 (a), national communications "should be subject to an in-depth review as soon as possible, but within one year of receipt by the secretariat". Owing to shortage of funding and/or scheduling difficulties, however, it will not be possible to fulfil this obligation entirely. The subsidary bodies may wish to take note of this. Nevertheless, sufficient resources will be available to review all communications received from Annex I Parties, before COP 2.

4. In accordance with decision 2/CP.1, paragraph 2 (d), executive summaries of the reports of the in-depth reviews will be distributed to all Parties and accredited observers. These summaries will be one to two pages in length and will be available in the six official languages of the United Nations. The reports of the in-depth reviews will be made available in their original language only. In view of the expected demand, the reports will be distributed to all Parties and accredited observers, rather than only on request, as previously envisaged.

5. Under the guidance of the Chairmen of the subsidiary bodies, the interim secretariat has selected experts for participation in the in-depth reviews from among the names provided by Parties and intergovernmental organizations, with the aim of involving as many Parties as possible and taking due account of the need for various professional skills and language abilities. The composition of the teams working on the in-depth reviews that are currently under way is summarized in table 2. To date, only 29 Parties have nominated national experts to participate in the in-depth reviews. The secretariat would like to encourage other Parties to nominate experts for participation in the in-depth reviews, particularly since certain professional skills and language combinations are not well covered by the current nominees.

* Countries that have not yet ratified the Convention.

* Countries that have not yet ratified the Convention.

As stipulated in Article 4.2(g) of the Convention, any Party not included in Annex I may, in its instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession, or at any time thereafter, notify the Depositary that it intends to be bound by subparagraphs 4.2(a) and (b). Monaco notified the Depositary of its intention to be bound by these subparagraphs on 24 November 1992. Liechtenstein intends to follow the same procedure as Monaco.

Country visit

Origin of experts nominated by Governments

Experts from

	Developing countries	Economies in transition	Annex II Parties	IGOs*
Sweden (13-17 March 1995)	Brazil	Bulgaria	United States of America	-
Czech Republic (2-5 May 1995)	Kenya	Poland	-	-
United States of America (22-26 May 1995)	Philippines	Russian Federation	Sweden	IEA
Canada (29 May-2 June 1995)	Mexico	Czech Republic	Japan	OECD
Australia (26 June-30 June 1995)	Egypt	Slovak Republic	United Kingdom	IEA
New Zealand (3-7 July 1995)	Sri Lanka	Slovak Republic	United Kingdom	-
Japan (3-7 July 1995)	Bangladesh Republic of Korea	-	United States of America	IEA
Denmark (14-18 August 1995)	China	Hungary	Italy	OECD

The teams include a coordinator from the interim secretariat, who may be assisted by a colleague or a consultant.

* IGO: Intergovernmental organization

OECD: Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development

IEA: International Energy Agency