FCCC/AGBM/1997/1

UNITED NATIONS

Distr.

GENERAL

FCCC/AGBM/1997/1

16 January 1997

Original: ENGLISH

AD HOC GROUP ON THE BERLIN MANDATE

Sixth session

Bonn, 3-7 March 1997

Item 2 (a) of the provisional agenda

PROVISIONAL AGENDA AND ANNOTATIONS

Note by the Executive Secretary

I. INTRODUCTION

1. Arrangements have been made for the sixth session of the Ad Hoc Group on the Berlin Mandate (AGBM) to be held at the Stadthalle Bad Godesberg, Koblenzer Strasse 80, Bonn, from 3 to 7 March 1997. The session will be opened by the Chairman at 10 a.m. on Monday, 3 March.

II. PROVISIONAL AGENDA

2. The provisional agenda for the sixth session of the AGBM, proposed after consultation with the Chairman, is as follows:

1. Opening of the session.

2. Organizational matters:

(a) Adoption of the agenda;

(b) Organization of the work of the session;

GE.97-

3. Preparation of a protocol or another legal instrument:

(a)Elements related to strengthening the commitments in Article 4.2 (a) and (b);

(b)Elements related to continuing to advance the implementation of existing commitments in Article 4.1;

(c)Elements related to institutions and mechanisms and any other clauses.

4. Report on the session.

III. ANNOTATIONS TO THE PROVISIONAL AGENDA

1. Opening of the session

3. The sixth session of the Ad Hoc Group on the Berlin Mandate (AGBM) will be opened by the Chairman at 10 a.m. on Monday, 3 March 1997.

2. Organizational matters

(a) Adoption of the agenda

4. The provisional agenda for the sixth session of the AGBM is presented for adoption (see paragraph 2 above). The provisional agenda has been recast from those proposed at previous sessions to reflect the shift in emphasis towards negotiations so that the terms of the Berlin Mandate can be successfully fulfilled by the third session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 3). The issues of policies and measures and of quantified emission limitation and reduction objectives will be addressed under item 3 (a).

(b) Organization of the work of the session

(i) Documentation

5. A list of documents relating to the provisional agenda, as well as other documents available at the session, is contained in annex I below.

6. In accordance with the conclusions of the AGBM at its fifth session

(see FCCC/AGBM/1996/11, para. 23 (b)), the main document for the session will be the framework compilation of proposals from Parties prepared by the Chairman (FCCC/AGBM/1997/2). The proposals on which this document is based are contained in documents FCCC/AGBM/1996/MISC.2 and Add.1-4 and FCCC/AGBM/1997/MISC.1. Any additional proposals will be issued in document FCCC/AGBM/1997/MISC.1/Add.1.

(ii) Schedule

7. The scheduling of meetings for the session will be based on the availability of facilities during normal working hours, when services are available for one meeting with interpretation from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. There will also be some facilities for informal meetings without interpretation. Delegations are urged to use these facilities fully by starting all meetings promptly at the scheduled time. A suggested approach to the organization of work is contained in annex II below and includes provision for an informal round table to enable Parties that have submitted new proposals to present these proposals briefly in an informal atmosphere.

8. In accordance with the conclusions of the AGBM at its fifth session

(see FCCC/AGBM/1996/11, para. 23 (d)), the Chairman will convene an informal round table to consider the results of his work with interested delegations on differentiation and criteria for differentiation among Annex I Parties, including the analysis and application of a number of parameters.

(c) Organization of the work of future sessions

9. It will be useful to look ahead to the programme and structure of the work of future sessions of the AGBM in the light of the progress made at the sixth session. The Chairman will provide an oral report on any further decisions of the Bureau of the Conference of the Parties relating to the schedule of meetings under the Convention in 1997. The Chairman will also make proposals concerning the organization of work at the seventh and eighth sessions of the AGBM. It is anticipated that the AGBM will complete its work at the eighth session and transmit the results to the Conference of the Parties for finalization and subsequent adoption.

3. Preparation of a protocol or another legal instrument

10. The AGBM will have before it the Chairman's framework compilation (FCCC/AGBM/1997/2) and the numerous proposals from Parties referred to in paragraph 6 above.

11. In accordance with the conclusions of the AGBM at its fifth session

(see FCCC/AGBM/1996/11, para. 23 (b)), the AGBM will, under each sub-item of this item, give in-depth consideration to the relevant sections of the framework compilation of proposals, and to any proposals submitted after 15 January 1997. Parties are invited to comment on the elements of the framework compilation, and the associated proposals, on a section-by-section basis rather than in general statements as at past sessions.

12. The AGBM may wish to concentrate on narrowing the range of proposals in order to focus on the major options achievable within the time-frame of the Berlin Mandate. While it may be premature at this stage to begin word-by-word consideration of text, delegations may wish to exchange views on which proposals they favour. Where similar proposals exist, Parties may wish to seek to consolidate these into single proposals. The AGBM may also wish to identify options that need not be pursued at this time.

4. Report on the session

13. The main result of the session must be agreement on a negotiating text of the protocol or another legal instrument. This text must be circulated in all six official languages of the United Nations by 1 June 1997 in order to meet the requirements of Articles 15.2 or 17.2 of the Convention. This text, to be adopted as an addendum to the report on the session, will provide the basis for negotiations at the seventh and eighth sessions of the AGBM.

14. A draft report on the work of the session will not be prepared for consideration by the AGBM at the session. However, the AGBM may wish to adopt any additional conclusions based on proposals from the Chairman in accordance with established practice. The AGBM is invited to authorize the Rapporteur to complete the report after the session, under the guidance of the Chairman and with the assistance of the secretariat.

Annex I

DOCUMENTS BEFORE THE AD HOC GROUP ON THE

BERLIN MANDATE AT ITS SIXTH SESSION

Documents prepared for the session

FCCC/AGBM/1997/1 Provisional agenda and annotations

FCCC/AGBM/1997/2 Framework compilation of proposals from Parties: note by the Chairman

FCCC/AGBM/1997/MISC.1 Implementation of the Berlin Mandate:

(and addenda as necessary) proposals from Parties

FCCC/AGBM/1997/MISC.2 Implementation of the Berlin Mandate:

comments from Parties

Other documents for the session

FCCC/AGBM/1996/11 Report of the Ad Hoc Group on the Berlin Mandate on the work of its fifth session, held at Geneva from 9 to 12 December 1996

FCCC/AGBM/1996/MISC.2 Implementation of the Berlin Mandate:

and Add.1-4 proposals from Parties

FCCC/CP/1996/15 Report of the Conference of the Parties on its

and Add.1 second session, held at Geneva from

8 to 19 July 1996

Documents available at the session for reference purposes

All AGBM documents as well as the Report of the Conference of the Parties on its first session, the Second Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and the second compilation and synthesis of national communications from Annex I Parties will be available for reference purposes.

Annex II

PROPOSED SCHEDULE OF WORK FOR THE SIXTH SESSION

OF THE AD HOC GROUP ON THE BERLIN MANDATE

Monday
3 March

Tuesday
4 March

Wednesday
5 March

Thursday
6 March

Friday
7 March

10 a.m.
to
1 p.m.

Items 1 2 (a) 2 (b)

Item 3 (a)

Item 3 (a)

Item 3 (b)

Item 3 (c)

3 p.m.
to
6 p.m.

Item 3 (a)

Item 3 (a)

Item 3 (b)

Item 3 (c)

Items 2 (c) 6

Items from the provisional agenda:

1. Opening of the session.

2. Organizational matters:

(a) Adoption of the agenda;

(b) Organization of the work of the session;

3. Preparation of a protocol or another legal instrument:

(a) Elements related to strengthening the commitments in Article 4.2(a) and (b);

(b)Elements related to continuing to advance the implementation of existing commitments in Article 4.1;

(c)Elements related to institutions and mechanisms and any other clauses.

4. Report on the session.

Informal round tables

An informal round table on new proposals from Parties will be convened on

Monday, 3 March 1997 at the conclusion of item 2 (b) of the provisional agenda. An additional informal round table will be convened on Monday, 3 March 1997 at 6 p.m. to consider the results of the Chairman's work with interested delegations on differentiation and criteria for differentiation among Annex I Parties.