Distr.
GENERAL
FCCC/SBSTA/1997/1
12 February 1997
Original: ENGLISH
SUBSIDIARY BODY FOR SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL ADVICE
Fifth session
Bonn, 25-28 February 1997
Item 2 (a) of the provisional agenda
1. Arrangements have been made for the fifth session of the
Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA) to be held from
25 to 28 February 1997 at the Stadthalle Bad Godesberg, Koblenzer Strasse 80, Bonn.
The session will be opened by the Chairman of the SBSTA at 10.30 a.m. on
25 February 1997, after a brief inaugural ceremony at 10
a.m.
2. The provisional agenda for the fifth session of the SBSTA, proposed after consultation with its Chairman, is as follows:
1. Opening of the session.
2. Organizational matters:
(a) Adoption of the agenda;
(b) Election of officers other than the Chairman;
(c) Organization of the work of the session.
GE.97-
3. Cooperation with relevant international
organizations.
4. National communications:
(a) Communications from Parties included in Annex I to the Convention;
(b) Communications from Parties not included in Annex I to the
Convention.
5. Methodological issues.
6. Mechanisms for consultation with non-governmental organizations.
7. Development and transfer of technologies.
8. Activities implemented jointly under the pilot
phase.
9. Report on the session.
3. The fifth session of the SBSTA will be opened by the Chairman
at 10.30 a.m. on 25 February 1997.
(a) Adoption of the agenda
4. The provisional agenda for the fifth session of the SBSTA is
presented for adoption (see paragraph 2 above).
(b) Election of officers other than the
Chairman
5. At the fourth session of the SBSTA, the Chairman gave an oral
report on the consultations on the election of the Vice-Chairmen and
Rapporteurs of the SBSTA, the Subsidiary Body for Implementation
(SBI) and the Ad Hoc Group on Article 13 (AG13), carried out by the
Chairman of the Ad Hoc Group on the Berlin Mandate (AGBM) at the
request of the President of the Conference of the Parties (COP), in
which he indicated that agreement had not yet been reached on the
issue. The SBSTA subsequently considered this issue, and, in view of
the continuing lack of agreement, agreed to consider the issue
further at its next session. The SBSTA may elect its officers other
than the Chairman.
(c) Organization of the work of the
session
(i) Documentation
6. A list of documents relating to the provisional agenda, as well
as other documents available at the session, is contained in annex I
below.
(ii) Schedule
7. The scheduling of meetings for the session will be based on the availability of facilities during normal working hours. Formal meetings with interpretation will be held in the morning, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., and in the afternoon, from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. on
25 February, in the afternoon only on 26 February, and in the mornings only on
27 and 28 February. There will also be some facilities for
informal meetings without interpretation. Delegations are urged to
use these facilities fully by attending all meetings promptly at the
scheduled time. A suggested approach to the organization of work is
contained in annex II below. In the event that the items scheduled
for a particular day are completed ahead of time, other items may be
taken up.
8. At its third session, the SBSTA welcomed the activities of the
World Meteorological Organization (WMO), the Intergovernmental
Oceanographic Commission (IOC), and other participants developing the
Climate Agenda, and invited these organizations to inform the SBSTA
on recent activities to coordinate long-term monitoring and research
programmes related to the oceans and the atmosphere in support of
Article 5 of the Convention, particularly the establishment of
capacity and capability-building mechanisms to assist the full
participation of developing countries (FCCC/SBSTA/1996/13, para.
62(b)).
9. In response to this invitation, the WMO, in consultation with
other organizations, has provided a short report on research and
systematic observation. This is included in a note by the
secretariat, adding to this report some background information and
suggestions for action by the SBSTA (FCCC/SBSTA/1997/2).
10. The SBSTA will also be informed by its Chairman of the
conclusions of the meeting of the Joint Working Group (JWG) of
officers of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and
the Convention, held in February 1997.
11. The SBSTA, at its third session, considered the issues on
long-term emission profiles arising from its request to the IPCC for
information on the implications of different emission limitation
proposals in terms of projected increases in global mean
temperatures, sea-level rise and other changes in climate. The SBSTA
decided to continue to elaborate on this issue during its fifth
session with a view to giving clear guidance to the IPCC on the
development of long-term emission profiles. Further, in response to a
request from the SBSTA at its fourth session, the IPCC will make a
presentation on the development of emission profiles and possible
implications to the climate system. The SBSTA will also have before
it the miscellaneous document FCCC/SBSTA/1997/MISC.2 containing
submissions by Parties on long-term emission profiles.
(a) Communications from Parties included in Annex I to
the Convention
12. By its decision 9/CP.2, (1) the
COP decided that the review process should be continued in accordance
with the relevant decisions adopted. The secretariat will make a
short report on the progress achieved in the process of reviewing
communications from Parties included in Annex I to the
Convention.
13. Parties may also wish to note that, as requested by the SBI at its second session (FCCC/SBI/1996/9, para. 21), the secretariat is organizing an informal workshop on the implementation aspects of specific policies and measures taken by Parties included in Annex I to the Convention, with a view to exploring mechanisms to facilitate the exchange of experience in carrying out national programmes to implement the Convention. This workshop is scheduled to take place on Wednesday 26 February from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., and from
3 p.m. to 6 p.m. The topic to be addressed in the afternoon is "transfer of technologies".
In view of the importance of that topic for the discussions under
agenda item 7 of the SBSTA, the Chairman of the SBSTA has, for that
afternoon, made the facilities of the SBSTA available to the workshop
so that full interpretation will be available.
(b) Communications from Parties not included in Annex I
to the Convention
14. By its decision 10/CP.2 with regard to communications from
Parties not included in Annex I to the Convention, the COP requested
the secretariat to provide a report to the SBI and the SBSTA at each
of their sessions on the facilitation of assistance to the Parties in
the preparation of their initial communications. In response to this
request, the secretariat will provide a report on recent
developments. It will also report on the responses from Parties not
included in Annex I to the Convention on the expected date for
submission of their communication (see notification of the Executive
Secretary to Parties of 28 October 1996).
15. In its consideration of the longer-term programme of work, the
SBSTA, at its fourth session, invited the JWG to advise on an
appropriate division of methodological tasks between the IPCC and the
Convention bodies, particularly on methods for emission inventories,
assessing impacts of climate change and assessing mitigation and
adaptation options, taking account of the need for the sustainable
financing of these tasks and of work under way in other international
organizations. The SBSTA further decided to review, at its fifth
session, the advice of the JWG and, on that basis, decide what should
be done by the Convention bodies and, as appropriate, express its
views to the IPCC. In doing so, the SBSTA may wish to draw upon the
report by the Chairman on the outcome of the meeting of the JWG (see
paragraph 10 above).
16. The SBSTA agreed, furthermore, to review, at its fifth
session, the methodological component of the secretariat's outline of
the Convention budget for the biennium 1998-1999, in the light
of, inter alia, the advice of the JWG and the needs of other
international organizations, and advise the SBI thereon (see also
FCCC/SBI/1997/3). Since the SBI at its fifth session, in parallel
with this SBSTA session, will begin considering the next biennium
budget, immediate feedback is possible.
17. The SBSTA, at its fourth session, also agreed to keep under
review, at a minimum once a year, the progress on work on
methodological issues and its financing, and, in support of this
review, requested that one of its officers, or a delegate designated
by the Chairman, would convene informal open-ended consultations on
these questions, in conjunction with its sessions. Accordingly, such
consultations will be convened at the fifth session.
6. Mechanisms for consultation with non-governmental
organizations
18. The SBSTA, at its third session, proposed that the secretariat explore further with
non-governmental groups current mechanisms and procedures for
consultation with a view to establishing how they might be made more
efficient (FCCC/SBSTA/1996/13, para. 50 (d)). The secretariat, with
the help of the the Global Environment Information Centre (GEIC) in
Tokyo, has consulted with non-governmental groups. However, the
secretariat has not been able to fully develop its view on the
feasibility and financial implications of all proposals, and some
further consultations are necessary. A note is expected to be ready
for the next sessional period of the subsidiary bodies.
19. Since the issues which are being addressed in these consultations refer to the Convention process in general, rather than specifically to the work of the SBSTA,
the SBSTA may consider requesting the SBI to deal with that note
at its sixth session.
20. By its decision 7/CP.2, the COP requested the secretariat to give high priority to
the development and completion of a survey of the initial technology needs, as well as technology information needs, of Parties not included in Annex I to the Convention.
In response to this, a questionnaire was prepared in collaboration with the
University of Amsterdam, and was sent to 20 Parties, to national focal points, and,
in some cases, also to industry, municipal governments and other
organizations.
21. By the same decision, the COP requested the secretariat to
initiate action to identify existing technology information
activities and needs, through consultations with Parties and relevant
international organizations, inter alia, and taking into
account the ongoing work of the Climate Technology Initiative, with a
view to developing options for building on existing specialized
information centres and networks to provide fast, one-stop databases
relating to state-of-the-art, environmentally sound and economically
feasible technology and know-how, in a manner that would be readily
accessible to developing countries. The options should consider the
needs and resources required for improving existing, and setting up
additional, technology information centres and networks.
22. The COP also requested the secretariat to expedite the
preparation of reports on adaptation technology and the terms of
transfer of technology and know-how conducive to mitigating and
adapting to climate change, and, in preparing these reports, to draw
on experts nominated by Parties.
23. The SBSTA will have before it a note prepared by the
secretariat in response to these requests, which takes into account
the responses to the above-mentioned questionnaire received to date
(FCCC/SB/1997/1).
24. The SBSTA will also have before it the miscellaneous documents FCCC/SBSTA/1997/MISC.1 and its addendum containing submissions by Parties not included in Annex I to the Convention on initial information regarding technologies and know-how required to address climate change and its adverse effects.
25. The SBSTA may consider whether the survey of the initial
technology needs is an appropriate instrument, and whether its design
needs to be modified. The SBSTA may wish to provide comments on the
proposed approach and scope of the reports on adaptation technology
and the terms of transfer of technology and know-how conducive to
mitigating and adapting to climate change which are contained in
document FCCC/SB/1997/1. It may also consider the information
regarding the approach for improving existing, and setting up
additional, technology information centres and networks, and
regarding the update of nominations for a roster of experts on
technology and technology transfer also contained in document
FCCC/SB/1997/1.
26. The SBSTA, at its third session, requested the secretariat to
make suggestions with regard to a uniform reporting format to promote
the consistency of reports with the initial reporting framework
(FCCC/SBSTA/1996/13, para. 38 (a)). At that session, the SBSTA also
requested the secretariat to prepare a list of methodological issues.
In response to these requests, the secretariat prepared document
FCCC/SBSTA/1996/15 containing suggestions for an initial uniform
reporting format based on the initial reporting framework, as well as
document FCCC/SBSTA/1996/19 containing a list of methodological
issues.
27. In accordance with a request by the SBSTA at its fourth session, the secretariat has prepared a document containing a partial revision of the uniform reporting format proposed in document FCCC/SBSTA/1996/15, reflecting sections agreed by the contact group convened
at the fourth session, and leaving unchanged those sections that
could not be addressed (FCCC/SBSTA/1997/3).
28. The SBSTA will also have before it miscellaneous document
FCCC/SBSTA/1997/MISC.3 containing submissions by Parties on the
unresolved issues related to the proposed uniform reporting format,
namely sections F to H of Annex I as well as Annex II, and on
methodological issues.
29. The SBSTA, at its fourth session, decided to also convene a
contact group during or on the margins of the fifth session to
continue the consideration of the uniform reporting format, and of
the list of methodological issues. The SBSTA may aim at adopting an
initial uniform reporting format to be applied when Parties report
through designated national authorities on activities implemented
jointly, and finalizing the list of methodological
issues.
30. The relatively short duration of the session, as well as the nature and timing of the discussion, may mean that complete text of the report on the work of the session might not be available at the end of the session. The SBSTA may wish to adopt decisions or texts of substantive conclusions under the relevant items and sub-items of the agenda and, as at previous sessions, authorize the Rapporteur, if one is elected, to complete the report after the session, under the guidance of the Chairman and with the assistance of the secretariat, or, in the absence of the Rapporteur, authorize the Chairman to this end. While every effort will be made to have conclusions available in all languages at the session, this will only be possible if sufficient time is available for translation.
FCCC/SBSTA/1997/1 Provisional agenda and annotations.
FCCC/SBSTA/1997/2 Cooperation with relevant international organizations. Progress report on research
and systematic observation.
FCCC/SBSTA/1997/3 Activities implemented jointly under the pilot
phase. Uniform reporting format.
FCCC/SBSTA/1997/MISC.1 Technology and technology information
needs. Comments from a Party.
FCCC/SBSTA/1997/MISC.1/Add.1 Technology and technology information
needs. Comments from Parties.
FCCC/SBSTA/1997/MISC.2 Cooperation with the IPCC.
Long-term emissions profiles.
Comments from Parties.
FCCC/SBSTA/1997/MISC.3 Activities implemented jointly under
the pilot phase. Uniform reporting format.
Methodological issues.
Comments from Parties.
FCCC/SB/1997/1 Progress report on technology and
technology transfer.
FCCC/SBSTA/1996/13 Report of the Subsidiary Body for Scientific
and Technological Advice on the work of its third session, held at
Geneva from 9 to 16 July 1996.
FCCC/SBSTA/1996/15 Activities implemented jointly under the pilot
phase. Uniform reporting format.
FCCC/SBSTA/1996/19 Activities implemented jointly under the pilot
phase. List of methodological issues.
FCCC/SBSTA/1996/20 Report of the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice on the work of its fourth session, held at Geneva from
16 to 18 December 1996.
FCCC/CP/1996/15 Report of the Conference of the Parties on its second session, held at Geneva from
8 to 19 July 1996. Part One: Proceedings.
FCCC/CP/1996/15/Add.1 Report of the Conference of the Parties on its second session, held at Geneva from
8 to 19 July 1996. Part Two: Action taken by the Conference of the
Parties at its second session.
FCCC/SBI/1996/9 Report of the Subsidiary Body for Implementation
on the work of its second session, held at
Geneva from 27 February to 8 March 1996.
FCCC/SBI/1997/3 Administrative and financial matters:
Convention Budget for 1998-1999:
Perspectives on financial requirements.
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Agenda: Item 1 (Opening) Item 2 (organizational matters) Item 3 (cooperation with relevant international organizations) |
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Agenda: Item 7 (Development and transfer of technologies) Item 8 (Activities implemented jointly under the pilot phase) |
Agenda: Item 9 (Report) |
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Item 4 (a) (Communications from Annex I Parties) Item 4 (b) (Communications from non-Annex I Parties) Item 5 (Methodological issues) Item 6 (Mechanisms for consultations with NGOs) |
(SBI workshop on Annex I Communications) |
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The SBI and AG13 will hold their meetings in parallel with
meetings of the SBSTA.
1. 1 For decisions adopted by the Conference of the Parties at its second session, see document FCCC/CP/1996/15/Add.1.