Distr.

GENERAL

FCCC/SBSTA/1997/7

2 September 1997

Original: ENGLISH

SUBSIDIARY BODY FOR SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL ADVICE

Seventh Session

Bonn, 20-29 October 1997

Item 2 (a) of the provisional agenda

Arrangements have been made for the seventh session of the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA), to be held at the Beethovenhalle, Bonn, from

20 to 29 October 1997. The session will be opened by the Chairman at 3 p.m. on

Monday, 20 October 1997.

The provisional agenda for the seventh session of the SBSTA, proposed after consultation with the Chairman, is as follows:

Opening of the session.

Organizational matters:

Adoption of the agenda;

Organization of the work of the session;

Preparations by the SBSTA for the third session of the

Conference of the Parties (COP 3).

GE.97-

Co-operation with relevant international organizations.

National communications:

Communications from Parties included in Annex I to the Convention;

Communications from Parties not included in Annex I to the Convention.

Methodological issues.

Development and transfer of technologies:

Programme of work;

Activities by Annex II Parties regarding the transfer of technologies.

Roster of experts.

Activities implemented jointly under the pilot phase.

Report on the session.

The seventh session of the SBSTA will be opened by the Chairman at 3 p.m. on

Monday, 20 October 1997.

(a) Adoption of the agenda

The provisional agenda for the seventh session of the SBSTA is presented for adoption (see paragraph 2 above).

(b) Organization of the work of the session

(i) Co-ordination with the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI)

The SBSTA will need to prepare at its seventh session its recommendations to the third session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 3) on some matters before it. The SBSTA may wish to continue following the approach it had taken at its sixth session.

The provisional agenda and annotations reflect the recommendations on the division of labour between the SBSTA and the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI) that were adopted by both bodies at their sixth sessions. At their seventh sessions, several agenda items are common to both. This is, inter alia, a reflection of the need for the SBI to assist the COP in its reviews on the effective implementation of the Convention. Several ways exist to ensure

co-ordination on such issues between the subsidiary bodies. For example, ad-hoc joint sessions could be held. Alternatively, one body may request the other to handle the issue on its behalf, in order to ensure an integral consideration. Another option is that one body may take overall responsibility in considering an issue, requesting adequate and specific inputs from the other body. Or finally, informal joint drafting groups could be established.

The Chairman of the SBSTA and the SBI may make proposals on the organization of

work of such common items, for consideration by the bodies.

(ii) Documentation

The provisional agenda has been drawn up taking account of the expected timely

availability of documentation in the six languages of the United Nations. There are some exceptions as indicated below.

Documents FCCC/SBSTA/1997/10, FCCC/SBSTA/1997/12, FCCC/SBSTA/1997/12/Add.1, FCCC/SBSTA/1997/13, FCCC/SBSTA/1997/INF.4 and FCCC/SBSTA/1997/MISC.6 may be available late.

A list of documents relating to the provisional agenda, as well as other documents

available at the session, is contained in annex I to this document.

(iii) Schedule

The scheduling of meetings for the session will be based on the availability of facilities

during normal working hours, when services are available for meetings with interpretation from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. There will also be some facilities for informal meetings, some of which may have 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 to this document.

At its fourth session, the SBSTA requested the secretariat to explore ways to enhance

co-ordination on relevant methodological activities, for example, on the monitoring of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere with the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), and to advise the SBSTA on these activities. In response to this request, the secretariat has developed a note, on the basis of a report by WMO, for consideration by the SBSTA (FCCC/SBSTA/1997/8).

At its fifth session, the SBSTA requested the co-sponsors of the Conference on the

World Climate Research Programme (WCRP), to be held at Geneva from 26 to 28 August 1997, to make a full report of the Conference available to it. The WMO will provide this report (FCCC/SBSTA/1997/MISC.6).

The SBSTA may also receive short oral reports from relevant international

organizations, on the progress of work related to the Convention.

At its sixth session, the SBSTA, requested the secretariat to organize, together with the

Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), an informal meeting at the seventh session of the SBSTA, to discuss key issues to be addressed in the Third Assessment Report (TAR). This meeting is tentatively scheduled for the afternoon of Thursday, 23 October 1997.

(a) Communications from Parties included in Annex I to the Convention

At its seventh session, the SBI will consider the first compilation and synthesis report

of second national communications of Annex I Parties. It will also consider updated information on greenhouse gas emissions and projections drawn from the first and second national communications, as well as other information relevant to national communications of

Annex I Parties (see FCCC/SBI/1997/17, paras. 12-19). Related to this, and taking into account the division of labour, the SBSTA may consider methodological issues, in particular those related to the submission of inventory data. (FCCC/SBI/1997/19 and Add.1, FCCC/SBI/1997/INF.4 and FCCC/SB/1997/6). The SBSTA may in particular consider to give further guidance on any additional information to be submitted with the inventory tables. The SBSTA may also provide advice, within its mandate, on aspects of the communications relating to the development and transfer of technology (see paragraphs 21-23 below).

(b) Communications from Parties not included in Annex I to the Convention

At its second session, by its decision 10/CP.2, paragraph 1(a), the COP requested the

secretariat, in accordance with Article 8.2 (C) to facilitate assistance to Parties, particularly developing country Parties, in the preparation of their initial communications, through the organization of workshops at the regional level; to provide a forum for the exchange of experiences in the development of emission factors and activity data for the preparation of the inventory, as well as, on request, for other elements of information in the initial communication; and to provide a report to the SBSTA and the SBI at each of their sessions (FCCC/CP/1996/15/Add.1).

In view of the proposed division of labour, and since there are no methodological issues

to be addressed at this session, the SBSTA does not need to consider this agenda item. Instead, it will be discussed by the SBI.

At its fourth session, the SBSTA requested the secretariat to compile and synthesize

information on emissions as affected by weather and electricity trade, as well as the methodologies used for adjustments, from the national communications and the in-depth reviews. The SBSTA will have before it a paper on methodological issues FCCC/SBSTA/1997/9 and a technical paper on how emission estimates are affected by temperature adjustment (TP/1997/2). The SBSTA may wish to consider this information with a view to giving guidance to Parties and the secretariat on how to deal with temperature adjustments to inventory data.

At its sixth session, the SBSTA decided to give consideration to the appropriate ways to

provide terms of reference for expert contributions and the review of technical documents to be produced, in accordance with the work programme on methodologies. Parties may wish to come prepared with possible suggestions about approaches to this issue.

(a) Programme of work

At its sixth session, the SBSTA took note of activities underway by the secretariat to

prepare reports on topics such as adaptation technologies, technology information centres and networks and technology transfer activities supported by Annex II Parties. It urged the secretariat to complete the reports on these subjects for the next session.

The SBSTA will have before it a progress report on development and transfer of

technology FCCC/SBSTA/1997/10 and an overview of the information provided on technology transfer activities by Annex II Parties (FCCC/SBSTA/1997/13). It will also have available a technical paper (TP/1997/3) which will provide an overview of adaptation technologies and a note (FCCC/SBSTA/1997/INF.4) on options for technology information centres and information.

The SBSTA may take note of the above reports and the progress made in the areas of

technology development and the transfer of technologies during the past year, and in conjunction with the SBI, develop a recommendation for a draft decision by the COP on these matters

(see FCCC/SBI/1997/17, paras. 31-33). In relation to this, it may consider the proposal by a Party for a decision by COP 3 contained in FCCC/SBSTA/1997/INF.5.

At its second session, the COP, in its decision 7/CP.2, noted that the roster of experts and

its use in facilitating the work of the Convention secretariat should be evaluated by the SBSTA and the SBI, taking into account the ongoing discussion on Intergovernmental Technical Advisory Panel(s) (ITAPs).

At its fifth session, the SBSTA requested the secretariat to produce a report for its

seventh session on its experience in using the roster of experts. Accordingly, a report has been prepared describing the roster and its use, FCCC/SBSTA/1997/11. A list of experts on the roster is available in document FCCC/SBSTA/1997/INF.6.

The SBSTA may wish to provide further guidance regarding the roster, and develop a

recommendation for a decision by the COP on the roster of experts, and, keeping in mind the proposed division of labour with the SBI, inform the SBI accordingly.

At its sixth session, the SBSTA considered the subject of ITAPs. It recalled that the

subject of ITAPs, including their possible establishment, would be considered by the SBSTA at its seventh session and requested Parties to send any new ideas on the subject to the secretariat by 31 August 1997. Parties may wish to note that, in response to decision 6/CP.1, the SBSTA previously considered the issue of ITAPs at its first and second sessions (FCCC/SBSTA/1995/2, FCCC/SBSTA/1995/3, FCCC/SBSTA/1996/2, FCCC/SBSTA/1996/3, and FCCC/SBSTA/1996/MISC.3). If consensus can be reached regarding ITAPs, the SBSTA may wish to develop a recommendation for a draft decision by COP 3 on this matter.

The COP in its decision 5/CP.1, requested the SBSTA and the SBI, with the assistance

of the secretariat, to prepare a synthesis report for consideration by the COP.

The SBSTA will have before it, for consideration, document FCCC/SBSTA/1997/12 and

its addendum providing a synthesis prepared by the secretariat on the basis of reports on activities implemented jointly, submitted by Parties, in accordance with the initial framework for reporting and the uniform reporting format, before 30 June 1997. It further provides an overview of the progress made since the last session of the COP.

The SBSTA may wish to prepare conclusions on technical aspects on the basis of its

consideration of these documents. These conclusions will assist the SBI in preparing a recommendation to the COP on the continuation of the pilot phase as well as on the need for a comprehensive review.

At its fifth session, the SBSTA requested the secretariat to develop, in accordance with decision 5/CP.1, practical options with regard to the list of methodological issues contained in paragraph 47(d) of its report on the work of that session (FCCC/SBSTA/1997/4) and to report on the progress made in this respect. The SBSTA invited interested Parties and organizations to provide support to the secretariat in this task.

The secretariat has started the process of developing practical options and will provide a brief oral report. The SBSTA will have before it, for information, document FCCC/SBSTA/1997/INF.3 providing an update on activities implemented jointly under the pilot phase. The SBSTA may take note of that information.

Due to the relatively short duration of the session and the number of items on its agenda,

a complete draft text of the report might not be available at the end of the session. The SBSTA may wish to adopt decisions or texts of substantive conclusions, and authorize the Rapporteur to complete the report after the session with the guidance of the Chairman and the assistance of the secretariat. Subject to the availability of sufficient time for their translation, conclusions will be made available in all languages.

FCCC/SBSTA/1997/7 Provisional agenda and annotations

FCCC/SBSTA/1997/8 Cooperation with relevant international organizations: Monitoring of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere

FCCC/SBSTA/1997/9 Methodological issues: Progress report

FCCC/SBSTA/1997/10 Development and transfer of technologies: Progress

report

FCCC/SBSTA/1997/11 Roster of experts: Experience of the secretariat in its use

FCCC/SBSTA/1997/12 Synthesis report on activities implemented jointly

under the pilot phase

FCCC/SBSTA/1997/12/Add.1 Synthesis report on activities implemented jointly under the pilot phase: Addendum

FCCC/SBSTA/1997/13 Second communications from Parties included in

Annex I to the Convention. Activities of Parties included in Annex II related to transfer of technology

FCCC/SBSTA/1997/INF.3 Activities implemented jointly under the pilot phase

FCCC/SBSTA/1997/INF.4 Options for technological information centres and networks

FCCC/SBSTA/1997/INF.5 Development and transfer of technologies: Proposal from a Party: Draft decision regarding the transfer of technologies

FCCC/SBSTA/1997/INF.6 Roster of experts: Nominations to the roster

FCCC/SBSTA/1997/MISC.6 Report on World Climate Research Programme. Report of the Conference on the WCRP

FCCC/SBSTA/1997/MISC.7 Submissions on Intergovernmental Technical Advisory Panel(s) (ITAPs)

FCCC/CP/1995/7/Add.1 Report of the Conference of the Parties on its first session, held at Berlin from

28 March to 7 April 1995. Part two

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

FCCC/SBSTA/1995/2 Proposed programme of work

FCCC/SBSTA/1995/3 Report of the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice on the work of its first session held at Geneva from 28 August to

1 September 1995

FCCC/SBSTA/1996/2 Establishment of Intergovernmental Technical Advisory Panel(s)

FCCC/SBSTA/1996/3 Communications from Parties included in Annex I to the Convention: Report on the guidelines for the preparation of first communications by Annex I Parties

FCCC/SBSTA/1996/MISC.3 Establishment of Intergovernmental Technical Advisory Panel(s): Comments from Parties, positions of the Group of 77 and China, and of the United States of America

FCCC/SBSTA/1997/4 Report of the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice on the work of its fifth session, Bonn, 25-28 February 1997

FCCC/SBSTA/1997/6 Report of the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice on the work of its sixth session, Bonn, 28 July - 5 August 1997

FCCC/SBI/1997/17 Report of the Subsidiary Body for Implementation on the work of its sixth session, Bonn,

28 July - 5 August 1997

FCCC/SBI/1997/19 Communications from parties included in Annex I to the Convention: First compilation and synthesis of second communications

FCCC/SBI/1997/19/Add.1 Communications from Parties included in Annex I to the convention: First compilation and synthesis of second communications, Addendum, Tables of inventories of anthropogenic emissions and removals and projections up to the year 2020

FCCC/SBI/1997/INF.4 Communications from Parties included in Annex I to the Convention. Updated information on greenhouse gas emissions and projections

FCCC/SB/1997/6 Communications from Parties included in Annex I to the Convention: Inventory and projection data

FCCC/TP/1997/2 Methodological issues: Temperature adjustments

FCCC/TP/1997/3 Adaptation technologies