FCCC/SBSTA/1998/CRP.10

9 November 1998

ENGLISH ONLY

SUBSIDIARY BODY FOR SCIENTIFIC AND TECHNOLOGICAL ADVICE

Ninth session

Buenos Aires, 3-10 November 1998

Agenda item 4

1. The Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA) took note of the information provided by the secretariat on the preparation of a workshop to be held in Bonn, from 9 to 11 December 1998, with the participation of methodological experts from the roster, as well as from other relevant organizations, to develop proposals to resolve the methodological issues identified by Parties and by the secretariat while processing GHG inventories included in second national communications (FCCC/SBSTA/1998/7 and FCCC/SBSTA/1998/8). It decided that the options set by the secretariat and the initial information submitted by Parties could serve as a starting point for consideration at the workshop.

2. The SBSTA also took note of the information on a second workshop, to be organized in response to a request by the SBSTA at its eighth session, in Bonn during March 1999, with the participation of representatives of Parties, to consider clarifications, additions and amendments to the revised guidelines for the preparation of national communications by Annex I Parties (decision 9/CP.2).

3. The SBSTA noted with appreciation the report provided by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) entitled "Mitigation and Adaptation Cost Assessment: Concepts, Methods and Appropriate Use", as a contribution to the SBSTA work programme on methodologies approved at the sixth session of the SBSTA.

4. The SBSTA requested the secretariat to include the following topics on the agenda of the workshop mentioned in paragraph 1 namely: methods, reporting and implications for the review process and procedures. It noted that one objective could be the identification of priorities for consideration by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) task

force on national GHG inventories. Consideration of review procedures includes the review of the inventory data submitted annually by Parties.

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5. The SBSTA requested the secretariat to prepare a report, which addresses clarifications, additions and amendments to the revised guidelines for the preparation of national communications by Annex I Parties (decision 9/CP.2), particularly the GHG inventory section, taking into consideration information from both workshops, for its tenth session.

6. The SBSTA requested the secretariat to prepare an initial report on elements of a review process related to GHG inventories, including in-depth reviews, based on the issues identified at both workshops and submissions from Parties, for consideration at its tenth session, with a view to forwarding relevant information to the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI). The SBSTA invited Parties to submit information related to elements of a review process by 1 March 1999.

7. The SBSTA invited Parties to submit initial information related to the options addressed in document FCCC/SBSTA/1998/8 by 1 December 1998 and additional information by 1 March 1999, for compilation into a miscellaneous document.

8. The SBSTA requested the secretariat to prepare a work programme on methodological issues related to Articles 5, 7 and 8 of the Kyoto Protocol to be considered at its tenth session with a view to recommending decisions on guidelines, methods and modalities needed to implement these articles, for adoption by the Conference of Parties (COP) at its sixth session, taking into account the activities of the IPCC and other relevant organizations. The allocation of tasks under this work plan will be considered by the SBSTA at its tenth session.

9. The SBSTA requested the secretariat to provide information to the SBSTA, at its tenth session, on emissions resulting from fuel sold to ships or aircraft engaged in international transport, taking into account the ongoing work of the International Maritime Organization (IMO) and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). It took note of the information provided by ICAO and requested the secretariat to invite representatives of ICAO and IMO to report on their work to the SBSTA at its tenth session.

10. The SBSTA encouraged the IPCC-OECD-IEA Programme for National Greenhouse Gas Inventories to make available to the SBSTA as soon as possible the results of the expert meetings on national feedback on the Revised 1996 IPCC Guidelines and on managing uncertainty in national GHG inventories.

11. The SBSTA requested the secretariat to consult with the IPCC through the

Joint Working Group on a comprehensive joint plan for the inventory programme covering scientific and operational aspects and including a clear division of responsibilities between the IPCC and the UNFCCC.