GENERAL
FCCC/AGBM/1997/3
8 April 1997
Original: ENGLISH
AD HOC GROUP ON THE BERLIN MANDATE
Sixth session
Bonn, 3-7 March 1997
Paragraphs Page
I. OPENING OF THE SESSION
(Agenda item 1) 1 - 6 3
II. ORGANIZATIONAL MATTERS
(Agenda item 2) 7 - 14 4
A. Adoption of the agenda 7 4
B. Organization of the work of the session 8 - 14 4
C. Organization of the work of future sessions 15 - 19
5
D. Attendance 20 6
E. Documentation 21 6
GE.97-
Paragraphs Page
III. PREPARATION OF A PROTOCOL OR ANOTHER LEGAL
INSTRUMENT
(Agenda item 3) 22 - 28 6
(a) Elements related to strengthening the commitments
in Article 4.2(a) and (b) 22 - 24 6
(b) Elements related to continuing to advance the
implementation of existing commitments in
Article 4.1 25 - 26 7
(c) Elements related to institutions and mechanisms
and any other clauses 27 - 28 7
IV. REPORT ON THE SESSION
(Agenda item 4) 29 - 30 8
Documents before the Ad Hoc Group on the
Berlin Mandate at its sixth session 9
1. The sixth session of the Ad Hoc Group on the Berlin Mandate
(hereinafter referred to as "the AGBM") was held at the Stadthalle
Bad Godesberg, Koblenzer Strasse 80, Bonn, from 3 to 7 March
1997.
2. The Chairman of the AGBM, Ambassador Raúl Estrada-Oyuela, opened the session on 3 March 1997. He began by expressing his gratitude to the Government of Germany for its support to the secretariat and as host of the session. The Chairman noted that, whilst he welcomed the many new proposals submitted by Parties since the last session, he was concerned at the lack of agreement among developed countries on matters before the AGBM. Referring to a statement made the previous day by the former President of Germany,
Dr. Richard von Weizsäcker, at an event hosted by the World
Council of Churches in the context of its campaign to raise awareness
of climate change, the Chairman underscored that the main problem
facing the AGBM was the failure of developed countries to take the
lead in addressing climate change. He observed that the costs of
climate change mitigation should be compared with the price of
inaction, and that the overall costs of such mitigation measures
might not exceed the damage caused by a single storm. In concluding,
the Chairman emphasized that, in setting emission reduction
commitments, the AGBM should be guided by the needs of the
environment.
3. The Executive Secretary welcomed all participants to the session, the first to be held in Bonn. He recalled that this sixth session of the AGBM was the last to take place before
1 June 1997, by which time the text of a proposed Protocol would need to be circulated to Parties in all six languages of the United Nations in order to fulfil the requirements of
Article 17.2 of the Convention. The Executive Secretary noted that
the main characteristics of the text would therefore need to be
agreed at this session. He further observed that, whilst additional
proposals could be accepted after 1 June, these should fall within
the conceptual framework of the text prepared by that deadline.
Finally, the Executive Secretary remarked that the absence of
quantified targets represents an important missing element from the
proposals of a number of Parties. He expressed the hope that it might
prove possible for Parties to elaborate such numerical targets before
1 June.
4. The General Secretary of the World Council of Churches, Rev.
Dr. Konrad Raiser, made a statement on the subject of the above
mentioned campaign.
5. A statement was also made by a representative speaking on
behalf of the Group of 77 and China.
6. At the 3rd meeting, on 5 March, statements were made on behalf of five
non-governmental organizations.
7. The AGBM, at its 1st meeting, on 3 March, adopted the following
agenda:
1. Opening of the session.
2. Organizational matters:
(a) Adoption of the agenda;
(b) Organization of the work of the session;
(c) Organization of the work of future sessions.
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.
8. At the 1st meeting of the AGBM, on 3 March, the Chairman recalled that there would be services available for 10 meetings, with interpretation from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from
3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
9. The Chairman emphasized that the aim of this session was not to
enter into substantive negotiations, but to streamline and
consolidate the framework compilation of proposals from Parties
(FCCC/AGBM/1997/2 and Add. 1) in order to prepare a clearer, more
manageable negotiating text which would form the basis for the work
of the Group at its next session.
10. To this end, the AGBM agreed to the Chairman's proposal to convene informal consultations among Parties under Agenda item 3 (b) on elements related to continuing to advance the implementation of existing commitments in Article 4.1, to be chaired by
Mr. Evans King (Trinidad and Tobago).
11. The AGBM also agreed to convene informal consultations among
Parties under Agenda item 3 (c) on elements related to institutions
and mechanisms and any other clauses, to be chaired by Mr. Takao
Shibata (Japan).
12. The AGBM accepted the Chairman's proposal to hold two informal
round tables, one on new proposals from Parties and another on
differentiation.
13. At the invitation of the Chairman of the AGBM, Mr. Suphavit Piamphongsant, the Vice-Chairman of the AGBM, chaired the informal round table on new proposals from Parties on 3 March. The aim of the round table was to facilitate more in-depth discussion on the many proposals received from Parties since the last session of the AGBM. These proposals are contained in document FCCC/AGBM/1997/MISC.1 and Add.1. The round table was
well-attended, and the informal atmosphere helped to promote a
constructive exchange of information.
14. The informal round table on differentiation, chaired at the
invitation of the Chairman by Mr. Chow Kok Kee (Malaysia), was held
on 4 March in the afternoon. The Chairman convened this round table
as a follow-up to his informal consultations on this matter held
prior to the session. Interested Parties were invited to present
their analysis on points of convergence and divergence between the
various proposals on differentiation, and the lively discussion which
ensued was useful in fostering a greater understanding of this
issue.
15. The AGBM considered this item at its final meeting, on 7
March, where the Chairman noted with satisfaction that considerable
progress had been made at this session towards the preparation of a
negotiating text.
16. The AGBM requested the Chairman, with the assistance of the
secretariat, to complete the negotiating text in time to enable the
secretariat to produce it in the six languages of the United Nations
by 1 June 1997. The Group agreed that the deadline for the submission
of new proposals for incorporation in the negotiating text should be
set at 1 April 1997 and that the names of the proposing Parties
should no longer be included in the text.
17. In order to expedite the work of the Group, the Chairman
requested Parties to submit all new proposals in legal language and
to indicate their intended placement in the negotiating text. The
Chairman informed the Group that the target for the secretariat was
to ensure the availability of the negotiating text in all six
languages at the United Nations Office at Geneva by 1 June 1997. In
addition, the text would be disseminated as widely as
possible.
18. The Chairman advised that proposals submitted after the
production of the negotiating text should be clearly derived from
concepts already included within it and should not contain
substantially new elements. He further noted, however, that it would
not be necessary to include all the detail derived from such
concepts, such as specific numerical values regarding QELROs, at this
stage. Nevertheless, the Chairman expressed the hope that such values
would be forthcoming in the near future, and well before the third
Conference of the Parties (COP).
19. Looking ahead to the next session of the AGBM, the Chairman encouraged delegations to focus on further streamlining the different proposals on the table. In particular, the Chairman appealed to Annex I Parties to make every effort to increase the level of agreement among themselves on the key issues of QELROs and policies and measures.
D. Attendance
20. The lists of attendance at the sixth session of the AGBM are given in document FCCC/1997/INF.2.
21. The documents prepared for the AGBM at its sixth session are
listed in the annex below.
22. The AGBM considered this matter at its 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th meetings, on
4, 5, 6 and 7 March respectively. Statements were made by
representatives of 28 Parties, including one speaking on behalf of
the European Community and its member States, one speaking on behalf
of the Group of 77 and China, and one speaking on behalf of the
Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS).
23. At its 2nd meeting, on 4 March, the Chairman of the Annex I Experts Group on the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, Mr. Ian Pickard
(United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland), made a
statement to the AGBM on the work of that Group.
24. On the basis of a proposal by the Chairman, the AGBM, at its
4th and 5th meetings, on 6 and 7 March respectively, adopted text on
elements related to strengthening the commitments in Article 4.2(a)
and (b) for inclusion in the negotiating text. This can be found in
document FCCC/AGBM/1997/3/Add.1.
25. As agreed under Agenda item 2 (a), informal consultations among Parties were held on this matter under the chairmanship of Mr. Evans King. Mr. King presented a report on the results of his informal consultations to the AGBM at its 4th meeting on 6 March.
26. On the basis of the report by Mr. King, the AGBM, at its 5th
meeting, on 7 March, adopted text on elements related to continuing
to advance the implementation of existing commitments in Article 4.1
to be included in the negotiating text. This can be found in document
FCCC/AGBM/1997/3/Add.1.
27. As agreed under Agenda item 2 (a), informal consultations among Parties were convened on this matter under the chairmanship of Mr. Takao Shibata. Mr. Shibata presented a report on the results of his informal consultations to the AGBM at its 5th meeting on
7 March.
28. On the basis of the report of Mr. Shibata, the AGBM, at its
5th meeting, on 7 March, adopted text on elements related to
institutions and mechanisms and any other clauses for inclusion in
the negotiating text. This can be found in document
FCCC/AGBM/1997/3/Add.1.
30. In concluding, the Chairman thanked the Chairmen of the informal consultations and the round tables for their assistance and thanked all delegates for their constructive participation. He expressed the hope that the negotiating text to be produced before
1 June 1997 would enable negotiations to begin in earnest at the
next 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/1997/2/Add.1 Framework compilation of proposals from
Parties: note by the Chairman - Addendum
FCCC/AGBM/1997/MISC.1 Implementation of the Berlin Mandate:
and Add.1 proposals from Parties
FCCC/AGBM/1997/MISC.2 Implementation of the Berlin Mandate:
comments from Parties
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