Distr.

GENERAL

FCCC/SB/1999/CRP.8

3 November 1999

Original: ENGLISH

CONFERENCE OF THE PARTIES

Fifth session

Bonn, 25 October - 5 November 1999

Agenda item 4 (f) and 7 (f)

CONVENTION (DECISION 3/CP.3 AND ARTICLE 2, PARAGRAPH 3,

At their eleventh sessions, the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice and the Subsidiary Body for Implementation decided to recommend the following draft decision for adoption by the Conference of the Parties at its fifth session:

The Conference of the Parties,

Recalling its decision 5/CP.4 on implementation of Article 4.8 and 4.9 of the Convention (decision 3/CP.3 and Articles 2.3 and 3.14 of the Kyoto Protocol),

Recalling also its decision 8/CP.4 on preparations for the first session of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol,

BNJ.99-758

Recognizing the specific needs and concerns of developing country Parties referred to in Article 4.8 of the Convention, and the specific needs and special situations of the least developed countries referred to in Article 4.9,

Recognizing also the concern for sustainable development of the countries referred to in Article 4.8 and 4.9 of the Convention,

Taking note of the report of the expert workshop referred to in the programme of work contained in the annex to decision 5/CP.4, which was held in Bonn from 21 to 24 September 1999 (FCCC/SB/1999/9),

Recognizing that the identification of initial actions necessary to address the adverse effects of climate change and/or the impact of the implementation of response measures needs to be based on sufficient information and analysis within a clearly-defined process,

Acknowledging the efforts already made by Parties towards meeting the specific needs and concerns of developing country Parties, in particular the least developed countries, with regard to adaptation,

Having considered the report of the above-mentioned workshop regarding the specific needs and concerns of developing country Parties, and the specific needs and special situations of the least developed countries, where widespread poverty limits adaptive capacity, particularly in relation to the impacts of the adverse effects of climate change on socio-economic conditions, including, inter alia, water resources, agriculture and food security, economic activities, coastal zones and health, and the impact of the implementation of response measures on, inter alia, terms of trade, international capital flows and developmental efforts,

1. Decides to continue the process of implementation of Article 4.8 and 4.9 of the Convention, as established by decisions 3/CP.3 and 5/CP.4, to be assessed by the Conference of the Parties at its sixth session and, as appropriate, at subsequent sessions;

2. Decides that the process referred to in paragraph 1 above shall address information-gathering on initial actions needed to address the specific needs and concerns of developing country Parties referred to in Article 4.8 of the Convention and the specific needs and special situations of the least developed countries referred to in Article 4.9 of the Convention, arising from the adverse effects of climate change and/or the impact of the implementation of response measures;

3. Decides that the process shall also identify what actions are necessary under the Convention, including actions relating to funding, insurance and the transfer of technology, to meet the specific needs and concerns of developing country Parties referred to in Article 4.8 of the Convention, and the specific needs and special situations of the least developed countries;

4. Requests the subsidiary bodies to continue their consideration of the implementation of Article 4.8 and 4.9 at their twelfth and thirteenth sessions, and in particular of the following examples of initial actions, giving special attention to the situations of the least developed countries in accordance with Article 4.9, and reaffirming, in particular, the need for support for capacity-building and technical assistance:

(a) Information on the adverse effects of climate change, based on

country-specific data, drawn from the national communications of non-Annex I Parties and other sources;

(b) Information on the impact of the implementation of response measures, drawn

from the national communications of non-Annex I Parties and other sources;

• Information on policies and measures undertaken to respond to climate change, drawn from the national communications of Annex I countries;
  
  
• Consideration of the importance and extent of efforts to diversify the national economies of developing countries referred to in Article 4.8 and 4.9 of the Convention, and of how the international community could best support such efforts;
  
  
• Consideration of how adaptation measures can be integrated into national strategies for sustainable development and could help to form a basis for action in multilateral and bilateral development programmes;
  
  

and encourages Parties to respond positively where adaptation measures are identified by developing country Parties as priorities;

• Decides to organize a workshop, under the guidance of the Chairmen of the subsidiary bodies, on the consideration of initial actions, including actions related to funding, insurance and the transfer of technology, needed to meet the specific needs and concerns of developing country Parties, and the specific needs and special situations of the least developed countries, arising from the adverse effects of climate change on, inter alia, water resources, agriculture and food security, economic activities, coastal zones and health. The workshop shall consider, among other issues, the following:
  
  

• Enhancing capacity for monitoring, systematic observation and vulnerability assessment in developing countries;
  
  
• Capacity-building in environmental management and integrated assessment;
  
  
• Identifying adaptation options and facilitating adaptation where near-term climate change impacts are understood and adaptation measures are feasible;

• Decides to organize a workshop, under the guidance of the Chairmen of the subsidiary bodies, on methodological approaches and what actions are necessary under the Convention relating to the impact of the implementation of response measures on, inter alia, terms of trade, international capital flows and developmental efforts, in accordance with Article 4.8 and 4.9 of the Convention and in the light of matters related to Article 3.14 of the Kyoto Protocol. The workshop shall consider, among other issues, the following:
  
  

• The nature and content of information needed;
  
  
• The sources of information;
  
  
• Procedures and modalities for the provision of information;

• What actions are necessary, including those relating to funding, insurance and the transfer of technology;
  
  

• Decides that the workshops referred to in paragraphs 5 and 6 above shall be organized in two consecutive but equal time periods, before the end of March 2000, and requests the Chairmen of the subsidiary bodies to present a report in two parts thereon to the subsidiary bodies at their twelfth sessions;

• Invites the subsidiary bodies to consider the report in two parts, referred to in paragraph 7 above, at their twelfth and thirteenth sessions and to make recommendations to the Conference of the Parties at its sixth session;
  
  
• Decides to consider further, at its sixth session, matters related to Article 3.14 of the Kyoto Protocol, as an input to the first session of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol, taking into account the ongoing discussions in the Conference of the Parties on the implementation of Article 4.8 and 4.9 of the Convention.