Distr.

LIMITED

FCCC/SBI/1999/L.5

8 June 1999

Original: ENGLISH

SUBSIDIARY BODY FOR IMPLEMENTATION

Tenth session

Bonn, 31 May - 11 June 1999

Agenda item 3 (a)

1. The SBI noted, with respect to the reporting of greenhouse gas inventory data by Annex I Parties for 1990 to 1996, that further efforts are required to ensure adherence to the guidelines for preparation of national communications by Annex I Parties, in particular, to ensure completeness, consistency and comparability of data. In particular, further efforts are required in the provision of data on land-use change and forestry, and in data on emissions of HFCs, PFCs and SF₆. The SBI further recognized that these reporting issues are being considered by the SBSTA in its ongoing discussions related to the revision of guidelines for the preparation of national communications by Annex I Parties to the Convention.

2. The SBI noted that only 25 Annex I Parties had submitted emissions inventory data for 1990 to 1996 to the secretariat, which were due on 15 April 1998, and as of 1 June, only 16 Annex I Parties had submitted their national greenhouse gas inventories, which were due on 15 April 1999. The SBI urged Annex I Parties that had not already done so, to submit their annual national greenhouse gas inventories as soon as possible. The SBI further invited Parties experiencing difficulties with submitting greenhouse gas inventories in a timely manner to provide a submission to the secretariat describing the nature of these difficulties by 1 August 1999.

3. The SBI further requested Parties to provide their submissions in electronic form so as to facilitate the processing and dissemination by the secretariat of this information.

BNJ.99-152

4. The SBI noted, with respect to the implementation of the Convention by Annex I Parties, that the majority of Parties that have reported data for 1990 to 1996, as described in document FCCC/SBI/1999/5, exhibit increasing aggregate greenhouse gas emissions; and according to the available information, many Annex I Parties will not return greenhouse gas emissions to 1990 levels by the year 2000.

5. The SBI also noted the efforts of the secretariat to make available Parties' greenhouse gas inventory data on the Web site of the secretariat, and encouraged interested Parties to provide feedback to the secretariat on possible improvements to the presentation of inventory data.