Distr.

LIMITED

FCCC/CP/1998/L.11

10 November 1998

Original: ENGLISH

CONFERENCE OF THE PARTIES

Fourth session

Buenos Aires, 2-13 November 1998

Agenda item 4 (a)(ii)

The Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI), at its ninth session, decided to forward to

the COP Plenary for further consideration the following draft decision prepared by the Chairman of the SBI:

[The Conference of the Parties,

Recalling the relevant provisions of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, in particular Articles [4.1],10.2 (a), 12.1, [12.4], [12.5],12.6, 12.7,

Recalling also its decisions on first communications from Parties not included in Annex I to the Convention (non-Annex I Parties), in particular decisions 10/CP.2 and 11/CP.2,

Noting that, in accordance with Article 12.5 of the Convention, each non-Annex I Party shall make its initial communication within three years of entry into force of the Convention for that Party, or of the availability of financial resources in accordance with Article 4.3, and that Parties that are least developed may make their initial communications at their discretion,

EZE.98-

Noting further the differentiated timetable for the submission of initial national communications from non-Annex I Parties,

Having considered that from its first session, in accordance with Article 12.7, the Conference of the Parties shall arrange for the provision to developing country Parties of technical and financial support, on request, in compiling and communicating information under that Article, as well as in identifying the technical and financial needs associated with proposed projects and response measures under Article 4 and, having also considered Article 12.4,

1. Decides:

(a) To consider the information communicated by non-Annex I Parties in

assessing the overall aggregated effect of the steps taken by the Parties, pursuant to

Article 10.(2a);

(b) That communications from non-Annex I Parties shall be considered in a

facilitative, non-confrontational, open and transparent manner;

(c) That pursuant to decision 10/CP.2, the national and regional development

priorities, objectives and circumstances of non-Annex I Parties should, in accordance with Article 4.1, and the provisions of Article 3 and Article 4.3, 4.4, 4.5, 4.7, 4.8, 4.9 and 4.10, be taken into account by the Conference of the Parties in considering matters related to their initial communications;

(d) To ensure that issues and concerns identified by non-Annex I Parties in their

initial communications are brought to the attention of the Global Environment Facility, and through it, to its implementing agencies as appropriate, when undertaking the comprehensive review of enabling activities projects;

2. Requests the Subsidiary Body for Implementation and the Subsidiary Body for

Scientific and Technological Advise to consider issues raised in the first compilation and

synthesis report of non-Annex I communications at their eleventh sessions under relevant items of their agendas;

3. Requests the Subsidiary Body for Implementation, at its eleventh session to

consider the information communicated by non-Annex I Parties in assessing the overall aggregated effect of the steps taken by Parties;

4. Requests the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice to prepare

scientific assessments of the overall aggregated effects of measures taken, in accordance with Article 9.2 (b);

5. Decides to address further the consideration of communications from

non-Annex I Parties at its fifth session;

6. [Requests the secretariat:

(a) To further facilitate assistance to developing country Parties, on request, in

the compilation and communication of information required, in accordance with

Article 8.2 (c);

(b) To compile and synthesize the information provided in initial national

communications from non-Annex I Parties, as indicated in decision 10/CP.2, and in so doing to report on the problems encountered in the use of guidelines for the preparation of initial communications by non-Annex I Parties, and on other issues communicated by non-Annex I Parties, with a view, among other things, to further enhancing the comparability and focus of the communications;

(c) To prepare the first compilation and synthesis report of non-Annex I

communications based on submissions received from Parties by 1 June 1999 and make that report available to the subsidiary bodies at their eleventh sessions and to the Conference of the Parties at its fifth session;

(d) To compile and make available to Parties a list of projects submitted by

non-Annex I Parties in accordance with Article 12.4;

(e) To compile and make available to the Subsidiary Body for Implementation, a

report containing views and concerns identified by non-Annex I Parties, and to ensure that such views are taken into account in the GEF review of enabling activities on climate change;]

7. Requests Parties to submit their views to the secretariat by 31 March 1999 on the

consideration of communications from non-Annex I Parties, as well as the timing of second national communications, taking into account Article 12.5, for consideration at the tenth session of the Subsidiary Body on Implementation.]