Expressing concern at the continuing trend towards late payment of contributions, some still outstanding from 1996 and 1997, the Conference of the Parties (COP), at its fifth session, requested the Executive Secretary to present, through the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI) at its twelfth session (decision 21/CP.5), possible options to respond to the situation of late payment of contributions for consideration at its sixth session (FCCC/CP/1999/6/Add.1).This document, which has been prepared in response to that request, consists of two main sections:

(a) The first section briefly explains the problems and inconveniences that could be faced by the Convention as a result of late payments to the core budget. Some of the possible causes of late payment of contributions are also listed in this section;

(b) The second section gives some examples of how the United Nations and other international organizations have approached the issue, explains the measures taken so far by UNFCCC and suggests additional options the SBI may wish to consider as a basis for recommendations to COP 6