COP 22, by decision 20/CP.22, requested by the SBI, at its forty-eighth session, to consider a review of the term and mandate of the CGE, including the terms of reference.
COP 19, by decisions 19/CP.19, continued the CGE for five years, from 2014-2018.
COP 18, by decision 18/CP.18, extended for a term of one year the CGE, including its current membership. The COP also decided that the CGE, in fulfilling its mandate, shall function in accordance with the terms of reference contained in the annex to decision 5/CP.15.
COP 15 by its decision 5/CP.15, reconstituted the CGE for three years from 2010-2012, and mandated the Group to develop its work programme (FCCC/SBI/2010/INF.2) at its first meeting which was held in Bonn, Germany, from 29-31 March 2010.
COP 8 reviewed the terms of reference of the CGE. In recognition of the excellent role that the CGE played in assisting non-Annex I Parties improve the process of the preparation of their NCs, the COP decided to continue the mandate of the CGE for 5 years and revised its terms of reference (Decision 3/CP.8). Under this mandate, the objective of the CGE was to improve the process of the preparation of the second and subsequent NCs by providing technical advice and support to non-Annex I Parties. This mandate expired at COP 13 (December 2007).
COP5: The arrangement of provision of technical and financial support to Parties not included in non-Annex I Parties in preparing their NCs is embedded in Article 12.7 of the Convention. In accordance with the provisions of this Article, COP 5 established the CGE with the objective of improving the process of preparation of NCs from non-Annex I Parties (Decision 8/CP.5).