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Tuesday,
5 December
On
the second day of INC-5, delegates met in morning, afternoon and
evening Plenary sessions to consider Articles D (Measures to reduce
or eliminate releases), G (Information exchange), and H (Public
information, awareness and education). A Contact Group on Prohibition
and Restriction convened in the evening.
Below: Delegates reading the latest ENB while waiting for the
morning Plenary to convene. Coffee and an ENB, the official breakfast
of POPs-5 participants.
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On the Prohibition
of the Production and Use of Certain POPs, URUGUAY opposed deleting
reference to the qualifier stating that prohibition is subject to
Parties' capabilities and to the availability of technical and financial
assistance.
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On import and
export, PANAMA opposed reference to the requirement that Parties
ensure that certain chemicals are not "placed in transit operation."
She later proposed text referring to the disposal of POPs in accordance
with the Basel Convention.
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| On
prohibition of imports and exports, the US, EU, PHILIPPINES, CANADA,
the REPUBLIC OF KOREA and others opposed including reference to this
and proposed addressing the issue within a bis paragraph. |
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Chair Buccini recaps the discussion on Articles D1 and D2
(prohibition and restriction of production and use), and outlines
the mandate
of the contact group convened to deal with these issues:
Part
one Part
two |
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On byproducts,
SOUTH AFRICA supported ultimate elimination "where technically
and economically feasible"
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BANGLADESH was among those that opposed reference to technical and
economic feasibility. |
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On best available
techniques (BATs) for reducing byproducts from existing sources, CHILE
supported reference to other prevention strategies and deleting reference
to feasibility, cost and timing. |
| KENYA
was among those who requested a country-specific exemption for DDT
in Annexes A and B, for public health reasons. |
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A contact group,
Co-Chaired by Reiner Arndt (Germany, left) and William Waissmann
(Brazil), was established to consider byproducts and Annex C.
Chair Buccini discusses the mandate of the Contact Group on D3
and Annex C (byproducts & POPs subject to release reduction)
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A
representative of INDIGENOUS ENVIRONMENTAL NETWORK stated that dioxin
discharges from pulp and paper mills have lead to health problems
in her community, and called for elimination of these substances.
A representative of PORT GRAHAM TRADITIONAL VILLAGE COUNCIL noted
efforts to ensure the future of their children, culture and traditional
resources.
RealAudio of the Traditional Village Council's statement |
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On behalf of Greenpeace International (right), a representative
from MOSSVILLE ENVIRONMENT ACTION NOW (left) urged the US government
to play a positive role in signing a treaty that will eliminate dioxins.
He detailed the heavy cost that pollutants in his community have had
on his family.
RealAudio of MEAN's statement |
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 STATEMENT
BY THE G-77/CHINA ON FINANCIAL RESOURCES AND MECHANISMS:
NIGERIA,
on behalf of the G-77/CHINA, said their preliminary reaction to
Monday's submission on Article K (UNEP/POPS/INC.5/CRP.2) was that
it was unacceptable because it does not take account of the concerns
raised by the Group at previous INCs, nor does it place obligations
on developed countries similar to those found in other agreements
such as the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). She highlighted
provisions in the CBD: developed countries shall provide new and
additional financial resources for full incremental costs; developing
countries' effective implementation of their commitments depends
on effective developed country implementation of financial commitments;
and there is a mechanism for providing financial resources on a
grant or concessional basis.
RealAudio of G77/China's statement
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| Above,
and right: view from the back of the Plenary hall at the Sandton
Convention Center |
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Cornered: The
ENB writing team having a discussion with Jim Willis, Director of
UNEP Chemicals Division (far right), before the afternoon plenary. |
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Early
morning meeting of the Secretariat
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In
the corridors...
The corridor mood
picked up Tuesday as delegates welcomed signs of a possible break in the
financial mechanism impasse and movement toward agreement on a GEF-based
mechanism, notwithstanding the strong G-77/China Plenary statement suggesting
the contrary. In spite of the buoyancy, a number of voices emphasized
that further GEF assurances and stronger language were a precondition
to resolution. It was also hinted that a small, informal negotiating group
might be required to help reach final agreement.
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