Wednesday, 3 November

Parties move to intensify preparations for COP-6 with view to early implementation of the Kyoto Protocol
Participants in the High-level exchanges have agreed the need to maintain political momentum in order to fulfill the decision-making mandate of the Buenos Aires Plan of Action for COP-6. During the innovative high-level dialogue involving ministers and other senior government representatives, a number of countries stressed the need for measures to support an intensive work schedule between COP-5 and COP-6. The UK, Japan, Australia and Argentina were among those who advocated novel arrangements during the intersessional work, including facilitation, a Committee of the Whole and task forces. John Prescott, Deputy Prime Minister of the UK (right), also called for a 'Bonn Declaration.'

COP-5 President Szyszko invites the COP Secretary, Richard Kinley, to read his draft decision on implementation of the Buenos Aires Plan of Action.

The COP-5 Presidency has introduced a draft decision on implementing the BAPA. In the draft decision, Parties: request the subsidiary bodies to intensify the preparatory work and the BAPA-mandated decisions at COP-6; request the COP-6 President, with the assistance of the Bureau, to provide guidance to the subsidiary bodies and take all necessary steps to intensify the negotiating process on all issues and recommend an effective organisation of work up to COP-6, providing for a decision at COP-6 with the aim of bringing the Kyoto Protocol into force as early as possible; invites Parties to contribute to the preparatory work; and requests the UNFCCC Executive Secretary to make arrangements and provide substantive support for the intensified work programme.

Deliberations on compliance pause on a "delicate bridge"
At a meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Implementation, a Co-Chair of the joint working group on compliance, Espen Rønneberg, announced that a document with no official status within the Convention had been circulated among the Parties at the end of the group's deliberations. He said the document would serve only to provide the Parties with ideas for further thinking on the issues surrounding compliance.

Rønneberg explained that the document was prepared to encourage informal discussion among the Parties, to explain positions and facilitate understanding. The document bears the title, "The Co-Chairs' ideas regarding compliance" (3 November 1999). He thanked Parties for their cooperation and compromise, and noted that in the balance of the COP deliberations they had come up with a "delicate bridge."

SBI and SBSTA complete their work
SBI and SBSTA completed their work late Wednesday evening, adopting draft conclusions and decisions on some of the most contentious issues in the negotiations. Despite intensive negotiations on emissions resulting from fuel used for international transportation, the SBSTA was forced to defer consideration of invitations to the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and the International Maritime Organisation (IMO) to continue their efforts to identify ways to limit or reduce emissions of GHGs, taking account of the Kyoto Protocol. On land-use, land-use change and forestry (LULUCF), the Parties agreed on a draft decision to endorse a work programme and on elements of a decision-making process.

High Level Segment: Exchange of views
Note: RealVideo of statements made in Plenary are available from the Video Archive of the UNFCCC's Video-on-demand service Ministers and heads of delegations participated in an exchange of views, new initiative that allows participants to engage in an informal dialogue. In the morning delegates discussed "Progress made in dealing with climate change: lessons and challenges."
The dias: Klaus Töpfer, UNEP Executive Director, Zammit Cutajar, Szyszko and Fjellanger.	The exchange of views was co-chaired by COP-5 President Jan Szyszko, Poland (left), and Guro Fjellanger, Minister of the Environment, Norway (center). Richard Kinley, Secretary of the COP is seated at the right.
Jürgen Trittin, Federal Minister for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety, speaks with the Japanese delegation	Zammit Cutajar speaks with Ambassador Bagher Assadi, Iran
Svend Auken, Minister of Environment and Energy, Denmark	Syeda Chowdhury, Minister for Environment and Forests, Bangladesh, addresses north-south dynamics, and underlines the specific needs of developing countries for adequate financing and transfers of technologies.
During the high level session, the newly appointed European Commissioner for Environment, Nuclear Safety and Civil Protection Margot Wallström outlines European initiatives in policy development and industry participations. Wallstrom also encourages collaboration among post-industrialized countries and countries with economies in transition, in view of future trends in energy consumption, industrial activity and GHG emissions.	Shokong Zhong, Special Advisor on Environmental issues to China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, refocused attention on the spirit of the Convention and encouraged continued efforts to remain true to ensuring the environmental integrity of the Kyoto Protocol.
During the afternoon high-level exchange of views, delegates discussed "The way forward - promoting implementation of the Buenos Aires Plan of Action and early entry into force of the Kyoto Protocol." The discussion gave rise to a lively exchange on novel approaches to maintaining political momentum and facilitating an intensive year of preparations for COP-6.
John Prescott, Deputy Prime Minister, UK, proposed a Bonn Declaration reaffirming the political will to complete work on the Buenos Aires Plan of Action by COP-6.	Frank Loy, US Under Secretary of State for Global Affairs, and John Prescott, Deputy Prime Minister, UK. The US supported the UK's proposal
Japan suggested that COP-5 President Szyszko be empowered to appoint a special facilitator to assist negotiations before COP-6.	Lawrence Kezimbira-Miyingo, Minister of State for Environment, Ministry of Water, Land and Environment, Uganda, co-chaired the afternoon exchange of views
Christopher Langman, Assistant Secretary, Environment Branch, Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, Australia, proposed the establishment of a Committee of the Whole chaired by a facilitator	Shokong Zhong, Special Advisor on Environmental Issues, Minister of Foreign Affairs, China, said opposed the proposals to establish new groups or mechanisms to assist progress towards COP-6, stressing that the existing FCCC bodies and structures should be employed to this end.
Raul Estrada, former chair of the Ad Hoc Group on the Berlin Mandate (AGBM)

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