The
Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI) and the Subsidiary Body for
Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA) met to take up the agenda
of work for their fourteenth sessions. Delegates also met in a brief
afternoon Plenary.Left
photo: SBSTA Chair Harald Dovland
In
cooperation with the UNFCCC Secretariat, the ENB will also publish ENB
on the side- a special daily report on selected side events from
COP-6bis. a special daily report on selected side events from
COP-6bis.
SBI:
SBI
met in the morning for the first meeting of its fourteenth session.
ORGANIZATIONAL MATTERS:
On
organizational matters, the SBI adopted its agenda and the list of
NGOs recommended to participate in its work as observers. On election
of officers, SBI Chair John Ashe said that he and SBSTA Chair Harald
Dovland were undertaking consultations with the respective regional
groups.
ADMINISTRATIVE
AND FINANCIAL MATTERS: On
administrative and financial matters, SBI first considered the
financial performance for 2000-2001. The Secretariat highlighted that
a revised indicative list of contributions was presented for 2001,
pursuant to the adoption by the UN General Assembly in 2000 of a
revised scale of assessment. He noted the special annual contribution
of DM 3.5 million made by the host government.
On
Implementation of the Headquarters Agreement, UNFCCC Executive
Secretary Michael Zammit Cutajar noted the need to need to move an
increasing number of staff to outflow accommodation, as the
Secretariat continues to grow. An initial offer by the German
Government for part of the former Bundeshaus complex was deemed
insufficient to meet ongoing needs. However, he hoped the situation
would be resolved shortly. Some progress on visa and other issues was
also noted. GERMANY highlighted its commitment to guarantee adequate
accommodation and best possible working conditions for UN personnel.
He said talks are ongoing to accommodate all UN organizations in Bonn
in a single location.
REPORTS
ON INTER-SESSIONAL ACTIVITIES: On
reports on inter-sessional activities, SBI considered the work of the
Consultative Group of Experts (CGE) on National Communications from
Parties not included in Annex I. In presenting the preliminary report
of the Group, Chair Vute Wangwacharakul (Thailand) said that, on the
basis of the examination of 50 national communications, the Group had
identified a number of problems that may be addressed, inter
alia, through the provision of adequate financial and technical
assistance.
SBSTA:
SBSTA
met in the morning for the first meeting of its fourteenth session,
and resumed its work in the afternoon.
ORGANIZATIONAL
MATTERS:
Delegates adopted the SBSTA agenda. On the election of officers, Chair
Dovland noted that consultations are ongoing.
COOPERATION WITH
RELEVANT INTERNATIONAL ORGANIZATIONS:
Chair Dovland noted ongoing
initiatives between the UNFCCC and the Convention on Biological
Diversity (CBD). Jan Plesnik, Chair of the CBD Subsidiary Body on
Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice, reported on
initiatives in the CBD to address interlinkages between biodiversity
and climate change.
Bob Watson, IPCC Chair, reported
on the preparation of an IPCC Technical Paper on linkages between the UNFCCC and
the CBD. The G-77/CHINA called for a joint CBD-UNFCCC programme to further
assess interlinkages.
The
EU emphasized developments with regard to international environmental
governance. He stressed: coordination at the national level, and
supported: a joint work plan between the UNFCCC and CBD Secretariats;
a joint workshop; and, with UGANDA, ZIMBABWE and AUSTRALIA,
cooperation with the desertification convention (CCD) and the UN Forum
on Forests.
REPORTS
ON INTER-SESSIONAL ACTIVITIES:On
emissions resulting from fuel used in international transportation,
the Secretariat highlighted inter-sessional work as contained in a
joint report with the International Civil Aviation Organization and
the International Maritime Organization. A discussion on this is
scheduled for SBSTA-15. The EU expressed concern about rising
emissions from air transportation and noted that ICAO is scheduled to
meet in September with a view to reaching decisions on this question.
BRAZILIAN
PROPOSAL:
On Brazil's proposal on reductions toward an overall emission
ceiling for Annex I Parties allocated on the basis of each Party's
relative share of responsibility for climate change, Chair Dovland
said a workshop had been held to identify scientific and
methodological aspects of the proposal.
POLICIES
AND MEASURES: On "best
practices" in policies and measures among Annex I Parties, Chair
Dovland noted Party views submitted on the Terms of Reference (TOR)
for a proposed workshop, to be concluded at the current SBSTA session.
SAUDI ARABIA, opposed by the G-77/CHINA, CG-11, the EU, AOSIS and
others, requested that the issue be deferred, as a decision regarding
the workshop had not been officially adopted at COP-6 Part I. Chair
Dovland said he would consult with President Pronk and said informal
consultations on the TOR would be facilitated by Switzerland and
Tanzania.
PLENARY
In
a late-afternoon Plenary, COP-6 President Pronk explained that the
remaining negotiations at the resumed COP-6 would be based on The
Hague text and the consolidated negotiating text (the "Pronk
text"), while incorporating the political agreements reached by the
Ministers on Monday, 23 July. He proposed that the remaining work be
conducted in the five negotiating groups on finance, mechanisms,
LULUCF, compliance and Protocol Articles 5 (methodological issues), 7
(communication of information) and 8 (review of information). SAUDI
ARABIA, for the G-77/CHINA, said that the work on Articles 5, 7 and 8
should start only after the adoption of the decisions on the Buenos
Aires Plan of Action. President Pronk said there would be daily
meetings with the negotiating groups' Chairs to provide clarity on
the timing and structure of the remainder of the session. He then
suspended the meeting early at the request of the RUSSIAN FEDERATION
and UKRAINE, due to lack of interpretation facilities.
Catch-up on the latest news,
information and analysis from international environment and
development negotiations with Linkages Journal. Each month, Linkages
Journal - the sister publication of Earth Negotiations Bulletin -
updates readers on what's been happening and what to expect in key
negotiations and processes, including those on climate change, forestry, desertification,
biodiversity, wetlands, ozone, chemical management, trade, and
development.
To
take out a free e-mail subscription to Linkages Journal, please choose the
*
To view PDF files, you will need the
free
Adobe
Acrobat Reader:
To
listen to IISD's
Real Audio coverage you will
need the
free RealAudio
Player.
*
To view PDF files, you will need the
free
Adobe
Acrobat Reader:
