See more coverage of this event on the main IISD ENB website
We have launched a new website to better share our reports of global environmental negotiations.
As well as current coverage of new negotiations, you can find our original reports from this event by clicking here.
|
Seventh
Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on
Climate Change Marrakesh, Morocco 29 October to 9 November 2001 |
|||||
|
||||||
|
Highlights for Friday, 2 November 2001 Delegates to COP-7 met in a
morning Plenary session to hear progress reports from the chairs of the
subsidiary bodies and the negotiating groups, and to consider input to the
World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD). In the afternoon and
evening, the negotiating group on mechanisms resumed its work, and
drafting groups met on mechanisms, compliance and Protocol Articles 5
(methodological issues), 7 (communication of information) and 8 (review
of information). In addition, informal groups met on a number of issues,
including the Consultative Group of Experts (CGE). |
|
||
PLENARY:
COP-7 President Elyazghi (right) invited the chairs of the subsidiary bodies and negotiating groups to report on progress made so far. |
||
PROGRESS REPORTS BY THE CHAIRS OF THE SUBSIDIARY BODIES: | ||
SBI
Chair Ashe (left) said the SBI had considered all its agenda items and
completed consideration of a number of these, with several draft decisions
or conclusions in preparation. He drew attention to areas requiring further
work, including: proposals to amend the lists in UNFCCC Annexes I and II;
arrangements for intergovernmental meetings; matters relating to LDCs; the
CGE; and possible options to respond to late payment of contributions. Listen to the SBI progress report given by Chair Ashe |
||
SBSTA
Chair Dovland (right) informed delegates that SBSTA was holding
informal consultations to prepare conclusions on several items. He reported
that no major problems had been encountered, and hoped that work on
outstanding items would be completed soon. |
||
|
||
Mechanisms:
Co-Chair
Estrada (center) reported that two drafting groups had been formed, with one
working on the CDM, and the other focusing on JI and emissions trading. He
noted satisfactory progress, particularly in Thursday's meeting focusing
on Article 6 (JI). Describing Article 7.4 (assigned amounts) as a key
article containing definitions of a number of aspects of the mechanisms, he
noted that the G-77/ China has now defined its position, and said he
expected forward movement on this issue. Co-Chair Chow (left) stressed the
spirit of compromise and urged Parties to forward a "good text" to
ministers for their consideration next week.
Listen
to the progress report on Mechanisms by Chair
Estrada and Chair
Chow |
||
CANADA, for the UMBRELLA GROUP, expressed concern with the manner in which the discussion on linkages between compliance and eligibility to participate in the mechanisms was dealt with in the mechanisms contact group Thursday evening. He said several Parties did not agree with the Co-Chairs' formulation on this issue, and expressed concern that these objections had been overruled. Listen to Canada's intervention on behalf of the UMBRELLA GROUP |
||
JAPAN supported Canada's statement and expressed "alarm" at how this issue had been addressed. |
||
Co-Chair
Estrada responded that the text used by the Co-Chairs was taken directly
from the Bonn Agreements (FCCC/CP/2001/5, page 43, first paragraph), and
said the ministers' decision should be maintained. CANADA noted a lack of
consistency in the Bonn Agreements, described by COP-6 President Pronk as a
"clash" between the purpose of text on the mechanisms and that on
compliance.
Left photo: Paul Fauteux (CANADA) and Raul Estrada (ARGENTINA) in discussion
after the plenary session. |
||
Articles 5, 7 and 8: Chair Dovland reported that this group had engaged in an initial discussion on almost all outstanding issues, making some progress on a limited number of them. He indicated that two drafting groups had been formed to address the most difficult issues. | ||
Compliance: Co-Chair Slade reported on consultations on the draft compliance text in a drafting group and in smaller groups, noting that agreements had been confirmed or reconfirmed on a number of issues, but that a range of key issues remained unresolved, with some awaiting results of work in other groups. Listen to the progress report on Compliance given by Chair Neroni Slade |
||
WORLD
SUMMIT ON SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT:
On consideration of input to the WSSD, Parties stressed the principle of
common but differentiated responsibilities, the importance of the three
"pillars" of sustainable development, linkages between the UNFCCC, CCD
and CBD, and the opportunity the WSSD offers to consider progress made since
UNCED in 1992. A paper containing discussion elements for the COP
contribution to the WSSD was distributed later on Friday. Left photo: The view of the plenary with a screenshot of Belgium making a statement on behalf of the EU. |
||
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-7. | ||
|
||
*To view PDF files,
you
will need the free Adobe Acrobat Reader.
|
* To listen to Real Audio files, you will need the free Real Audio player. | |
© 2001, IISD. All rights reserved. |
|