 |
|
Seventh
Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on
Climate Change Marrakesh, Morocco 29 October to 9 November 2001 |
||||
|
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
Highlights for Wednesday, 7 November 2001
The
High-Level Segment of COP-7 opened in the morning with speeches from
representatives of UN bodies and specialized agencies, and a welcoming
ceremony. It continued in the afternoon and evening with presentations
from youth representatives and statements from 44 ministers and other
heads of delegation. Negotiations also continued on the mechanisms,
Protocol Articles 5 (methodological issues), 7 (communication of
information) and 8 (review of information), and LDCs. |
|
|||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
|
||
 UNEP urged ratification of the Protocol prior to the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) and underlined the need to address the two global crises of ecological degradation and extreme poverty. Right photo: Klaus Töpfer, UNEP Executive Director during a side event on CDM. |
||
| The CCD highlighted the importance of improving synergies between the Rio Conventions. | ||
| WELCOMING CEREMONY: | ||
 
Following
these statements, an official welcoming ceremony was held. UNEP Executive
Director Klaus Töpfer (right) delivered a speech on behalf of UN
Secretary-General Kofi Annan, in which he: highlighted the environment and
development elements of climate change; noted the need for significant
long-term changes in social and economic behaviors; expressed appreciation
for the work of COP-6 President Pronk, noting that Pronk would serve as his
special envoy to the WSSD; and underlined the importance of multilateralism.
|
||
Prince
Moulay Rachid of Morocco (left), speaking on behalf of King Mohammed VI,
underlined the need for internationally-shared ethical values, and urged
that "hatred and rejection of the 'other' must not be reduced and
oversimplified by a vision that is blurred by emotion on the spur of the
moment to the extent that it divides the world by concentrating the 'good
guys' on just one side of it."
Urging
international solidarity in addressing environmental concerns, he called for
technology transfer, new and additional financial resources, and reducing
external debt burdens. |
||
| STATEMENTS BY YOUTH REPRESENTATIVES: | ||
|
|
||
|
Photo above: Delegates from MOROCCO'S CHILDREN'S PARLIAMENT and FRANCOPHONE YOUNG PEOPLE'S PARLIAMENT. Right photo: Youth representing the WORLD YOUTH ORGANIZATION ON CLIMATE CHANGE |
|
|
 STATEMENT BY UNFCCC EXECUTIVE SECRETARY: In
his final speech in a high-level segment, UNFCCC Executive Secretary Michael
Zammit Cutajar congratulated the Secretariat staff on their dynamism and
commitment, and thanked Parties for their trust and for not engaging in
micro-management. |
||
|
|
||
 STATEMENTS BY PARTIES: Forty-four ministers and heads of delegation made statements. Many speakers highlighted the importance of maintaining the environmental integrity of the Protocol. Parties also drew attention to success on Tuesday in negotiations on compliance, and called for completion at COP-7 of work under the Buenos Aires Plan of Action, with many stating that this would support ratification and entry into force in time for the WSSD in September 2002. Left photo: Ministers and Heads of Delegation at the Royal Palace. |
||
|
|
||
On
the current negotiations at COP-7, SWITZERLAND said it could not accept
changes that weaken the Bonn Agreements, and stated that no country can
shirk its responsibilities, especially if it is a major country in the
ratification process. Left photo: President Moritz Leuenberger
(SWITZERLAND) |
||
|
|
||
|
|
||
BELGIUM, for the EU, highlighted outstanding issues on the mechanisms requiring resolution, including the election of the Executive Board of the CDM. Left photo: Olivier Deleuze, Secretary of State for Energy and Sustainable Development. |
||
BULGARIA,
for CG-11, CYPRUS and MALTA, noted the special circumstances of these
individual countries in fulfilling their commitments. Left photo: Fatme
Iliaz, Deputy Minister of Environment (BULGARIA) |
||
| CANADA highlighted the need to be responsive to those whose participation is critical to entry into force of the Protocol. | ||
|
More Statements from the High-Level Segment: |
||
|
|
||
|
L-R: Paula
Dobriansky (US), Tuiloma
Neroni Slade (SAMOA on behalf of AOSIS), Yoriko
Kawaguchi (JAPAN), Jürgen
Trittin (GERMANY), and Margot
Wallström (EC)
|
||
|
NEGOTIATING
GROUPS AND INFORMAL CONSULTATIONS: |
||
 PROTOCOL
ARTICLES 5, 7 AND 8: The
negotiating group on Articles 5, 7 and 8 met in afternoon and evening
sessions. Chair Dovland informed participants of an agreement with the mechanisms
group that a separate decision would be issued on Article 7.4 (assigned
amounts), with some aspects of the current work on Articles 5, 7 and 8
being covered under this decision. |
||
|
MECHANISMS: Secretary
of State Philippe Roch (Switzerland) and Minister Valli Moosa (South
Africa) facilitated consultations with various regional groups on the
mechanisms negotiating group Co-Chairs' new non-paper. Discussions
reportedly focused on, inter alia,
eligibility and reporting on sinks, and carry over of units. |
||
| LDCS: In the contact group's final meeting, Chair Gamede noted the three draft proposals under consideration for adoption relating to: the guidelines for the preparation of NAPAs and their annex; establishment of an LDC Expert Group; and guidance on the operation of the LDC Fund. | ||
|
||
 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. |
|
|
