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 Highlights
from Thursday, 7 September
Delegates to
the informal meetings preceding SB-13 met in a Plenary session to
take stock of progress. They also met to consider: the mechanisms;
FCCC Article 4.8 and 4.9 and Protocol Article 3.14 (adverse effects);
compliance; capacity building; technology transfer; land use, land-use
change and forestry (LULUCF); policies and measures (P&Ms); and
guidelines under Protocol Articles 5 (methodological issues), 7
(communication of information) and 8 (review of information).
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 Plenary
Delegates
met in Plenary to hear brief progress reports from the Chairs
of the informal groups. SBI Chair Ashe thanked delegates and the
Chairs of the groups for their positive work. Right
to left: UNFCCC Executive Director Michael Zammit Cutajar; (SBSTA
Coordinator), SBSTA Chair Harold Dovland, and SBI Chair John Ashe.
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LULUCF
Chair Halldor Thorgeirsson
(Iceland), reported that the Group had divided its work into 3
phases: exploration of interlinkages, identification of priorities,
and opportunities for streamlining text. To date, the first phase
had been completed.
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SBI
Chair John Ashe reported on progress
in discussion on developing draft frameworks on capacity building
for countries with economies in transition and for developing countries.
He closed the plenary with his thoughts on the work to be accomplished
between now and the close of SB-13.
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Nigeria,
speaking on behalf of the G-77/China, expressed the hope that more
areas of convergence would continue to emerge during SB-13, and
stressed the importance of achieving a balanced package of decisions
at COP-6. Right:
UNFCCC Executive Secretary Michael Zammit Cutajar with the representative
of Nigeria
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 Adverse
Effects (Convention Articles 4.8 and 4.9 and Protocol Article 3.14)
Participants considered the section
of the Co-Chairs' text on the impact of implementation of response
measures. On the issue of future workshops, delegates stressed the
need for these to be clearly focused. AUSTRALIA, POLAND, the US,
EU and other Annex I Parties expressed reservations on a paragraph
inviting Annex I Parties to provide information on, inter alia,
existing market imperfections and subsidies in the energy sector.
SAUDI ARABIA said the paragraph should be retained. Left:
Co-Chair Bo Kjellen (Sweden)
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Mechanisms
Delegates
began discussion of the consolidated text on principles, modalities,
rules and guidelines regarding mechanisms pursuant to Articles 6,
12 and 17. On Joint Implementation (JI), Parties were unable to reach
agreement on whether to retain text relating to equity, comprehensiveness,
transparency, climate change effectiveness, fungibility, and sharing
of proceeds. |
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New
Zealand (left), opposed the G-77/China, advocated extending the
rigors of the CDM to JI. |
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The
G-77/China stressed the need to address the nature and scope of the
mechanisms. Canada (right), while accepting the centrality
of FCCC Article 3 (Principles), cautioned against going too far into
the nature and scope, while the EU (represented by France, left)
cautioned against defining new principles |
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Brazil
(left), recommended that reference to sinks be consistent with
Protocol language.
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Guidelines
under Articles 5, 7 and 8
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Delegates
continued discussing guidelines under Article 7.1 (inclusion of
supplementary information in annual inventories). The US, opposed
by the EU and AUSTRALIA, proposed deleting the section on adjustments
in accordance with Article 5.2 (adjustments), maintaining that reporting
should be the responsibility of the review team, not the Party.
SAMOA noted the work on the concept of a true-up period in the compliance
group, and said the group on Articles 5,7,and 8 should consider
technical constraints on its length. Left: Co-Chairs Festus Luboyera
(South Africa) and Helen Plume (New Zealand)
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 "Guignol"
(Puppet Show)
The
daily thematic "Guignol" puppet show, presented by the
Climate Action Network,
illustrated the devastation caused by global warming in the Arctic.
Environmental NGOs are also using this as an opportunity to present
the "Fossil of
the Day" Award. The award goes to countries based on interventions
made during the negotiations or on policies of the country, which
would negatively impact climate change. On Wednesday, 6 September,
France received the Fossil of the Day award. Lionel Jospin, Prime
Minister of France (below right), received the award for his reaction
to the protests by truckers in France over the high price of gasoline.
He offered to lower taxes for truckers, which NGOs claim is in contradiction
to his promises of policies aimed at energy efficiency.
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Prime Minister
Jospin (right) receiving the Fossil of the Day award
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In
the corridors...
Delegates have been
commenting on the irony of the timing of the crippling French transport
strike. Attendance at some of the sessions was affected on Thursday, and
there was speculation on the possible impact of the strike on the arrival
of key delegates, and on the already slow pace of the deliberations. Several
observers suggested that the strike begs the question: is the public really
prepared to pay for climate policies?
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