ENB @ Twenty-Fourth sessions of the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA) and the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI) of the UNFCCC and First session of the Ad Hoc Working Group on Further Commitments for Annex I Parties und

Twenty-Fourth sessions of the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA) and the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI) of the UNFCCC and First session of the Ad Hoc Working Group on Further Commitments for Annex I Parties under the Kyoto Protocol (AWG) and related meetings

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Highlights for Wednesday, 17 May 2006

The first session of the Ad Hoc Working Group (AWG) on Further Commitments for Annex I Parties under the Kyoto Protocol began on Wednesday afternoon, 17 May. It will continue to be held in parallel with the 24^th sessions of the UNFCCC Subsidiary Bodies (SB 24) until 25 May (SB 24 is scheduled for 18-26 May). On the AWG’s first day, parties elected the bureau and provided initial views on the AWG’s future work programme.

COP/MOP 1 Vice President Enele Sopoaga (Tuvalu) opened the meeting and welcomed delegates on behalf of COP/MOP 1 President Rona Ambrose (Canada). He noted that consultations had been held on candidates for the AWG bureau, and proposed Michael Zammit Cutajar ( Malta ) as Chair and Luiz Alberto Figueiredo Machado (Brazil) as Vice-Chair. Parties elected both candidates by acclamation.

More information.

Opening of the meeting:

Above photos L-R: Luiz Alberto Figueiredo Macahdo (Brazil) in a discussion with Keith Christie (Canada); Halldor Thorgeirsson, UNFCCC Secretariat (left), and Tibor Faragó (Hungary) in the corridors.

Above photos: Richard Kinley, Officer-in-Charge, UNFCCC Secretariat; EU delegates in a coordination huddle.

Above photos L-R: Richard Kinley, Officer-in-Charge of the UNFCCC Secretariat, emphasized the potential of market forces and the need for long-term and cohesive policies to fully unleash their power; AWG Chair Michael Zammit Cutajar thanked delegates for their confidence in him, noting that the intensity of negotiations on the AWG bureau confirms the importance of the AWG's work.


*General Statements:*



Above photos L-R: Helmut Hojesky (EU) said commitments must be clearly defined and fair; Chandrashekkar Dasgupta (India) stated that Annex I parties should take on more ambitious targets in a second commitment period.



Above photos L-R: Adrian Macey (New Zealand) cited convergence with other climate change initiatives, including the UNFCCC dialogue. COP/MOP 1 Vice President Enele Sopoaga (Tuvalu), speaking for AOSIS, stressed the need for significant contributions from all parties.

Above photos L-R: The RUSSIAN FEDERATION highlighted the issue of voluntary commitments; Fernando Tudela Abad (Mexico) observed that although there is no legal linkage between Article 3.9 and other articles, there are political and functional connections.

Above photos L-R: Miriam Munnich of the UNION OF INDUSTRIAL AND EMPLOYERS' CONFEDERATIONS OF EUROPE, on behalf of BINGOs, stressed the importance of the wide use of innovative technologies and of eliminating disincentives and barriers to their development and deployment. Matthias Duwe of CAN EUROPE, on behalf of ENGOs, stressed the need for new market mechanisms for developing countries, possibly including sectoral approaches.

Expert Meeting on Economic Diversification:

In addition to the AWG, a number of experts also met in a closed meeting on economic diversification. Held from 16-17 May, the meeting was the result of Decision 1/CP.10, taken at COP 10 in December 2004, which outlines the Buenos Aires programme of work on adaptation and response measures, and requested the UNFCCC secretariat to organize a meeting prior to SBI 24 “to consider how economic diversification might be integrated into, and support sustainable development strategies.”

The meeting involved contributions from representatives of the International Institute for Sustainable Development, International Energy Agency, University College London and various other organizations, as well as government officials from Saudi Arabia, Australia, the EU and others. Delegates engaged in discussions on possible technical support, foreign and domestic investments and partnerships to support economic diversification, and consideration of lessons learned (more information: http://unfccc.int/meetings/workshops/other_meetings/items/3639.php).

Daily web coverage:
15 May - 16 May - 17 May - 18 May - 19 May - 20 May - 22 May - 23 May - 24 May - 25 May - 26 May


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