*********** 012094B.PRG *********** Contributory Category: ENV From: Unedited Draft Copy available at IPCC WG III meeting Tsukuba, Japan, 17 January 1994 KEYWORDS: United Nations, Global Change, Framework Convention +++++ Part II/II INTERGOVERNMENTAL NEGOTIATING COMMITTEE FOR A FRAMEWORK CONVENTION ON CLIMATE CHANGE Ninth session Geneva, 7-18 February 1994 Item 2 of the provisional agenda MATTERS RELATING TO COMMITMENTS WORKING GROUP I ISSUES: FRAMEWORK FOR THE SESSION AND PLANNING PRIOR TO COP 1 +++++ III. THE NINTH SESSION 13. The agenda of Working Group I at the ninth session is very crowded: a total of nine substantive documents have to be considered in one way or another. A purely logical approach to the organization of work might suggest that the documents be considered more or less in the following order: o Methodological issues (A/AC.237/44) o GWPs (A/AC.237/44/Add.1) o Emissions from bunker fuels (A/AC.237/44/Add.2) o First review of information: guidelines and procedures for first communications (A/AC.237/45) o First review of information: report on initiative by Annex I countries (A/AC.237/45/Add.1) o Roles of subsidiary bodies (A/AC.237/46) o Review of adequacy of commitments (A/AC.237/47) o Criteria for joint implementation (A/AC.237/49) o Report on implementation (A/AC.237/48) 14. Additional considerations are, however, relevant. For example, it might be useful to discuss related aspects of different papers together or consecutively. Scheduling will also have to reflect the priorities for the session- as well as the desirability, in several instances, of having early discussions in the Working Group to enable informal and corridor consultations to occur prior to finalizing conclusions. In addition, it could be recalled that there was an understanding at the eighth session that, because of its importance and the fact that it had not been considered by the Working Group' the first item of business at the ninth session should be the review of the adequacy of commitments. 15. The interim secretariat would like to propose as priorities for the ninth session those issues requiring a provisional conclusion at the session so that the process for the communication of information can move forward. These would be: (a) Guidelines for the preparation of first communications by Annex I Parties (b) Methodologies for inventories to be used in the first communications; (c) The use of GWPs in the first communications; (d) Approaches to the use of emissions projections and assessing the effects of measures in the first communications; (e) Distribution and translation procedures for the first communications; and (f) Institutional arrangements to carry out the functions of the subsidiary bodies on an interim basis. 16. Based on the above paragraphs, a proposed schedule of work for the ninth session is attached as annex II. The proposed schedule of work has been developed on the assumption that it will be useful to undertake a first reading of most of the key issues during the first week of the session. Consequently, it is proposed that the discussion of a particular item, if not completed, be adjourned at the end of its allotted time slot. If further discussion on that item is necessary, it could be scheduled during the second week rather than continuing on the following day. This would avoid other agenda items being pushed back until late in the session. 17. The key features of the proposed schedule of work are the following: (a) The first item of business would be the review of the adequacy of commitments. There is the possibility of returning to the subject in the second week after the other related issues have been discussed; (b) The issues relating to methodologies for inventories, GWPs and emissions from bunker fuels would be discussed next so that the Working Group may benefit from the presence of the Chairman of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) during the first days of the session; (c) The guidelines for the preparation of first communications from Annex I Parties and the issue of emissions projections and assessing the effects of measures would be addressed together, followed by consideration of the procedures for translation and distribution of communications; (d) The functions of the subsidiary bodies and the institutional options to carry these out. prior to COP 1 would then be discussed; (e) The first week would conclude with a discussion of possible criteria for joint implementation; (f) The second week would see the continuation of discussions from week one, as necessary, the consideration and adoption of conclusions, which will be particularly important for those items noted in paragraph 13 above, and, if time permits, consideration of other items, such as the report on implementation, and priorities and scheduling of work for the tenth and eleventh sessions. IV. THE TENTH SESSION 18. on the assumption that most of the substantive discussions on methodologies (including inventories, GWPs and emissions from bunker fuels) and guidelines for communications from Annex I Parties (including emissions projections and assessing the effects of measures) will have been provisionally completed at the ninth session, it is proposed that these issues not be addressed at the tenth session. The focus of Working Group I efforts at the tenth session would be on completing preparatory work to enable the functions of the subsidiary bodies to be carried out prior to COP 1 in the manner to be decided by the Committee. Priority would thus be accorded to developing: (a) Recommendations to COP 1 on the functions, roles and responsibilities of the subsidiary bodies; (b) Conclusions on the process for the consideration of national communications; (c) Conclusions on the process for the review of the adequacy of commitments; and (d) Conclusions on the nature and timing of the first report on implementation. 19. Priority attention would also have to be given -to the criteria for joint implementation. Given the time constraints at the eleventh session, it is likely that the tenth session will be the last opportunity before COP 1 to give significant attention to this matter. It will thus be important to make as much progress as possible in developing conclusions and, if possible, preparing draft recommendations to COP 1. V. THE ELEVENTH SESSION 20. The eleventh session wig be the last occasion for Working Group I to complete its work. It will have to share the time and attention available with the tasks of the Committee relating to: (a) Financial mechanism; (b) Institutional matters (including the permanent secretariat); (c) Organizational arrangements for the COP (including elections and arrangements for ministerial participation). Subject to a decision by the Committee, it is also possible that a significant amount of the time available to the Committee will be dedicated to carrying out the functions of the subsidiary bodies (see paragraph 22 below). 21. Completion of the work of the Working Group might be expected to include the following: (a) A brief review of the Committee's previous conclusions on the following issues, to take account of new information, for their refinement and confirmation as recommendations to COP: - Methodologies for inventories (including guidance on the treatment of emissions from bunker fuels) - Guidance on the use of GWPs - Guidelines for the preparation of communications from Annex I Parties, including the periodicity of subsequent communications - Guidance on emissions projections and assessing the effects of measures (b) The finalization of recommendations to COP l on: - The roles and responsibilities of the subsidiary bodies - The process for the review of the adequacy of Article 4.2(a) and (b) - Criteria for joint implementation - The report on implementation 22. Document A/AC.237/46 considers three institutional options under which the functions of the subsidiary bodies could be carried out prior to COP 1. Whichever of these options the Committee chooses, it is likely to have significant impact on the time available for the operation of the Working Groups at the eleventh session. Of those functions of the subsidiary bodies that might have to be performed in the period prior to COP 1, the following are relevant to the mandate of Working Group I: (a) The consideration of the communications from Annex I Parties leading to the elaboration. of appropriate conclusions and possible recommendations thereon to COP 1. These could be expected to include, in particular, an aggregate assessment of the results achieved with reference to the benchmark established in the Convention; (b) The consideration of information on the global situation leading to the elaboration of appropriate conclusions and possible recommendations to COP 1. This could be expected to be relevant to the review of adequacy of commitments; and (c) Any consideration of the adequacy of Article 4.2(a) and (b), and on possible follow-up, that the Committee may request in preparation for the review of the adequacy of commitments that COP 1 will undertake. Annex I CALENDAR OF KEY DATES PRIOR TO COP 1 1994 7-18 February UNFCCC, ninth session 21 March UNFCCC entry into force 11 July Target date for completion of distribution of documents for INC/FCCC, tenth session 22-31 August INC/FCCC, tenth session 21 September Annex I Parties communications due (if country was a Party on 21 March. Other Annex I Parties' communications follow.) 10-12 November IPCC, tenth session (considers inventory methodologies and special report to INC/FCCC) 19 December Target date for completion of distribution of documents for INC/FCCC, eleventh session 1995 6-17 February INC/FCCC, eleventh session 28 February Target date for completion of distribution of documents for COP 1 28 March- 7 April COP 1 ************** END MSG. B.PRG **************