FCCC/SB/1996/L.1 14. Communications from Parties not included in Annex I to the Convention The SBI invited Parties not included in Annex I to nominate national focal points for facilitating assistance for the preparation of the initial communications. Technology inventory and assessment (agenda item 7 of SBSTA 2) 15. The SBSTA urged all Parties who have not already done so to provide the secretariat information and databases on environmentally sound and economically viable technologies and know-how conducive to mitigating and adapting to climate change, including information from the private sector when possible, and to continue to do so on a routine basis in the future. 16. Transfer of technology (agenda item 5 of SBI 2) The SBI invited Parties to submit comments on the subjects identified in the conclusions on this agenda item to the secretariat by 15 April 1996 (see paragraphs 69-75 below). Activities implemented jointly (agenda item 6 of SBSTA 2 and agenda item 6 of SBI 2) 17. The SBSTA invited Parties to submit reports in accordance with the initial reporting framework on activities implemented jointly (see section VII below). If the Parties choose not to report jointly, the secretariat will not be in a position to process information on that project until reports on that project from all Parties concerned, particularly developing country Parties, are transmitted to the secretariat. 18. The SBSTA invited Parties to identify the relevant governmental authority/ministry authorized to accept, approve or endorse activities implemented jointly and to report to the COP through the secretariat. 19. The SBI invited Parties to submit information to the secretariat by 1 April 1996 in accordance with the SBSTA decision for inclusion in a progress report on activities implemented jointly (see paragraphs section VII below). 20. Establishment of intergovernmental technical advisory panel(s) The SBSTA requested the Parties to submit comments on the concept of a roster of experts to assist the Convention process in the conduct of its work, including the disciplines FCCC/SB/1996/L.1 21. III. SCIENTIFIC ASSESSMENTS A. Extract from the provisional report of the SBSTA Consideration of the Second Assessment Report of the 1. Proceedings Some delegations drew attention to a number of important findings in the Second Assessment Report which they felt should be communicated to all bodies of the Convention and particularly to the AGBM, for consideration. These delegations highlighted that these findings underlined the necessity for urgent action to address adverse effects of climate change, including mitigation and adaptation;. (a) Atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases and aerosols are increasing largely because of human activities (IPCC Synthesis Report, Section 2.2, 2.3); (b) Climate has changed over the past century (S.R. 2.4); (c) The balance of evidence suggests a discernible human influence on global climate (S.R. 2.4); (d) Without specific policies to mitigate climate change, the global mean surface air temperature relative to 1990 is projected to increase by about 2 degrees Celsius (between 1.0 and 3.5 degrees Celsius) by 2100. This is probably greater than any observed during the last 10,000 years (S.R. 2.8); (e) Average sea level is projected to rise by about 50 centimetres (between 15 and 95 centimetres) above present levels by 2100 (S.R. 2.8); (f) Stabilization of atmospheric concentrations at twice pre-industrial levels will eventually require global emissions to be less than 50 percent of current levels (S.R. 4.10); (g) Even if the concentrations of greenhouse gases were stabilized at 2100, global mean surface air temperature would continue to rise for some decades, and sea level for many centuries beyond that time (S.R. 2.7, 2.8); (h) The projected changes in climate change will result in significant, often adverse impacts on many ecological systems and socio-economic sectors, including food supply and water resources, and on human health. In some cases, the impacts are potentially FCCC/SB/1996/L.1. (i) Developing countries and small island countries are typically more vulnerable to climate change (S.R. 3.3); (j) Significant reductions in net greenhouse gas emissions are technically possible and economically feasible by utilizing an extensive array of technology and policy measures that accelerate technology development, diffusion and transfer (S.R. 5.2); (k) Significant no regrets opportunities are available in most countries tor educe net greenhouse gas emissions. Furthermore, the risk of aggregate net damage due to climate change, consideration of risk aversion, and the precautionary principle provide rationales for action beyond no regrets (S.R. 8.2); (1) A portfolio of existing cost effective technologies, policies and measures can be used to markedly reduce the net emissions of greenhouse gases from all sectors (S.R, 5.5, 5.6, 5.11, 5.12, 8.4); (m) ་ Flexible, cost effective policies relying on economic incentives and instruments, as well as coordinated instruments, can considerably reduce mitigation and adaptation costs, or can increase the cost-effectiveness of emission reduction measures (S.R. 8.3); (n) Equity considerations are an important aspect of climate change policy and in achieving sustainable development. The intertemporal aspects of climate change policy also raise questions of intergenerational equity (S.R. 6.1, 6.5); (0) uncertainties. 22. Uncertainties remain and there is a need for further work to reduce these Other delegations expressed their view that it is very premature for the SBSTA to attempt to highlight specific findings of conclusions contained in the Second Assessment Report. They stated their belief that the list of items identified by certain delegations was highly selective and reflected a very limited, and, therefore, biased view of what were important findings in the Second Assessment Report. They also pointed out that some of the items listed by others were taken out of context and failed to set forth important qualifications that the IPCC specifically stated. 23. These delegations suggested that a preliminary review of the IPCC's Synthesis Report indicated that other, important IPCC findings included, inter alia: (a) Item 21 (c), above, is merely quoted selectively concerning the IPCC's conclusions that the balance of evidence suggests a discernible human influence on global climate. It fails to disclose the key IPCC finding that its ability to quantify the human influence is limited "because there are uncertainties in key factors." It fails to disclose that FCCC/SB/1996/L.1 one of these uncertainties in key factors concerns the magnitude and patterns of long-term natural variability. This information is clearly set forth in the Working Group I Summary for Policymakers, page 4 and in the IPCC Synthesis report, para. 2.4. (b) Item 21 (d), above, fails to disclose that, the estimated temperature increase of 2°C by 2100 is approximately 1/3 lower than the IPCC's "best estimate" in 1990. That information is contained in para. 2.7 of the Synthesis Report and on page 5 of the Working Group I Summary for Policymakers. (c) Item 21 (e), above, fails to disclose the important information that the estimate of sea level rise by 2100 is 25 per cent lower than the IPCC's "best estimate" in 1990. That information is found in para. 2.8 of the Synthesis report and on page 5 of the Working Group I Summary for Policymakers. (d) Much attention has been paid to the issues of so called extreme events. Unfortunately the items in paragraph 21 above, fail to disclose the very important conclusion that "there are inadequate data to determine whether consistent global changes in climatevariability or weather extremes have occurred over the 20th century." Such information is located at para. 2.5 of the Synthesis report and on p.3 of the Working Group I Summary for Policymakers. (e) Certainly, a key finding of the IPCC Synthesis report, found in para. 2.12, is that "many uncertainties and many factors currently limit our ability to project and detect future climate change." (f) Insofar as item 21 (h), above purports to deal with impacts on food supply, it is seriously misleading because it fails to disclose the key information in para. 3.13 of the Synthesis report and Section 3.3 of the IPCC Working Group II Summary for Policymakers that "existing studies show that on the whole, global agricultural production could be maintained relative to baseline production in the face of climate change projected underdoubled equivalent CO2 equilibrium." (g) Insofar as the list of items, above, concern response strategies and call for urgent action, it should be recalled that IPCC Working Group III specifically concluded that "the value of better information about climate change processes and impacts and society's responses to them is likely to be great," and that para.8.4 of the Synthesis report called attention to "large differences in the cost of reducing greenhouse gas emissions, and enhancing sinks, among countries due to their state of economic development, infrastructure FCCC/SB/1996/L.1 24. 2. Conclusions The Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA) expressed its appreciation to the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and to the Chairman of the IPCC for the excellent work carried out in drawing up the Second Assessment Report and for the Chairman's presentation to the SBSTA on 27 February of the key points from the report. It considered the Second Assessment Report to be the most comprehensive assessment of available scientific and technical information related to climate change. 25. The SBSTA held an initial exchange of views on the Second Assessment Report during its meetings. It commended the entire Second Assessment Report to all bodies of the Convention and particularly to the Ad Hoc Group on the Berlin Mandate (AGBM). The SBSTA invited Parties to send their views on the Report to facilitate a full considération of the Report, at the third session, in keeping with its mandate as contained in paragraph 1 of Annex I and paragraph 1 of Annex II of COP decision 6/CP.1. The views of the Parties should be transmitted to the secretariat by 30 April 1996. 26. The SBSTA decided to include in its future work programme the key questions, deriving from Article 2 of the Convention, namely the level of atmospheric greenhouse gases concentrations that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system and the paths to stabilization at that level, taking into account the common but differentiated responsibilities of Parties. In this context, the IPCC Second Assessment synthesis of scientific-technical information relevant to interpreting Article 2 of the Convention was considered as an important scientifically-based, comprehensive analysis. It also recognized that the IPCC would have to provide further technical inputs that would enable the SBSTA and the Conference of the Parties (COP) to address the ultimate objective of the Convention. 27. The SBSTA also agreed that the findings and projections of the Second Assessment Report should be made available in a suitable form to different audiences with special attention being given to the impacts and circumstances at national and regional level. It invited Parties, organizations and institutions to give appropriate attention to this need. 28. The SBSTA took note of the information provided by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), and by a number of Parties, relevant to the implementation of Article 5 of the Convention, on Research and Systematic Observation. It requested the secretariat to prepare a summary report on research and observation issues, with attention to Article 5, and particularly to Article 5 (c), of the Convention, in close collaboration with Parties and concerned international organizations, and taking into account the recommendations of the Second Assessment Report, for consideration by the third session of |