FCCC/SB/1996/L.1 Scientific assessments: Cooperation with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (agenda item 4 (b) of SBSTA 2) Conclusions 29. The SBSTA noted with appreciation the decisions taken by the IPCC at its eleventh session in Rome (December 1995), on its future work programme, and particularly that it intends to prepare a Third Assessment Report by about 2000 and continue to work on methodologies for greenhouse gas inventory. 30. The SBSTA considered the conclusions of the meetings of the Joint Working Group of officers of the UNFCCC and the IPCC. Taking into account also the statements made during the session, it requested the IPCC to undertake the proposed activities in support of the SBSTA contained in the annex to this document, and advise the SBSTA accordingly. 31. The SBSTA requested the secretariat to take these proposed activities as the basis for proposing a financial contribution to the IPCC in 1996, as provided in the Convention budget and to report thereon to the third session of the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI) and the second session of the COP. 32. The SBSTA appreciated that, in addition to the proposed activities in the annex to this document, the IPCC was providing enhanced scientific and technical information to the evolving needs of the AGBM. 33. The SBSTA noted that, for several issues identified in the annex to this document FCCC/SBSTA/1995/3, some information is available in the IPCC Special Report 1994, the Second Assessment Report, and would be expected to be included in the Third Assessment Report. These issues are: Developing and / or assessing: a) methodologies for projecting national, regional and global emissions, b) methodologies for evaluating the effects of measures, and c) the application of global warming potentials; İnformation on sources and sinks; Reducing uncertainties related to particulate matter and tropospheric ozone. 34. The SBSTA noted further that, in addition to its sponsoring bodies WMO and UNEP, the IPCC was cooperating with other relevant competent international organizations in responding to the need for objective scientific and technical advice, and emphasized the FCCC/SB/1996/L.1 35. Finally, the SBSTA requested its Chairman to continue the series of meetings of the Joint Working Group of Officers of the UNFCCC and the IPCC, as and when appropriate, and to report on these meetings to future sessions of the SBSTA. Conclusions IV. NATIONAL COMMUNICATIONS A. Extract from the provisional report of the SBSTA Communications from Parties included in Annex I to the Convention 36. The Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA) took note of the progress report on in-depth reviews (FCCC/SB/1996/2) and of the in-depth review. reports issued so far (FCCC/IDR.1/CZE, FCCC/IDR.1/SWE, FCCC/IDR.1/AUS, FCCC/IDR.1/USA, FCCC/IDR.1/CAN, FCCC/IDR.1/CHE). The SBSTA endorsed the format, scope and approaches of the in-depth review reports and emphasized the importance of monitoring the overall implementation of the Convention. The SBSTA took note with regret that the time schedule for these reviews as set by the first session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 1) could not be met owing to resource limitations and/or scheduling problems. It stressed the importance of completing the first cycle of in-depth reviews by the end of 1996 and of issuing as many reports as possible before the next sessions of subsidiary bodies, with a view to holding a substantive discussion at those sessions. 37. The SBSTA endorsed the proposed outline and approaches to be taken during the second.compilation and synthesis of first national communications, as suggested by the secretariat in its document FCCC/SB/1996/1. The SBSTA requested the secretariat to explore ways to use tables in the compilation of policies and measures and to describe national circumstances, inter alia, national policy targets. 38. The SBSTA took note of preliminary data presented in document FCCC/SB/1996/1/Add.1 on projections of emissions of greenhouse gases for the year 2000 which indicate that many Annex I Parties will have to make additional efforts beyond those included in projections in order to return greenhouse gas emissions to base year levels by 2000, and stressed the need for more transparency in the assumptions made in these projections. 39. The SBSTA recalled decision 3/CP.1 (FCCC/CP/1995/7/Add. 1) requesting Annex I Parties to submit to the secretariat national inventory data for the period 1990-1993 and, where available, for 1994 by 15 April 1996, and encouraged these Parties to submit these data at an earlier date to facilitate preparation of the second compilation and synthesis report. It recognized that Annex I Parties with economies in transition may exercise a certain degree of flexibility based on Article 4.6 of the Convention regarding these submissions. FCCC/SB/1996/L.1 40. The SBSTA invited Annex I Parties to forward to the secretariat their suggestions related to presentation of inventory data on the land use change and forestry sector for years subsequent to 1990 and on projections in this sector, as well as on aggregating data on greenhouse gases sources and sinks from this and other sectors, by 1 April 1996. 41. The SBSTA will consider technical aspects of available in-depth review reports and of the second compilation and synthesis report at its third session in order to draw relevant conclusions to the attention of the Subsidiary Body for Implementation and the Ad Hoc Group on the Berlin Mandate at its fourth session and to the COP at its second session. 42. The SBSTA took note of document FCCC/SBSTA/1996/3 and endorsed the proposals regarding the revisions to the Guidelines to ensure consistency with COP decisions. The SBSTA requested that revised guidelines contain more specific guidance on the description of policies and measures and their effects, projections and underlying assumptions and technological cooperation and transfer using, where feasible, standardized formats and tables. The revised guidelines should also take into account the issues referred to by the SBI in its conclusions on the transfer of technology. The SBSTA invited Parties to submit views on possible revisions to the Guidelines as suggested in document FCCC/SBSTA/1996/3 by 1 April 1996. 43. The SBSTA requested the secretariat to prepare a report suggesting possible revisions to the Guidelines, taking into account the submissions by Parties and the experience from the review process, for consideration at its third session, aiming at adopting revised guidelines at COP 2 in time for the preparation of second national communications by Annex I Parties. 44. The SBSTA, with a view to overcoming inconsistencies in the presentation of data on inventories, requested the secretariat to address issues such as temperature adjustments, electricity trade, bunker fuels, use of global warming potentials, land use change, and forestry in the documentation to be prepared for consideration by the SBSTA at its third session. Conclusions B. Extract from the provisional report of SBI Communications from Parties included in Annex I to the Convention 45. The SBI took note of the progress report on in-depth reviews (FCCC/SB/1996/2) and of the in-depth review reports issued so far (FCCC/IDR.1/CZE, FCCC/IDR.1/SWE, FCCC/IDR.1/AUS, FCCC/IDR.1/USA, FCCC/IDR.1/CAN, FCCC/IDR.1/CHE). It expressed its appreciation to the Parties which have hosted in-depth review visits, to the Parties and intergovernmental organizations which have nominated experts and to the FCCC/SB/1996/L.1 46. The SBI concluded that the progress report on in-depth reviews provides useful information on the implementation of the Convention. It also urged the Parties included in Annex I to the Convention that have not yet submitted national communications to do so in time for the second session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 2). 47. The SBI envisages that policy aspects of the available in-depth review reports are to be fully considered as a separate agenda item at its third session in order to draw relevant conclusions to the attention of the Ad Hoc Group on the Berlin Mandate at its fourth session and to the COP at its second session. 48. The SBI invited the SBSTA to consider ways of enhancing transparency, comparability and consistency through more specific reporting guidelines, including standard formats and tables, inter alia, for the description of policies and measures. In doing so, these Parties are invited to describe, to the extent possible, the specific effects expected from individual mitigation measures. 49. The SBI invited the SBSTA to analyse from a technical point of view reporting options on such issues as temperature adjustments, electricity trade, bunker fuels, use of global warming potentials and land use change and forestry to resolve inconsistencies in the reporting of inventories with the aim of enhancing comparability. It also invited the SBSTA to make relevant recommendations to the SBI. 50. The SBI endorsed the outline and approaches proposed for the second compilation and synthesis of first national communications, as described in document FCCC/SB/1996/1, and suggested that the presentation of policies and measures should highlight those that are innovative, successful and/or potentially replicable. 51. The SBI took note of preliminary data presented in document FCCC/SB/1996/1/Add.1 on projections of emissions of greenhouse gases for the year 2000 which indicate that many Annex I Parties will have to make additional efforts beyond those included in projections in order to return their greenhouse gas emissions not controlled by the Montreal Protocol to base year levels by 2000. 52. The SBI concluded that mechanisms should be explored to facilitate the exchange of experiences in carrying out national programmes to implement the Convention. In that context, the SBI requested the secretariat to convene an informal workshop, preferably in conjunction with the fourth session of the SBI, focusing the discussion on the implementation aspects of specific policies and measures taken by these Parties. This workshop could also present an opportunity to assess the results of the first cycle of in-depth reviews. FCCC/SB/1996/L.1 C. Extract from the provisional report of the SBSTA Communications from Parties not included in Annex I to the Convention Conclusions 53. The Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA) recalled decisions 8/CP.1. 54. The SBSTA took note of document FCCC/SB/1996/3. It also noted with appreciation document FCCC/SB/1996/MISC.1/Add.1 containing the Position Paper of the Group of 77 and China on recommendations on guidelines and format for preparation of initial communications from non-Annex I Parties, which was developed on the basis of the workshop held on 26 February 1996. 55. The SBSTA considered document FCCC/SB/MISC.1/Add.1 the principal basis for the adoption of guidelines and format for preparation of initial communications from Parties not included in Annex I. The SBSTA should continue consideration of the item in the subsequent session. D. Extract from the provisional report of the SBI Communications from Parties not included in Annex I to the Convention Conclusions 56. The Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI) recalled decisions 8/CP.1. 57. The SBI took note of document FCCC/SB/1996/3. It also noted with appreciation document FCCC/SB/1996/MISC.1/Add.1 containing the Position Paper of the Group of 77 and China on recommendations on guidelines and format for preparation of initial communications from non-Annex I Parties, which was developed on the basis of the workshop held on 26 February 1996. 58. The SBI considered document FCCC/SB/1996/MISC.1/Add.1 as the principal basis for the decision to adopt and implement guidelines and format for preparation of initial communications from Parties not included in Annex I. It also noted that the SBSTA would continue consideration of the item in the subsequent session. 59. The SBI noted the intention of non Annex I Parties to conduct a workshop, as a follow up to the earlier one, to address issues relating to implementation, and requested the secretariat to facilitate assistance in this regard, in accordance with Article 8.2. |