FCCC/SB/1996/L. 1 preparation of national communications by developing country Parties in accordance with Article 12.1; (b) The GEF, as the interim operating entity of the financial mechanism of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, in that connection, should consider country-specific needs but could also consider approaches which may be used for several countries with similar needs upon request, and take into account that the preparation of national communications is a continuing process. In this regard, the guidelines to be adopted by the Conference of the Parties (COP) on the preparation of the national communications of non-Annex I Parties should be taken fully into account; (c) The GEF, as the interim operating entity of the financial mechanism of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, in this initial period, should implement enabling activities consistent with the guidance provided to it by the COP and expedite the disbursement of resources to meet the agreed full costs of such activities in accordance with Article 4.3, in particular the initial and subsequent preparation of national communications of Parties not included in Annex I to the Convention. Technical and financial cooperation: progress report Conclusions 86. On the basis of the proposals by the Chairman, the SBI adopted the following conclusions. 87. The SBI considered document FCCC/SBI/1996/4 and took note of the information contained therein on secretariat activities in the area of technical and financial cooperation, in particular its efforts on CC: INFO, CC:FORUM and CC:TRAIN. (a) Services provided by the secretariat in this area should be recognized, in particular those promoting the exchange of information through CC:INFO and those aiming at the coordination of activities and the effective utilization of resources for support to the preparation of national communications through CC:FORUM. (b) The secretariat should prepare a report for the next session of the SBI on possibilities for strengthening and expanding these activities in support of the preparation of the national communications of Parties not included in Annex I to the Convention. Annex INITIAL LIST OF ITEMS ON WHICH THE IPCC COULD PROVIDE INPUT TO THE SBSTA All available research results in the open literature relevant to all SBSTA items have been addressed in either the Second Assessment eport or the IPCC Special Report on Radiative Forcing (IPCC 1994). All SBSTA items will be covered in the Third Assessment Report. is recognized that particular emphasis would be placed on the technical papers and on regional scenarios of climate change, regional impacts of imate change and response measures, methodological and technological aspects of technology transfer,and adaptation measures. FCCC/SB/1996/L.1 page 23 Initiation of all Special Reports is subject to approval by the IPCC at its XIIth session. Special Reports will follow the full IPCC review and approval procedures and Technical papers will require approximately 6-9 months for preparation, review, and release by the Bureau of the IPCC. Already included in the IPCC programme of work for 1996-1997 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 FPCC 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; Information 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 |