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UNFCCC Logo Twelfth session of the Conference of the Parties to the Climate Change Convention and second meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol
United Nations Office at Nairobi, Gigiri, Kenya | 6-17 November 2006
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UN Climate Change Conference Opens in Nairobi

The twelfth Conference of the Parties (COP 12) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) began on Monday morning with an opening ceremony, speeches and consideration of organizational matters. This was followed in the afternoon by the opening of the second Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (COP/MOP 2). The Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI) and Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA) began their work, and the Ad Hoc Working Group on Further Commitments for Annex I Parties under the Kyoto Protocol (AWG) also convened briefly late in the afternoon.

Above: COP 12 President Kivutha Kibwana, Kenya's Minister of Environment and Natural Resources, Arthur Moody Awori, Vice-President of Kenya, and Anna Tibaijuka, Director-General of the UN Office at Nairobi and UN-HABITAT's Executive Director.


Monday, 6 November
COP 12 Opening Session


UNFCCC Executive Secretary Yvo de Boer highlighted moving from assessment to action on adaptation, strengthening and making the CDM more accessible, Joint Implementation, technology transfer, and maintaining momentum in talks on the future.

Enele Sopoaga, Tuvalu, said removing an item on small island developing States (SIDS) would send a signal that the international community is unconcerned about SIDS' welfare.

Caroline Nderitu, a celebrated Kenyan poet, read out a poem highlighting dangers posed by climate change and the need for collective response.

Arthur Moody Awori, Vice-President of Kenya, officially opened the meeting. He noted that sub-Saharan Africa will be among the regions hardest hit by climate change.

Anna Tibaijuka, Director-General of the UN Office at Nairobi and UN-HABITAT's Executive Director, noted that the biggest environmental and human settlement challenges are in developing countries.

COP 12 President Kibwana said the Stern Review has highlighted the economic consequences of climate change.

Bangladesh, for the Least Developed Countries, underscored compensation for victims of climate change and immediate funding and implementation of completed National Adaptation Plans of Action.

Australia, for the Umbrella Group, highlighted the prospects for outcomes from the review of the Protocol under Article 9, adaptation and technology transfer, the AWG and the Russian proposal on voluntary commitments.

Kazakhstan reported on its greenhouse gas emissions inventory, requesting that 1992 be adopted as the base year for determining quantitative commitments.

A proposal from Russia to develop appropriate procedures for the approval of voluntary commitments under the Kyoto Protocol was held in abeyance.

Saudi Arabia called for progress on the issue of the impacts on developing countries arising from countries' responses to climate change.

Belarus outlined its proposal to amend Annex B to the Kyoto Protocol and expressed hope that a decision would be reached at this meeting

SBSTA 25

SBSTA Chair Kishan Kumarsingh, Trinidad and Tobago, opened the 25th session, and introduced SBSTA 24 text with technical corrections but no substantive changes.

WMO outlined ways in which it could contribute to SBSTA's work.

Castro Camarada, highlighted possible FAO involvement in technology transfer.
SBI 25

Left: SBI Chair Thomas Becker, Denmark, opened SBI 25. Right: Martha Perdomo offered UNDP's views.
AWG 2

Left: AWG Chair Michael Zammit Cutajar opened AWG 2 and highlighted two main items on its agenda, on further commitments and the length of commitments for Annex I parties, and on the work plan and schedule of future sessions. Right: Luiz Alberto Figueiredo Machado, Brazil, briefed delegates on an AWG in-session workshop scheduled for Tuesday, 7 November.
Around the COP


South Africa conferred.

COP 12 President Kibwana greeted participants at the evening reception.

Kilaparti Ramakrishna, UNEP, UNFCCC Executive Secretary Yvo de Boer and Steve Sawyer, Greenpeace, talked during the evening reception.

The morning's entertainment included harmony singers.

COP 11 Vice President Enele Sopoaga, Tuvalu, passed the gavel to COP 12 President Kivutha Kibwana, Kenya, during the opening ceremonies.

Related Links

UN Framework Convention on Climate Change
COP 12 and COP/MOP 2 Information and Documents
Kyoto Protocol information
Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
UNEP Ozone Secretariat

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ENB coverage of Montréal Protocol MOP-16
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