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COP President Chen Chimutengwende, Minister of Environment and Tourism (Zimbabwe)
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 COP President Chen Chimutengwende, Minister of Environment and Tourism (Zimbabwe) opens the Seventh and final meeting of this session of the COP, introduces the Ministerial Declaration.((This interview is also available for slower Internet connections) - (Total length:16:46)
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Reports from the Subsidiary Bodies
AGBM Chair Raúl A. Estrada-Oyuela (Argentina), reported that he will present a summary of all proposals received by 15 October at AGBM-5 in December 1996. It is hoped that this contribution will provide a framework tool for discussion and be a major step forward in developing a negotiating text. To date, much attention has been given to analysis and assessment exercises. The debate has been difficult, however, the round tables produced satisfactory results. No great progress was made on policies and measures. With regard to QELROs, it was necessary to reconcile fairly divergent views. Participants focused on differentiation of commitments and the likely impact on developing countries of new Annex I undertakings. Implementation of Article 4.1 (common but differentiated responsibilities) of the FCCC by non-Annex I Parties was also considered. He stated that the AGBM is no more than the sum of the will of the governments represented. Many would have preferred to have made greater progress. The Geneva Declaration will be particularly significant for future AGBM activities. Detailed consideration will be given to the legally binding nature of the targets and objectives. (This recording is the simultaneous interpretation in English.) (This interview is also available for slower Internet connections) - (Total length 9:16)
AG-13 Chair Patrick Szell (UK) said the first session of this Group dealt with a questionnaire sent to Parties, IGOs and NGOs, inviting views on the definition of a multilateral consultative process and views on the way in which such a process should relate to other articles.
There was also a call for a panel presentation on the experiences of other bodies with MCPs. This workshop took place during COP-2, with nine invited speakers addressing compliance in international environmental agreements. One of the main messages was that other organizations use a variety of mechanisms ranging from the provision of advice or assistance through to full complaint or supervisory regimes. A decision will be needed on which approach will be most appropriate for Article 13 or whether either or a combination will be appropriate. A half-day meeting of AG-13 took place after the workshop. It received a report on the workshop and a formal presentation of a synthesis document containing responses to the questionnaire. Two draft decisions were adopted, one on the Group's continued existence into 1996-1997, and a second to enable the AGBM, should it be considered desirable, to seek AG-13 advice on a multilateral consultative process (FCCC/CP/1996/L.1). It may not be possible to complete the Group's work for COP-3, but the work of AG-13 should be on the road to completion by December 1997.(This interview is also available for slower Internet connections) - (Total length 5:47)
Additional closing statements from COP-2
Australia states difficulty with statement of legally binding targets without the nature of those commitments being made clear. It is at COP-3 that this must be decided and he disassociates himself from the part of the text dealing with targets.(This interview is also available for slower Internet connections) - (Total length 1.44)
Ireland on behald of the EU gives its support of the Ministerial Declaration.(This interview is also available for slower Internet connections) - (Total length 8:16)
NEW ZEALAND had difficulty with a reference concerning targets in the Declaration and his country's support must be qualified by the view that it can only be advanced on the basis of a least cost approach.(This interview is also available for slower Internet connections) - (Total length 1:24)
SAUDI ARABIA, on behalf of VENEZUELA, IRAN, KUWAIT, UAE, SYRIA, QATAR, JORDAN, the RUSSIAN FEDERATION, NIGERIA, OMAN, BAHRAIN, SUDAN and YEMEN, reported a lack of transparency throughout the Conference. He read a formal objection from this group of Parties to the adoption, approval or acceptance of the draft Ministerial Declaration due to the: lack of opportunity for the COP to discuss the draft; failure of the draft to reflect the views of many Parties as stated at COP-2, with the result that the draft reflects only some views that exist among the Parties; non-objective characterization and selective reference to some of the information in the SAR, resulting in a draft that is biased and misleading; and failure to adhere to the customary procedures of UN bodies and the absence of adoption of rules of procedure for the COP.(This interview is also available for slower Internet connections) - (Total length 3:37)
Minister of Ghana spoke on the need for a declaration and advised colleagues that we are not dealing with power politics but the weather, which is being destroyed and something must be done now.(This interview is also available for slower Internet connections) - (Total length 2:51)
VENEZUELA stated that it did not support the draft Declaration, which is neither balanced nor objective. He said there are scientific doubts and called for a dialogue on consensus. (This interview is also available for slower Internet connections) - (Total length 1:27)
The RUSSIAN FEDERATION asked that its prepared statement be reflected in the report of the session, and called for a notation that a group of Parties raised objection to the text of the Ministerial Declaration. (This interview is also available for slower Internet connections) - (Total length 1:25)
KUWAIT proposed inserting a footnote stating that several countries have objected. (This interview is also available for slower Internet connections) - (Total length 0:47)
AOSIS accepted the Declaration as a statement of determination to give force and direction to the Berlin Mandate. (This interview is also available for slower Internet connections) - (Total length 2:23)
The US "wholeheartedly" endorsed the Declaration and said the one point not specified was that the negotiated outcome must ensure maximum national flexibility for all Parties to implement their medium-term legally binding commitments. There is also a need to work toward a longer term concentration goal, and AIJ on a global basis and international emissions trading must be part of any future regime(This interview is also available for slower Internet connections) - (Total length 1:31)
The Saudis express continued concern with the Declaration and statements made about this document.(This interview is also available for slower Internet connections) - (Total length 2:07)
The Executive Secretary of the FCCC, Michael Zammit Cutajar, noted that the political content of COP-2 had exceeded his expectations, calling the Geneva Declaration the most important and visible outcome. He also singled out the decision on non-Annex I communications, calling it a further step towards "universality." He praised the weight given to the implementation of commitments. He also stated that the FCCC has "some way to go" to encourage technology transfer, and he regretted it was not possible to agree on implementation of Article 6 (education and public awareness). He commended the Swiss government for organizing the "cybercafe", a public link to the World Wide Web set up at COP-2 as a step toward reducing the volume of paper used to provide information.(This interview is also available for slower Internet connections) - (Total length 5:52)
Opening Speeches from COP-2
COP President Chen Chimutengwende, Minister of Environment and Tourism (Zimbabwe)
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COP President Chen Chimutengwende, Minister of Environment and Tourism (Zimbabwe) said outstanding issues include reporting by Annex 1 Parties, preparation of guidelines for submission of initial communications by non-Annex 1 Parties, new and additional financial resources to meet the agreed full incremental costs incurred by developing country Parties, the role of the GEF, and the role of activities implemented jointly and other mechanisms. He invited heads of delegations to a roundtable on 17 July on political issues arising from the agenda.(This interview is also available for slower Internet connections) - (Total length:16:46)
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USG Nitin Desai & G.O.P. Obasi
| Nitin Desai, UN Under-Secretary General for Policy Coordination and Sustainable Development is responsible for follow-up to the 1992 Rio Conference on Environment and Development within the UN system. Desai's speeches are always noted by the conherence that he gives to the entire process, showing linkages between the various initiatives involved in environment and development policy (total length: 10:00) (total length: 15:27) |
Desai (right) said recent strides in understanding the science of climate change, he urged Parties to strengthen earlier commitments. Climate change is a global issue that cannot be solved without a global effort undertaken in a cooperative and integrated manner. He noted the complementary nature of Agenda 21, the Rio Declaration, and the FCCC and encouraged parties to acknowledge linkages among the three in revising their commitments. Obasi (left) said the SAR provides evidence that makes the FCCC an absolute necessity. He called for: completion of negotiations on the stabilization of CO2 emissions; provision of a solid scientific basis for deliberations by the subsidiary bodies; reinforcement of national capabilities to provide data; and consideration of assistance to developing countries and those with economies in transition to enable them to limit emissions. He also noted the need to fund the Climate Agenda, an initiative to establish a framework for international climate-related scientific programmes. |
Michael Zammit Cutajar
| Michael Zammit Cutajar, FCCC Executive Secretary of the Framework Convention on Climate Change (total length: 13:26) |
Michael Zammit Cutajar noted that sharper definition of FCCC goals and a timetable in which they should be accomplished is needed. He called on the COP to provide better guidance to the GEF and not to overlook Articles 5 (research) and 6 (education), suggesting that UNEP take the lead in overseeing the implementation of Article 6. |
Mohamed El-Ashry and Bert Bolin
Mohamed El-Ashry (seated on the left) stated that between February 1995 and April 1996, the GEF Council approved US$215 million for climate change activities. He emphasized that the recently adopted GEF Operational Strategy contained a chapter on climate change that had been developed under COP-1 guidance. He called upon COP-2 to consider the permanent financial mechanism of the FCCC.
Bert Bolin, Chair of the IPCC, reiterated the conclusion of the SAR that suggests "a discernable human influence on global climate." He highlighted: masking of global warming by aerosol emissions; emission limits necessary to stabilize carbon dioxide concentrations; additional IPCC papers on climate stabilisation, environmental implications of emissions limitations and policies and measures; and critical evaluation of the SAR. He objected to criticism that the IPCC had violated its procedures in preparation of the SAR. | Amb. Mohamed El-Ashry is the Chair and CEO of the Global Environment Fund. He spoke at the opening of COP-2 of the Framework Convention on Climate Change on 8 July 1996(total length: 14:13) (This intervention is also available for slower Internet connections)
Amb. Bert Bolin is the Chair of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), established in 1988 by the WMO and UNEP.(total length: 22:31) (This intervention is also available for slower Internet connections)
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Elizabeth Dowdeswell
Elizabeth Dowdeswell, Executive Director of UNEP |
United Nations Environment Programme Executive Director Elizabeth Dowdeswell, noted that the lack of full scientific certainty should not be used as an excuse to postpone action and that the atmosphere will continue to change until Parties choose to control their emissions. She called for a global emission cap, access to financial mechanisms and technology transfer for developing countries, and access to reliable information by decision makers. She noted opportunities for action, including: reaping the benefits of integrated resource management; ensuring rationality in actions to protect the environment; engaging the private sector and civil society; and analyzing market and non-market mechanisms.
(total length: 6:40) |