EARTH NEGOTIATIONS BULLETIN PUBLISHED BY THE INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT (IISD) WRITTEN AND EDITED BY: Elisabeth Corell. Wagaki Mwangi Lynn Wagner Managing Editor Langston James Goree VI "Kimo" Vol. 4 No. 90 Monday, 9 September 1996 INCD-9 HIGHLIGHTS FRIDAY, 6 SEPTEMBER 1996 The two working groups met during the morning to consider administrative arrangements for the Permanent Secretariat, financial rules and cooperation on science and technology. An afternoon Plenary considered NGO accreditation, status of ratification and extrabudgetary funds. A panel on Women and Desertification met during the afternoon. PLENARY INCD Chair Bo Kjellén noted the following nominations for changes to the Bureau: Vladimir Ovchinnikov (Uzbekistan) for Rapporteur; Alock Jain (India); and Samvel Baloyan (Armenia) for Vice-Chair of Working Group II. All were elected by acclamation. The Chair asked if delegates agreed to recommend the additional NGOs for accreditation, based on A/AC.241/9/Add.12. After he noted that the room was in agreement, the US said its flag had been raised before agreement was reached to request that the issue be taken up at the next Plenary. The Chair said agreement had been reached, but that the US could try to reopen the issue then. Executive Secretary Diallo noted that the recent CCD ratification by the Central African Republic brings the total to forty-three. China, Ghana, Tanzania, Brazil, Turkministan, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Argentina and Mozambique reported on their own progress in ratifying the CCD, which many anticipated would be completed this year. Diallo then reviewed the situation as regards extrabudgetary funds (A/AC.241/59 and Add.1), outlining various financial expenditures including: donor country contributions since the INCD began; activities funded over the last biennium; developing countries funded at INCD-9; and the Secretariat’s staffing situation. Greece, on behalf of the OECD group of countries, commended the quality of the Report and requested the Secretariat to submit a work plan for each biennium and to clarify whether fellowships and grants from the trust funds are recurrent expenditures. The Netherlands has earmarked one million guilders (US$660,000) to fund technical and institutional support to affected countries. It was agreed the responses would be given at Wednesday’s Plenary. Kjellén said a formal decision is being drafted regarding Italy’s offer to host COP-1 in Rome in 1997. On the decision regarding the location of the Permanent Secretariat, a contact group is being constituted comprising the five members of the main Bureau, Chairs of the working groups and representatives from the three bidding cities. WORKING GROUP I ADMINISTRATIVE ARRANGEMENTS OF THE SECRETARIAT: The Chair drew attention to the G-77 and China’s proposal at INCD-7 (A/AC.241/WG.1(VIII)/L.1) suggesting that the UN Secretariat house the Permanent Secretariat, and distributed a Chair’s draft decision on the subject. He called for an exchange of views on the proposals from UNEP, the UN Secretariat and WMO. Greece, on behalf of the OECD group of countries, supported by the US and Ireland, noted that they still need additional information, preferably on Monday, regarding: actual proposals on how the G-77 and China proposal would work; whether or not the WMO offer is linked to Switzerland; and what the partial support from UNDP entails. They also noted that UNEP’s Executive Director is expected to present a report on UNEP’s reform at a later date, hence the need to wait. Costa Rica, on behalf of the G-77 and China, stressed their wish to have the UN Secretariat as the host. Tunisia noted the urgent need to make a decision and urged delegates to bear in mind the need to re-unite the twin conventions on climate change and desertification. The US stressed the importance of studying budgetary implications of each arrangement. The Chair, underscoring the need to reach a decision at INCD-9, suggested convening a two-hour informal evening meeting during the second week to enable the Group to reach a decision during the formal session. Consequently, the draft decision the Chair had presented on the matter for delegates to fill in the name of the institution to house the Permanent Secretariat was not discussed. FINANCIAL RULES: Delegates then considered the Draft Financial Rules of the COP, its Subsidiary Bodies and the Permanent Secretariat (A/AC.241/45/Rev.1). The G-77 and China reserved the right to return to the text. Uganda urged progress on the designation of the institution. The Working Group broke to allow negotiating groups to consult. Delegates resumed consideration during an afternoon informal-informal. Most of the outstanding text, except for the references to the institutional host, was informally resolved. Language from the financial rules for the Climate Change Convention would be borrowed to: describe the working capital reserve for the General Fund (maintained at a level to be determined from time to time by the COP by consensus); and resources (contributions made each year by Parties on the basis of an indicative scale, adopted by consensus, and based on the UN scale of assessments). The text regarding decision procedures was left pending. Working Group I will review these suggestions Monday or Tuesday. WORKING GROUP II COMMITTEE ON SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY: The Group continued consideration of organization of scientific and technological cooperation (A/AC.241/57), and addressed Procedures of the Establishment and Maintenance of a Roster of Independent Experts and Procedures for the Establishment of Ad Hoc Panels. Roster of Independent Experts: Benin, on behalf of the G-77 and China, clarified that "independent experts" are acting in their personal capacity, expressing their independent scientific views. The Chair clarified that the roster consists of independent experts in contrast to the government-appointed members of the Committee on Science and Technology (CST). Selection of experts to be included on the roster: The changes below were agreed to ad referendum. Under paragraph 2 (nomination of experts) the G-77 and China expressed concern that experts could be nominated "irrespective of their nationality" and suggested a deletion. The Chair noted that governments could nominate experts from countries other than their own. The paragraph, as amended by Kazakhstan and Canada, now reads "Each Party may nominate experts, not only from its own country, taking into account the need for a multidisciplinary approach, appropriate gender balance as well as broad geographical representation. Nominees shall have expertise and experience in fields relevant to combating desertification and mitigating the effects of drought." In paragraph 5 (CST representatives should not also be on the roster) the G-77 and China expressed concern that some countries would not have enough experts for both the CST and the roster. It was agreed, as suggested by Uzbekistan, to delete the paragraph. Review by the Conference of the Parties: Delegates agreed that "The Conference of the Parties shall review the roster regularly and at least at every other ordinary session of the Conference of the Parties, and formulate recommendations in order for the roster to be consistent with the requirements provided for in paragraph 2 above." Maintenance and transparency: The heading was changed to "Maintenance of the roster." The Chair reminded delegates of the contents of paragraph 6, noting that nominations should be submitted to the Permanent Secretariat through diplomatic channels. The Group quickly adopted Section III (procedures for the establishment of ad hoc panels) and moved on to the substantive procedures for their establishment. There was lengthy debate on whether to limit the possibility of establishing ad hoc panels during the COP’s ordinary sessions. Delegates agreed that "The COP, in principle, in its ordinary session, may as necessary, appoint ad hoc panels...." PANEL ON WOMEN AND DESERTIFICATION A panel discussion on Women and Desertification met during the afternoon. Presentations were made on women and access to credit, women, land tenure and ownership, and pilot projects to inform rural women about CCD and assist them to prepare their input to national action programmes. The Environment Liaison Centre International representative, Cecilia Kinuthia-Njenga, gave an overview of the gender aspects provided in the CCD and highlighted some fundamental gender issues. Gaudensia Kenyange, from Uganda’s Commercial Bank, highlighted the constraints for women to obtain credit that should be addressed in implementing the CCD. A representative from AFAD (Mali) elaborated on the issue of credit systems based on her experience, and stressed the need for training that is geared to the recurrent income- generating activities undertaken by women. Venkat Ramnayya of Youth for Action (India) spoke about women and land degradation and stressed their lack of involvement in agricultural decision-making. Successful networking has empowered local populations. Allyce Kureiya from the Marsabit Development Programme (Kenya) made recommendations on how to include women in desertification control including: starting income generating activities; using focus groups; educating about environmental management; encouraging energy conservation; and supporting girls’ education. Ricard Minougou of Association pour la Protection de la Nature (Burkina Faso) spoke about the organization’s pilot project on women and desertification. Simplified versions of the Convention were produced and 90 women learned to make soap as a part of income producing activities. Belinda Bruce (Canada) stated that the Farm Radio Network uses radios to exchange information regarding techniques aimed at increasing food supplies and improving health and nutrition at the grassroots levels. Elizabeth Chiedza Gwaunza discussed the Zimbabwean case of land tenure, where women often have insecure access to land. If women are guaranteed access to land they will have more motivation to resist and respond to environmental degradation. Research such as gender studies on land are needed, and the notions of gender and access should be challenged. IN THE CORRIDORS The overall impression of many INCD-9 delegates is that slow but steady progress has been made here in New York. The progress made to date, the rapid pace of incoming ratifications, and the additional negotiating time offered by INCD-10 (6-16 January 1997) have lead many to believe that an INCD-11 is unnecessary. In addition, some participants have recalled delegates' proposals to INCD-7 and 8 questioning the need for two-week sessions and have suggested that INCD-10 meet for one week. Some add that time should be allowed for regional groups to meet immediately prior to the session to prepare their positions. THINGS TO LOOK FOR TODAY WORKING GROUPS: Working Groups I and II are expected to meet at 10:00 am and 3:00 pm in Conference Rooms 1 and 2, respectively. The topic of discussion will be decided after consultations in order to avoid simultaneous consideration of rules of procedure and financial issues. FRANCOPHONE CONSULTATION: The French speaking countries will meet at 6:30 pm at the ACCT Observation Bureau, 801 2nd Avenue, Suite 605. CLIMATE PREDICTION FOR AFRICA: Collaboration between the U.S. National Weather Services’ Climate Prediction Center and organizations in Africa will be discussed in Conference Room 7 from 1:45 to 2:45 pm. SYMPOSIUM ON COMBATTING DESERTIFICATION: A meeting on the symposium on "Connecting Science with Community Action" will take place in Conference Room 2 at 1:15 to 2:15 pm. ELCI AND UNSO: The booklet "Initiating NDFs, Suggested Guidelines for NGOs" will be presented in Conference Room A at 2:00 pm. This issue of the Earth Negotiations Bulletin (c) is written and edited by Elisabeth Corell. , Wagaki Mwangi and Lynn Wagner . The Managing Editor is Langston James "Kimo" Goree VI . French translation by Mongi Gadhoum. The sustaining donors of the Bulletin are the International Institute for Sustainable Development , the Dutch Ministry for Development Cooperation and the Pew Charitable Trusts. General support for the Bulletin during 1996 is provided by the Overseas Development Administration (ODA) of the United Kingdom, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Denmark, the Swedish Ministry of Environment, the Swiss Federal Office of the Environment, the Ministry of the Environment of Iceland, and the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety. Specific funding for coverage of this meeting has been provided by the UNEP Desertification PAC and the US Department of Agriculture. The authors can be contacted at their electronic mail addresses or at tel: +1- 212-644-0204; fax: +1-212-644-0206. IISD can be contacted at 161 Portage Avenue East, 6th Floor, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3B 0Y4, Canada; tel: +1-204-958-7700; fax: +1-204-958-7710. The opinions expressed in Earth Negotiations Bulletin are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of IISD and other funders. 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