Earth Negotiations Bulletin
Daily Web	English		Français		Español
Coverage	HTM	PDF	HTM	PDF	HTM	PDF
Curtain Raiser
22 Oct
23 Oct
24 Oct
25 Oct
26 Oct and Summary

Fourth meeting of the Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group of Legal and Technical Experts on Liability and Redress (WGLR4) in the context of the Cartagena Protocol

22-26 October 2007, Montreal, Canada

Highlights from Friday, 26 October

On Friday morning, the Working Group met in plenary to consider the scope of the possible rules and procedures on liability and redress in the context of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety. Delegates also discussed options relating to the supplementary compensation scheme.
In the afternoon, the Working Group convened to consider and adopt the meeting's report with two annexes, one containing a blueprint for a COP/MOP decision on international rules and procedures in the field of liability and redress, and annex II with the proposed operational texts and approaches identified pertaining to liability and redress.
In their closing statements, Co-Chair Nieto and several delegates thanked the Working Group in making good progress with streamlining and consolidating the options for operational text and expressed confidence that its work had helped to pave the way for a successful fifth meeting. The meeting was gaveled to a close at 5:23 pm.

Photo: Working Group Co-Chairs René Lefeber, Netherlands, and Jimena Nieto, Colombia

Report back on brainstorming session

The dais during the morning plenary session.

Duncan Currie, Greenpeace International (left) pointed to the high cost of international arbitration, making it viable only for dealing with mega-incidents, but not minor incidents that affect the livelihood of smaller farmers and other vulnerable groups. Piet van der Meer, Public Research and Regulation Initiative (right), thanked the Co-Chairs for hosting the brainstorming session on the "choice of instrument" and suggested the next session include a presentation on how the Permanent Court of Arbitration could contribute to the process.

Michael DeShield, Belize (left), and Arlene Villalaz Caneira, Panama (right), supported inviting a representative of the Permanent Court of Arbitration to the next session.

Elaboration of options for elements of rules and procedures on liability and redress

On residual state liability, Ossama El-Tayeb, Egypt (left), supported the proposal asking the Secretariat to provide more information about national liability systems. On supplementary collective compensation arrangements, China (right), said that it was willing to work with parties to develop an administrative approach to ensure that compensation for victims can be paid, and expressed support for establishing a fund based on contributions by industry and other operators.

On supplementary collective compensation arrangements, Beate Berglund Ekeberg, Norway (left), said that if it would not be possible to identify a responsible person, the victim would have to absorb the costs. unless a fund is established. Delegates review the revised bluepriunt for a COP/MOP decision liability and redress (right).

Damage Sub-working Group Chair Jürg Bally, Switzerland (left), reported on results of the sub-working group. On limitation of time and acknowledging the general legal principle, Gurdial Singh Nijar, Malaysia (right), drew attention to the special nature of damage caused by LMOs.

Closing Plenary

CBD Executive Secretary Ahmed Djoghlaf and Co-Chairs René Lefeber, Netherlands, and Jimena Nieto, Colombia

Rapporteur Maria Mbengashe, South Africa (left), presenting the report of the meeting. CBD Executive Secretary Ahmed Djoghlaf (center), in his closing statement, highlighted UNEP's new report on the Global Environmental Outlook that was published on Thursday and said it painted a frightening picture of the state of the planet. Rapporteur Maria Mbengashe, South Africa, with Worku Damena Yifru, CBD Secretariat consulting (right).

Nobuyuki Kikuchi, Japan, and Nicola Notaro, European Community (left), and delegates during the closing plenary (right).

Ugen Tenzin, Bhutan, for the Asia and Pacific Group (left), said more negotiations were needed before the fifth working group and looked forward to the meeting in Colombia. Ben Turtur Donnie, Liberia, for the African Group (right), expressed great hopes for African participation at the Colombia meeting.