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Monday, 6 November
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COP 12 Opening Session
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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.
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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.
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Caroline Nderitu, a celebrated Kenyan poet, read out a poem highlighting
dangers posed by climate change and the need for collective response.
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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.
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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.
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COP 12 President Kibwana said the Stern Review has highlighted the economic
consequences of climate change.
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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.
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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.
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Kazakhstan reported on its greenhouse gas emissions inventory,
requesting that 1992 be adopted as the base year for determining
quantitative commitments.
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A proposal from Russia to develop appropriate procedures for the
approval of voluntary commitments under the Kyoto Protocol was
held in abeyance.
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Saudi Arabia called for progress on the issue of the impacts on developing
countries arising from countries' responses to climate change.
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Belarus outlined its proposal to amend Annex B to the Kyoto Protocol and
expressed hope that a decision would be reached at this meeting
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SBSTA 25
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SBSTA Chair Kishan Kumarsingh, Trinidad and Tobago, opened the 25th
session, and introduced SBSTA 24 text with technical corrections but no
substantive changes.
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WMO outlined ways in which it could contribute to SBSTA's work.
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Castro Camarada, highlighted possible FAO involvement in technology
transfer.
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SBI 25
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Left: SBI Chair Thomas Becker, Denmark, opened SBI 25. Right: Martha
Perdomo offered UNDP's views.
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AWG 2
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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.
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Around the COP
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South Africa conferred.
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COP 12 President Kibwana greeted participants at the evening reception.
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Kilaparti Ramakrishna, UNEP, UNFCCC Executive Secretary Yvo de Boer and
Steve Sawyer, Greenpeace, talked during the evening reception.
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The morning's entertainment included harmony singers.
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COP 11 Vice President Enele Sopoaga, Tuvalu, passed the gavel to COP 12
President Kivutha Kibwana, Kenya, during the opening ceremonies.
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