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THE BUENOS AIRES PLAN OF ACTION
ADDITIONAL GUIDANCE TO THE OPERATING ENTITY OF THE FINANCIAL MECHANISM
(Decision 2/CP.4)

and

REVIEW OF THE FINANCIAL MECHANISM

(Decision 3/CP.4)

The Parties decided that the Global Environment Facility (GEF) should provide funding to developing country Parties to: 
  • implement adaptation measures in particularly vulnerable countries and regions;
  • enable them identify their prioritized technology needs,
  • build capacity for participation in systematic observational networks;
  • meet the agreed full costs to prepare initial and subsequent national communications by maintaining and enhancing national capacity;
  • assist with studies leading to the preparation of national programmes to address climate change and response measures;
  • assist in strengthening national activities for public awareness and education;
  • support capacity for identifying technology suppliers, designing and hosting projects, and accessing information from regional centers and networks;

GEF was also encouraged to further streamline its project cycle, simplify its project approval process and make transparent its process for determination of incremental costs. GEF was requested to ensure that its implementing agencies are made aware of COP decisions and report to the COP on its efforts to implement this decision.

The COP decided that the GEF shall be an entity entrusted with the operation of the financial mechanism and will be reviewed every four years according to the terms contained in a annex to the decision (regarding objectives, methodology and criteria).

DEVELOPMENT AND TRANSFER OF TECHNOLOGY
(Decision 4/CP.4)
Parties, inter alia, requested the SBSTA Chair to establish a consultative process to consider the preliminary list of issues and questions contained in the annex to the decision. The process should also make recommendations on how these issues should be addressed to agree on a "framework for meaningful and effective actions" to implement Article 4.5 of the Convention. The consultative process could include regional meetings and workshops. The Chair will report at the next SBSTA session with a view to adopting a decision at COP-5.

The annex contains issues and questions on practicial steps to promote and facilitate technology transfer, such as, how can Parties identify and remove barriers to technology transfer and what publicly owned technologies are available. The questions in the annex also address support for endogenous capacities and assistance in facilitating transfers.

IMPLEMENTATION OF FCCC ARTICLE 4, paragraphs 8 and 9 (decision 3/CP.3 and Articles 2.3 and 3.14 of the Kyoto Protocol)

(Decision 5/CP.4)

Adverse impacts of climate change and/or  the implementation of response measures

Parties decided that the basic elements for further consideration should include the following:
  • identification of adverse impacts of climate change;
  • identification of the impacts of the implementation of response measures under the FCCC
  • identification of specific needs and concerns of developing country Parties arising from adverse effects and impacts defined through national communications;
  • identification of actions to meet the above-specified goal, including funding, insurance and transfer of technology

Parties requested SBSTA to initiate a process to of compilation and analysis of available information needed to elaborate Articles 4.8 and 4.9. Parties also requested SBI and SBSTA to continue consideration of the implementation of Articles 4.8 and 4.9 and their tenth and eleventh sessions and report to COP-5.

Parties adopted a programme of work set out in an annex to the decision. The programme of work calls for specific actions and deadlines, including identification of initial actions needed by COP-5 and taking decisions on further action by COP-6 in 2000.

ACTIVITIES IMPLEMENTED JOINTLY UNDER THE PILOT PHASE (Decision 6/CP.4) Parties decided to continue the pilot phase recognizing that continuation should provide developing country Parties with the opportunity to enhance their capacity-building and gain further experience with activities implemented jointly. Parties also decided to begin preparations for a review process of the pilot phase and requested SBSTA and SBI to address the progress at their tenth sessions, with a view to the COP taking a decision on the pilot phase no later than the end of the present decade.
WORK PROGRAMME ON MECHANISMS OF THE KYOTO PROTOCOL (Decision 7/CP.4) Parties decided on a work programme, which included a list of elements contained in annex to the decision and placed priority on the clean development mechanism (CDM). The decision was adopted with a view to taking decisions on all the mechanisms under Articles 6, 12, and 17 of the Protocol at COP-6 on the following matters.
  • guidelines concerning provisions under Article 6 (certified emission reductions/joint implementation);
  • modalities and procedures for a CDM as defined in Article 12;
  • relevant principles, modalities, rules and guidelines, in particular for verification, reporting and accountability of emissions trading;

Parties were invited to submit further proposals on the mechanisms by the end of February 1999, as an input to technical workshops, and additional proposals by 31 March 1999 for compilation by the Secretariat.

The Secretariat, under the guidance of the SBI and SBSTA chairs, was requested to convene two technical workshops before 15 April 1999, based on inputs by Parties and drawing upon relevant contributions from UN agencies, IGOs and NGOs.

The Secretariat was also requested to prepare, for consideration by the subsidiary bodies at their tenth sessions, a plan for facilitating capacity building for developing countries, especially the small island states and the least developed states, in CDM activities project activities and for facilitating the Parties with economies in transition in the other mechanisms.

The SBI and SBSTA chairs were requested to produce a synthesis of proposals by Parties for consideration by the subsidiary bodies at their tenth sessions.

PREPARATIONS FOR THE FIRST SESSION OF THE CONFERENCE OF THE PARTIES SERVING AS THE MEETING OF THE PARTIES TO THE KYOTO PROTOCOL
(Decision 8/CP.4)
Parties decided that the preparatory work for the first session of the COP serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol shall be allocated between the subsidiary bodies as shown in Annex I to the decision. The work for COP/MOP-1 is contained in Annex II, such as taking decisions on some the items mentioned above.