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Seventh Conference of the Parties to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change 
Marrakesh, Morocco
29 October to 9 November 2001

Web 
Archive:
(English)

|Curtain| Mon 29 | Tue 30 | Wed 31 | Thu 1 | Fri 2 | Sat 3 |
| Mon 5 | Tue 6   | Wed 7  | Thu 8   | Fri 9   | 

Web Archive:
(Français
)

|Curtain| Lun 29 | Mar 30 | Mer 31 | Jeu 1 | Ven 2 | Sam 3
| Lun 5  | Mar 6  | Mer 7   | Jeu 8    | Ven 9 | 

| Extended Photo Page | | ENB on the side | | UNFCCC Conference Live - COP-7 | |More links |


Highlights for Monday, 29 October  2001

The Seventh Conference of the Parties (COP-7) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) opened on Monday, 29 October, in Marrakesh, Morocco. Delegates met in the morning for an opening Plenary session to hear speeches and address organizational matters. In the afternoon, the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI) and the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA) met separately to begin their work. SBI discussed organizational, administrative and financial matters, non-Annex I communications, and issues referred to it by the COP. SBSTA considered various organiza­tional issues, as well as the Third Assessment Report of the Inter­governmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC).  

Above photo: View of the opening plenary of COP-7.

 

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OPENING PLENARY:



COP-6 President Jan Pronk opened COP-7 on Monday morning. Suggesting that the events of 11 September had cast international agreements in a new light, he said the Bonn Agree­ments demonstrate the effectiveness of multilateralism and inter­national cooperation in solving global problems within the framework of the UN.

Listen to an excerpt of Jan Pronk's opening remarks



The COP then elected Mohamed Elyazghi, Morocco's Minister of Territory Planning, Urban Management, Housing and Environ­ment, as COP-7 President. President Elyazghi welcomed delegates to Morocco, adding that this was the first UNFCCC COP to be held in Africa. He thanked COP-6 President Pronk for his perseverance and for leaving an "indelible mark" on the process.  

Listen to Mohamed Elyazghi's opening remarks

 

Abdelaziz Saâdi, President of the Regional Council of Marrakesh, presented the best wishes of Mohamed VI, King of Morocco, for a successful conference, and noted that COP-7 offered an opportunity to make significant progress in facilitating effective action in combating climate change. 

Listen to Abdelaziz Saâdi's opening statement

Omar Jazouli (center), President of the Urban Community of Marrakesh, outlined efforts to preserve and protect the green heritage of Marrakesh, as well as projects to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in the waste treatment and transportation sectors.  

Listen to Omar Jazouli's opening statement




Michael Zammit Cutajar, Executive Secretary of the UNFCCC, said the Bonn Agreements represented a significant move forward in negotiations and a breakthrough for multilater­alism. He suggested that successes at COP-7 could include the start of the CDM on a solid basis and giving special consideration to the needs of African countries.  

Listen to Michael Zammit Cutajar's welcoming remarks

ORGANIZATIONAL MATTERS:

President Elyazghi noted that 42 Parties had so far ratified the Protocol and called on the remaining Parties to do so in time for the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) in Johannesburg in 2002. Left photo: The dias during the opening plenary.

PARTIES' OPENING STATEMENTS:

Many Parties thanked UNFCCC Executive Secretary Cutajar, COP-6 President Pronk, and the Secretariat for their invaluable contributions to the progress made in negotiations. Several speakers, including the G-77/CHINA, the EU and CG-11, supported entry into force of the Protocol in time for the WSSD.





IRAN, for the G-77/CHINA, supported completion of work forwarded from COP-6 Part II, adding that this is not the right forum to raise the question of new or additional commitments by developing countries.

Listen to Bagher Asadi's opening statement on behalf of the G-77/CHINA




BURKINA FASO, for the AFRICA GROUP, underscored the high expectations of the international community that COP-7 will be a success.

 





Beat Nobs (SWITZERLAND), on behalf of the ENVIRONMENTAL INTEGRITY GROUP, said the current stage of negotiations should be concluded at COP-7, and stressed the need for entry into force of the Protocol.

 
More statements from parties in Real Audio:

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|australia|canada|european union|ghana|japan|kazakhstan|
|kuwait|mali|saudi arabia|slovenia|united arab emirates|
Above photo L-R: Delegates from Belgium, Canada, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, United Arab Emirates, Slovenia, Japan, Mali, Switzerland, Burkina Faso and Iran 

SBSTA: ORGANIZATIONAL MATTERS

Photo above : The dias during SBSTA, presided by Chair Harald Dovland (Norway) (second from right) 
MATTERS REFERRED TO SBSTA: IPCC THIRD ASSESSMENT REPORT 


IPCC Chair Bob Watson (left) introduced the Synthesis Report of the Third Assessment Report (TAR), noting nine policy-relevant questions and responses regarding: contribution of scientific, technical and socioeconomic analyses to the definition of "dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system"; changes in the Earth's climate since the pre-industrial era; regional and global climatic, environmental, and socioeconomic consequences associated with greenhouse gas
SBI: ORGANIZATIONAL MATTERS:



SBI Chair John Ashe (Antigua and Barbuda) (right) opened the session, and the SBI then adopted its agenda. On election of officers other than the Chair, Chair Ashe said consultations were ongoing.
In cooperation with the UNFCCC Secretariat, the ENB will also publish ENB on the side - a special daily report on selected side events from COP-7.



ENB Summary of UNFCCC COP-6bis in PDF (English, Français)
The official website for COP-7. This site provides ready access to the Provisional Agenda , Annotated Provisional Agenda and Daily Programme, Documents, and Press Corner for all press releases during the event. 
UNFCCC Secretariat web site 
Linkages Climate page with links to recent coverage of UNFCCC-related Workshops and an introduction to the climate change process.
ENB coverage of SB-13 (Lyon), SB-12 (Bonn)COP-5, COP-6 and COP-6bis
Rio Policy Forum:State of GHG Market
Other COP-6 Online resources


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