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

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Highlights for Wednesday, 7 November  2001

The High-Level Segment of COP-7 opened in the morning with speeches from representatives of UN bodies and specialized agencies, and a welcoming ceremony. It continued in the afternoon and evening with presentations from youth representatives and statements from 44 ministers and other heads of delegation. Negotiations also continued on the mechanisms, Protocol Articles 5 (methodological issues), 7 (communication of information) and 8 (review of information), and LDCs.
Above photo L-R: His Royal Highness Prince Moulay Rachid with Michael Zammit Cutajar, UNFCCC Executive Secretary.

HIGH-LEVEL SEGMENT:
 



STATEMENTS BY UN BODIES AND SPECIALIZED AGENCIES:
The High-Level Segment opened with statements by UN bodies and specialized agencies. Right photo: COP-7 President Elyazghi presided the UNFCCC COP-7 High-Level Segment.

 

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UNEP urged ratification of the Protocol prior to the World Summit on Sustainable Development (WSSD) and underlined the need to address the two global crises of ecological degradation and extreme poverty. Right photo: Klaus Töpfer, UNEP Executive Director during a side event on CDM.
The CCD highlighted the importance of improving synergies between the Rio Conventions.
WELCOMING CEREMONY:
Following these statements, an official welcoming ceremony was held. UNEP Executive Director Klaus Töpfer (right) delivered a speech on behalf of UN Secretary-General Kofi Annan, in which he: highlighted the environment and development elements of climate change; noted the need for significant long-term changes in social and economic behaviors; expressed appreciation for the work of COP-6 President Pronk, noting that Pronk would serve as his special envoy to the WSSD; and underlined the importance of multilateralism.
Prince Moulay Rachid of Morocco (left), speaking on behalf of King Mohammed VI, underlined the need for internationally-shared ethical values, and urged that "hatred and rejection of the 'other' must not be reduced and oversimplified by a vision that is blurred by emotion on the spur of the moment to the extent that it divides the world by concentrating the 'good guys' on just one side of it."  Urging international solidarity in addressing environmental concerns, he called for technology transfer, new and additional financial resources, and reducing external debt burdens.  
STATEMENTS BY YOUTH REPRESENTATIVES:





On Wednesday afternoon, MOROCCO'S CHILDREN'S PARLIAMENT, FRANCOPHONE YOUNG PEOPLE'S PARLIAMENT, and the WORLD YOUTH ORGANIZATION ON CLIMATE CHANGE gave presentations, with the final speaker urging a move toward a low carbon-emitting future, entry into force of the Protocol as the start of a "long path" in combating climate change, and completion at COP-7 of decision texts without weakening the Bonn Agreements.

Photo above: Delegates from MOROCCO'S CHILDREN'S PARLIAMENT and FRANCOPHONE YOUNG PEOPLE'S PARLIAMENT. Right photo: Youth representing the WORLD YOUTH ORGANIZATION ON CLIMATE CHANGE  



STATEMENT BY UNFCCC EXECUTIVE SECRETARY:

In his final speech in a high-level segment, UNFCCC Executive Secretary Michael Zammit Cutajar congratulated the Secretariat staff on their dynamism and commitment, and thanked Parties for their trust and for not engaging in micro-management.
 


STATEMENTS BY PARTIES:
Forty-four ministers and heads of delegation made statements. Many speakers highlighted the importance of maintaining the environmental integrity of the Protocol. Parties also drew attention to success on Tuesday in negotiations on compliance, and called for completion at COP-7 of work under the Buenos Aires Plan of Action, with many stating that this would support ratification and entry into force in time for the WSSD in September 2002. Left photo: Ministers and Heads of Delegation at the Royal Palace.



On the current negotiations at COP-7, SWITZERLAND said it could not accept changes that weaken the Bonn Agreements, and stated that no country can shirk its responsibilities, especially if it is a major country in the ratification process. Left photo: President Moritz Leuenberger (SWITZERLAND)




IRAN, for the G-77/ CHINA, underscored its approach of "principled flexibility," and stated that neither COP-7 nor the WSSD was the appropriate forum for raising the issue of new commitments for developing countries.
Right photo L-R: Delegates from Iran during the High Level Segment, Bagher Asadi, Mohammad Reza Salamat and Vice-President Masoumeh Ebtekar 





BELGIUM, for the EU, highlighted outstanding issues on the mechanisms requiring resolution, including the election of the Executive Board of the CDM. Left photo: Olivier Deleuze, Secretary of State for Energy  and Sustainable Development.




BULGARIA, for CG-11, CYPRUS and MALTA, noted the special circumstances of these individual countries in fulfilling their commitments. Left photo: Fatme Iliaz, Deputy Minister of Environment (BULGARIA)
CANADA highlighted the need to be responsive to those whose participation is critical to entry into force of the Protocol.

More Statements from the High-Level Segment:

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L-R: Paula Dobriansky (US), Tuiloma Neroni Slade (SAMOA on behalf of AOSIS), Yoriko Kawaguchi (JAPAN), Jürgen Trittin (GERMANY), and Margot Wallström (EC)
NEGOTIATING GROUPS AND INFORMAL CONSULTATIONS:
PROTOCOL ARTICLES 5, 7 AND 8: The negotiating group on Articles 5, 7 and 8 met in afternoon and evening sessions. Chair Dovland informed participants of an agreement with the mecha­nisms group that a separate decision would be issued on Article 7.4 (assigned amounts), with some aspects of the current work on Arti­cles 5, 7 and 8 being covered under this decision. Left photo: Chair Dovland (far right) with delegates from New Zealand.
MECHANISMS: Secretary of State Philippe Roch (Switzerland) and Minister Valli Moosa (South Africa) facilitated consultations with various regional groups on the mechanisms negotiating group Co-Chairs' new non-paper. Discussions reportedly focused on, inter alia, eligibility and reporting on sinks, and carry over of units.
LDCS: In the contact group's final meeting, Chair Gamede noted the three draft proposals under consideration for adoption relating to: the guidelines for the preparation of NAPAs and their annex; establishment of an LDC Expert Group; and guidance on the operation of the LDC Fund.
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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