United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change

UNFCCC COP-9 HIGHLIGHTS
Wednesday, 10 December

COP-9 delegates gathered together in Plenary this morning for the opening of the High-level Segment. Two SBI contact groups also met: progress on the implementation of activities under decision 5/CP.7 and the Special Climate Change Fund.

In the afternoon in Plenary a round-table discussion among ministers and other heads of delegation is scheduled from 3p.m. to 6 p.m.

• Click here for a full text report on today's events

HIGH-LEVEL SEGMENT

During the High-level segment this morning, delegates heard opening speeches as well as statements from the heads of United Nations bodies and specialized agencies. This was followed by statements from intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations.
Watch the Secretariat's webcast of the morning's High-level segment

Listen to:

• The Cop-9 President's speech for the opening of the High-level segment
• José Antonio Ocampo's speech, UN Under-Secretary General for Economic and Social Affairs
• The UNFCCC Executive Secretary's speech
• The speech of Mr. Klaus Töpfer, Executive Director, UNEP
  

Left to right: Joke Waller-Hunter, Executive Secretary, UNFCCC; Miklós Persányi, COP 9 President; Klaus Töpfer, Executive Director, UNEP

Marcial Arias Garcia, Indigenous Peoples

Juhani Santaholma, ICC

Alexey Kokorin (WWF) making a speech during this morning's Plenary

ROUND-TABLE DISCUSSIONS AMONG MINISTERS AND OTHER HEADS OF DELEGATION
Round table No. 1: "Climate change, adaptation, mitigation and sustainable development"

Watch the Secretariat's webcast of the round-table discussion, which took place from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. this afternoon.

Tadashi Lometo (Marshal Islands) Co-Chair of the High-level segment round-table discussion

The round-table Plenary this afternoon

Peter Hodgson, Minister of Energy and Forestry, New Zealand, making a statement during the afternoon round-table discussion

Members of the G77/China huddle before the SCCF contact group meeting

Contact group on the Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF)

Deliberations on the SCCF continued throughout the day and into the night. Delegates were unable to reach agreement on several issues, including references to the MDGs and economic diversification. The contact group Co-Chairs decided to forward the draft decision with bracketed text to the SBI for further consideration.

Delegate from the EU participating in the SCCF contact group meeting

SBI PLENARY

The SBI convened in the late evening and worked until the early hours of the morning to try to finalize its work. Draft decisions forwarded to the COP include: Consideration of the fifth compilation and synthesis of initial national communications; financial mechanisms (SCCF); report of the GEF and additional guidance to the GEF.

Conclusions adopted include: work of the CGE on non-Annex I national communications; provision of financial and technical support; implementation of UNFCCC Article 4.8 and 4.9.

Watch the Secretariat's webcast of this event.

The SBI elected Fadhel Lari (Kuwait) as SBI Vice-Chair for a second term. The SBI Rapporteur will be elected at SBI-20.

Regarding submission of second, and where appropriate, third national communications: Chair Stoycheva said that no substantial conclusions had been reached, and SBI adopted conclusions agreeing to continue consideration of this item at SBI-20.

Launching of the UNFCCC Spanish Website:
Watch the secratariat's webcast of this event. Link to the Spanish Portal: http://unfccc.int/es/

Participants watch the presentation of the launching of the UNFCCC Spanish website

IMPLEMENTATION OF DECISION 5/CP.7: Following informal consultations late Tuesday night, Parties agreed to add a paragraph to the draft conclusions inviting Parties and relevant international organizations to report on activities to meet the needs of developing countries arising from the adverse effects of climate change in support of decision 5/CP.7.