COP-9
Vice President Enele Sopoaga (Tuvalu)
|
|
HIGHLIGHTS UNFCCC COP-9:
MONDAY, 1 DECEMBER 2003
The Ninth Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC (COP-9)
and the Nineteenth Sessions of the Subsidiary Body for Implementation
(SBI-19) and the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological
Advice (SBSTA-19) opened today in Milan, Italy. In the morning,
delegates heard opening statements and addressed organizational
matters in the COP Plenary. In the afternoon, the opening
sessions of the SBI and SBSTA were held. Participants discussed
organizational matters, the Third Assessment Report (TAR)
of the IPCC, methodological issues and non-Annex I national
communications.
OPENING
OF THE SESSION:
COP
Vice-President Enele Sopoaga (Tuvalu) opened the session and
then introduced Miklós Persányi, Minister of
Environment and Water, Hungary, who was elected COP-9 President
by acclamation. President Persányi said that although
the Kyoto Protocol has not yet entered into force, its ratification
by numerous Parties demonstrates its importance.
UNFCCC Executive
Secretary Joke Waller-Hunter said that, while the date of
the Protocol’s entry into force remains uncertain, it
is encouraging that this had not slowed the momentum for action.
She emphasized the need to ensure that adequate resources
are provided to meet programme delivery and implementation
of COP decisions, and said it was essential that the budget
discussions result in a realistic match of demand and supply.
Click
here for a full text report on today's events
|
|
Miklós
Persányi, new COP-9 President
ce)
(Coverage of UNFCCC COP-9 side events)
|
 Listen
to:
Watch the Secretariat's webcast of the COP-9 opening ceremony
|
