Joshua Wairoto, Kenya Meteorological Department, noted that Africa proposed including a reference to equity during the 1997 Kyoto Protocol negotiations, which implied: a globally defined contraction budget by an agreed date that stabilizes concentration of GHGs in the atmosphere at a safe level; convergence to equal sharing of emission entitlements per person globally by an agreed date; and trading of entitlements. He identified equity as the way forward for Africa in the post-2012 regime. Noting the lack of CDM projects in Africa, he stated that the CDM could greatly benefit this continent.

Aubrey Meyer, Global Commons Institute, presented contraction and convergence as a sustainable approach to resolving inequity issues. He discussed updated carbon dioxide emissions data and provided an overview of global energy needs, noting that unlimited growth in emissions is not viable. He described a number of carbon dioxide reduction scenarios, emphasizing that GHGs are being emitted faster than they are being reduced, and called for emissions allocations on a per-capita basis.

Grace Akumu, Climate Network Africa, called on African delegates to involve African unions and regional economic commissions in the post-2012 negotiations, highlighting the transboundary nature of climate change impacts. She underscored the need to: consider the political and economic aspects of climate change; include equity in the post-2012 regime; and help create an impetus for CDM projects in Africa.

Participants discussed the linkages in Africa between the UNFCCC and the Convention to Combat Desertification and whether the stabilization goal of 550ppm is too high. One participant said the small number of CDM projects in Africa is partly due to high transaction costs and noted the continent’s pressing energy needs for development. Another participant asked about activities in Kenya for promoting the CDM and the use of the Practitioner’s guide on project proposal development.

He explained that the IROES will centralize information on: lists of experts for Parties; experts’ contact details; and expertise, training and examination results. He underlined that developing an electronic nomination form to complement the current online facility would allow experts and Parties to update details in an efficient and timely manner.

Jan Golinski, UNFCCC Secretariat, gave a demonstration of the prototype for the new IROES Web interface, noting that the national focal points would be provided with a username and password to access the pages.

Grabert informed that the Secretariat plans to: continue to improve the updating process through COP-12; seek interest and support of Parties in undertaking IROES work; develop the electronic online nomination form; revise the roster of experts' web pages and system; and send notifications to Parties in late 2006 regarding the periodic update of the roster using a revised IROES.

Debra Justus, IEA, highlighted that CCS is a necessary technology for a low carbon future. She outlined the status of CCS development, further research needs, CCS prospects and legal aspects. She stressed the need for public acceptance of CCS and suggested it could play an important role in the power sector. She called on countries to create a long-term policy framework for deploying CCS.

Nicholas Lefevre, IEA, highlighted a study on ways to advance the deployment of climate-friendly technologies in developing countries. He suggested that technology deployment will play a key role in climate change mitigation and that an approach encompassing a range of technologies is better than focus on a “silver bullet.” He noted that efforts to deploy such technologies are greater in OECD countries than in developing countries, and stated that UNFCCC mechanisms, such as the CDM, do little to reverse that trend. He presented a case study of solar photovoltaics deployment in China and India as a way to expand the geographical focus of OECD investments in new technologies.

Alan Meier, IEA, examined the implications of fuel-efficient tire use on energy consumption and emission reductions. He emphasized the lack of publicly available data on the design of such tires and noted some IEA efforts to harmonize the testing procedures for estimating their energy efficiency.

Participants discussed: the applicability of global technology scenarios to national circumstances; costs of CCS; consideration of energy scarcity in technology scenarios; regional variations in costs of solar cell deployment; criteria for measuring technology transfer; and the extent of energy savings from fuel-efficient tires.

Ferko Bodnár, Agro Eco, highlighted a pilot project on climate-neutral peanuts in Matai, Tanzania, saying it is an example of how organic agriculture could help combat climate change. He outlined the project’s goals, including mobilizing funds for climate change mitigation, developing a monitoring system, and building a carbon payment system for organic farmers. He noted that despite the fact that the project sequesters carbon, builds soil organic matter, and increases water-holding capacity, it is not eligible under the CDM. He highlighted the project’s next steps, including fundraising for implementation.

Participants discussed what incentive exists for farmers to participate in the climate neutral project, and the poor soil nutrient conditions of degraded land as an impediment to organic agriculture.