COP /CMP 7: Organisational structure of the Conference

1. COP /CMP 7: Organisational structure of the Conference Dr S Mgquba

2. Structure of the presentation • History • The UNFCCC • The KP • Convention Bodies • Principles of the Convention • Groupings of the Convention

3. History of the COPs • Rio 1992, WSSD 1: Three conventions are adopted • The CCD (Desertification) • The UNFCCC (Climate Change) • The CBD (Biological Diversity) • Objective of the UNFCCC “stabilisation of greenhouse gas concentration in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system. Such a level should be achieved within a time frame that allows ecosystems to adapt naturally to climate change, to ensure that food production is not threatened and to enable economic development to proceed in a sustainable manner”.

4. THE UNFCCC

5. UNFCCC........ cont

6. The Kyoto Protocol • COP 1 decided that the commitments in terms of the UNFCCC were inadequate and • Mandated the initiation of a process to negotiate a protocol or other legal instrument containing commitments for Annex 1 countries • This process culminated in the adoption of the Kyoto Protocol at COP 3 (1997) of the UNFCCC in Japan • The Protocol is therefore primarily concerned with addressing the commitments of Annex 1 Parties, • Through the imposition of targets and mechanisms and/ or obligations for achieving these targets (such as policies and measures and flexible mechanisms).

7. Bodies of the conv. • The Conference of the Parties (COP):  the “supreme body” of the Convention, that is, its highest decision-making authority. • The meeting of the Parties (CMP):  the Conference of the Parties serves as the meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (CMP). The CMP meets during the same period as the COP.  • Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA) and the SBSTA’s task is to provide the COP with advice on scientific, technological and methodological matters. • The Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI). These bodies give advice to the COP and each has a specific mandate. The SBI gives advice to the COP on all matters concerning the implementation of the Convention. • Ad-hoc Working Group on further commitments for Annex I Parties under the Kyoto Protocol (AWG-KP):Parties to the Kyoto Protocol initiated a process to consider further commitments by Annex I Parties for the period beyond 2012. • Ad-hoc Working Group on Long-term Cooperative Action under the Convention (AWG-LCA): Road Map which consists of a number of forward-looking decisions that represent the various tracks that are essential to strengthening international action on climate change.

8. Bodies of the conv. CMP 7 • COP 17 • MOP 7 • SBI 35 • SBSTA 35 • AWG-KP 16-4 • AWG-LCA 14-4 Highest bodies, Once a year Twice a year 4 times a year

9. How do these bodies function • Obligations of the Parties and Principles of the Convention • The primary means of addressing these principles is the division of countries into two broad groups under the Kyoto Protocol: • those listed in Annex I (“Annex I Parties”) which are mainly developed countries and major polluters and • those not listed in Annex I (referred to as “non-Annex I Parties”) which are primarily developing countries. • Article 4 of the Conv: contains the commitments which apply to all Parties. The list of commitments is qualified by the chapeau that states that Parties must take into account • “their common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities and their specific national and regional developmental priorities, objectives and circumstances.” • In terms of Article 4 all countries that have ratified the UNFCCC are required to:

10. develop, update and publish national inventories of anthropogenic emissions by sources and removals by sinks of greenhouse gases (except those listed in the Montreal Protocol); • formulate, implement and update national and regional programmes containing measures to mitigate climate change; • promote and co-operate in the development and transfer of technology that controls, reduces or prevents anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases; • promote sustainable management, conservation and enhancement of sinks and reservoirs of greenhouse gases; • co-operate in preparing for the adaptation to the impacts of climate change; • take climate change considerations into account where feasible, in relevant social, economic and environmental policies and actions with a view to minimizing adverse effects on the economy, public health and the quality of the environment; • promote and co-operate in research; • promote and co-operate in the timeous and transparent exchange of information, including scientific technological and socio economic and legal information; • promote and co-operate in education, training and public awareness and to • encourage the widest participation in this process; and • report to the Conference of the Parties (COP).

11. Country divisions • There are 198 countries under the Convention and 194 under the Protocol • These countries are further grouped into A1 and NA1, which are further grouped into categories either by location, economic standing. • The biggest current issue that is a “bone of contention” in climate negotiations is the “developing economies”

12. South Africa’s positioning with the climate multilateral regime • Africa Group………might be some “tensions”, RSA not trusted . • G4……….strong economy interests, specially the closing the gap with the Chinese • LDC group……RSA not allowed • G8, EU, JUSCANZ – only bilateral cooperation. • OPEC……Not very good ‘friends’ especially Nigeria • OECD……… allowed at observer level.