THE GOVERNMENT OF JAPAN

Bonn, 12 - 16 June 2000
SBSTA 12 - Agenda item 8(b)

Guidelines under Articles 5, 7 and 8 of the Kyoto Protocol

  1. Japan recognizes that Articles 5, 7 and 8 play a key role in realizing the environmental effectiveness of the Kyoto Protocol. We have successfully advanced the work of the guidelines under those Articles through the March workshop. At this session we should go further with a view to completing preparation for COP6 decisions by the SB13.
  2. Japan believes that the early adoption of the guidelines under Article 5.1 facilitates the introduction of appropriate national systems required under the Protocol in a timely manner. It should be noted that such guidelines should allow each Party to establish a national system according to its respective national circumstances.
  3. As for the methodologies for adjustments under Article 5.2, Japan considers that Parties should agree at this session on the elements of guidance to be decided at COP6. In addition we should agree on the initiation of the technical work needed to describe more details of the methodologies, which would be continued after COP6. Japan expects that the experience to be gained through the technical review of annual inventories starting this year on a trial basis will be a useful input for the work.
  4. Japan recognizes the linkages between the Article 8 review process and the compliance regime under Article 18. However, the role of the Expert Review Teams under Article 8 should be clearly distinguished from that of any compliance institution under Article 18, in that the review process is intended by the Protocol to provide a comprehensive technical assessment of the implementation by a Party.
  5. In terms of the linkages between the obligations under Articles 5 and 7 and Kyoto Mechanisms, Japan proposes that any Party should be able to use the Mechanisms until proven that it is in non-compliance with Articles 5 and/or 7. Japan believes that access to the Mechanisms should be considered to be granted to Parties by the provisions of the Protocol.

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