Twelfth Sessions of the Subsidiary Bodies, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (SB12)

12-16 June 2000, Bonn

Summary and Evaluation

Government of Japan
June 20, 2000

Some progress was made on the Kyoto mechanisms, compliance, and other matters considered vital for the success of the Sixth Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 6). Still, there remain wide differences on specific points among the Parties to the Convention, and further efforts are necessary.

1. Fruits of the sessions:
(1) New texts were produced to be used as a basis for negotiations on such matters as the Kyoto mechanisms and compliance. (The new text on the Kyoto mechanisms now qualifies as an official document.)

(2) With respect to land use, land-use change, and forestry related to greenhouse gas removals by sinks, SB12 was the first official occasion for deliberations since the release of the special report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in May, the basis for subsequent deliberations. Concrete discussion on COP 6 got underway, and an agreement was reached on the format to be used for each country's submission of information on sinks.

(3) The first specific achievement for COP 6 was an agreement on guidelines for national systems for the estimation of anthropogenic emissions by sources and removals by sinks of greenhouse gases.

2. Developing country issues were also discussed. Specifically, Articles 4.8 and 4.9 of the Convention (on [1] the adverse effects of climate change and [2] the impact of the implementation of response measures), technology transfer, and capacity building were discussed in view of a package to be concluded at COP6.

3. Whereas most of the results of past meetings were on procedural matters, the stage of substantive negotiations seems to have finally begun.

Note: Two-week Sessions of the Subsidiary Bodies have so far been held twice a year, once simultaneously with COP, but this year we have three rounds of sessions. The latest sessions began with a week of informal consultations (5-10 June) constituting the first half and another week of formal sessions (12-16 June) constituting the second half. In reality, however, informal talks during the first half can be considered part of the formal Twelfth Sessions of the Subsidiary Bodies.

Summary of the Main Discussions

(1) Kyoto mechanisms
Since the chairman's notes, which form a basis for negotiations on rules, run to 140 pages, many countries had objected that they were too long for negotiations. A shortened text of 126 pages was distributed on the final day of SB12, taking into account the results of the informal consultations and the formal sessions as well as comments from the Parties. This is to be presented to the next Sessions of the Subsidiary Bodies (SB 13, scheduled for September) as the basis for future negotiations.

(2) Compliance
A new text on compliance was prepared based on the discussions at the informal consultations and the formal sessions. It is to be further developed to serve as the basis for negotiation, along with input from Parties at SB 13 in September.
Desiring that the Kyoto Protocol enter into force at an early date, Japan proposed an effective compliance system based on the idea that consequences of non-compliance should not entail an amendment to the Protocol.

(3) Land use, land-use change, and forestry
In preparation for COP 6 each Party is to submit its views and related information regarding Articles 3.3 and 3.4 by August 1. A conclusion was reached on the format for the submissions, and it was agreed to consolidate views of the Parties into a document before SB 13. It was also agreed to hold inter-sessional consultations between SB 13 and COP 6.
During the SB12 session, developing countries insisted that time was needed for studying the IPCC special report, and the EU advocated limiting the application of land-use, land-use change, and forestry activities.

(4) Articles 5 (methodological issues), 7 (communication of information), and 8 (review of information) of the Kyoto Protocol
The discussion progressed relatively smoothly compared with the talks on other agenda items, and in relation to Article 5.1, an agreement was reached on guidelines for national systems.

(5) Policies and measures
It was agreed to continue exchanges of information on policies and measures, but views differed on whether we should discuss at SBB and COP6 how to proceed with this item hereafter.