Twenty-Second Sessions of the Subsidiary Bodies of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (SB22)
Overview and Evaluation

1. The Twenty-Second Sessions of the Subsidiary Bodies of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (SB22) was held from May 19 to 27 in Bonn, Germany.
2. These sessions were the first to be held among the Parties to the Framework Convention on Climate Change following the entry into force of the Kyoto Protocol. Taking into account the discussions in the Seminar of Governmental Experts on future action, held prior to SB22 on May 16 and 17 also in Bonn, the Parties were engaged in intensive discussions on how to develop cooperation and organize various issues associated with the implementation of the Convention, with a view to bringing about positive developments in the run-up to the 11th Conference of the Parties (COP11) and the First session of the Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (COP/MOP1) that are scheduled for the end of this year. The major results of the SB22 sessions are detailed as follows.

   (1) Efforts for the advancement of further international measures at the COP11 and COP/MOP1

   Bearing in mind that the Kyoto Protocol stipulates that discussions on a post-Kyoto Protocol framework should be initiated by 2005, parties confirmed the importance of COP11 and COP/MOP1, scheduled to be held simultaneously at the end of the year in Montreal, Canada, of which the latter will be the historic first meeting of the Parties to the Kyoto Protocol. In addition to agreeing on the organizational arrangements for COP and COP/MOP (including the ministerial-level meetings), intensive exchanges of opinions covered a variety of specific discussion points.

   (2) Promoting cooperation in implementing the Framework Convention on Climate Change

   Parties deepened their discussions on the steady implementation of the Convention (assistance to developing countries, national communication and inventory, research and observation, etc.) and the various methodologies involved.

   (3) Confirming commitment for steady implementation of the Kyoto Protocol (including consideration of institutional reform of the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM))

   Japan explained the details of its Kyoto Protocol Target Achievement Plan which was approved by the Cabinet on April 28. Other developed countries at various opportunities announced their reduction measures to achieve the Kyoto Protocol commitments. Japan also played a leading role in efforts towards the full operation of the Kyoto Mechanisms and their institutional reforms. These efforts were led by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry (METI), which joined other major countries (the Netherlands, Canada, China, India, Brazil and Chile) in launching a "Future CDM Committee" as a means of promoting the CDM in the energy field.

3. On the fringes of the session, the Government of Japan held active bilateral discussions with other countries, including the United States (US), European Union (EU), Canada, Australia and New Zealand.