The diaolgue continues on how to free the earth from the clutches of greenhouse emissions
SINCE early 1995, there have been parleys
about "new aims" for the Framework.
Convention on Climate Change (FCCC).
In this regard, the third session of the
Ad Hoc Group on the Berlin Mandate
(AGBM-3-) was held in Geneva from
March 5-8. It discussed alternatives that
challenge the Alliance of Small Island
States' (AOSIS) target of a 20 per cent
reduction from 1990 CO2 emissions level
by AD 2000. The "Berlin Mandate" was
adopted in March 1995, by the first
Conference of the Parties (COP-1).
The COP to the AGBM shared a number of new, specific proposals on commitments for Annex-I Parties (industrialised nations), including a two-phase C02 emissions reduction target proposed by Germany. They also discussed how Annex-I Parties may distribute or
share new commitments, and whether these should take the form of an amendment or protocol. Developing countries raised questions on whether policies and measures under discussion would create any barriers to trade.
The AGBM-3 Chair, represented by Razl Estrada
Oyuela of Argentina, opened
the session noting that delegates should be prepared to
complete the analysis and
evaluation required of the
Berlin Mandate. In view of
the fact that 154 nation states
have submitted ratifications
to the AGBM, he said that it is
becoming increasingly clear
that the international com
munity is becoming more
committed to the FCCC.
The Chair observed that
from the beginning of the
AGBM, there have been certain
delegates who have been trying to slow down the AGBM'S progress.
He assured that he would employ all
power to avoid getting "our feet caught
in a net of procedural matters or small
questions".
Executive secretary of the AGBM,
Michael Zammit-Cutajar, expressed his
surprise at the observation from certain
quarters which said that in cases of some
countries, future per capita emissions
should not exceed today's standard to
permit stabilisation at double pre-industrial atmospheric concentration Of CO2.
Commenting on the developing
countries, Oyuela said that there is a
need to focus on development and
deployment of sustainable energy supplies to further de-link energy for sustainable growth; and while switching to
sustainable energy, sustainable consumption patterns and energy efficient
technologies should be actively promoted, limiting their per capita fuel use to create space where developing countries
can increase their consumption.
A major question that arose in the
AGBM is that whether the session sees
merit in the institutional strategy of
using existing Convention processes
and bodies like the Secretariat, or
prefers to establish new ones. For financial as well as institutional reasons,
Zammit-Cutajar suggested that there is
merit in the institutional economy of
seeking a "non-proliferation protocol".
Samoa, on behalf Of AOSIS, said that
already a "dangerous interference" has
occurred and that the implications for
small island states are extremely serious.
It impressed upon the participants that
the AGBM must negotiate emissions
reductions and their timetable for
implementation, and make progress
towards establishing a protocol.
The Chair notified that the schedule
for future AGBM meetings has been
adjusted likewise: AGBM-4 will meet during COP-2; AGBM-5 will meet from December 9-13 in Geneva; AGBM-6 from
March 3-7, 1997, in Bonn; and AGBM-7
during the summer of 1997, prior to
COP-3 at a location to be fixed later.
During the session, India echoed the
Republic of Korea's apprehensions on
the implications of P&m (policies and
measures) on trade. It was pointed out
that the P&m to be integreted into
Annex-I Parties' policies, should be
examined very carefully and may
require accompanying measures to prevent adverse impacts on developing
countries. According to the Indian delegation, any versions of prior-informed consent and labelling must not become
disguised trade barriers.
India went on to comment that the
issues of technology transfer and finance
related to the developing countries, had
been deliberated at great lengths by the
subsidiary bodies, and that the AGBM'S
focus lies in strengthening the commitments of the Annex-I Parties and not in deviating from them.
The AGBM-3 also noted that recent
negotiations in the World Trade
Organisation's Committee on Trade
and Environment, reportedly bogged
down over conflicting views on how
trade negotiators preferred to address
trade measures in multilateral environmental agreements. Similar concerns
over market access, eco-labelling and
barriers to trade were raised at the meet
for the first.
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