CONFERENCE OF THE PARTIES
First Session
Berlin, 28 March to 7 April 1995
THE BERLIN MANDATE: REVIEW OF THE ADEQUACY OF ARTICLE 4, PARAGRAPH 2(a) AND (b), OF THE CONVENTION, INCLUDING PROPOSALS RELATED TO A PROTOCOL AND DECISIONS ON FOLLOW-UP
DECISIONS ADOPTED BY THE CONFERENCE OF THE PARTIES
The Conference of the Parties, at its first session,
Having reviewed Article 4, paragraph 2(a) and (h), of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, and
Having concluded that these subparagraphs are not adequate,
Agrees to begin a process to enable it to take appropriate action for the period beyond 2000, including the strengthening of the commitments of the Parties included in Annex I to the Convention (Annex I Parties) in Article 4, paragraph 2(a) and (b), through the adoption of a protocol or another legal instrument:
I
1. The process shall be guided, inter alia, by the following:
(a) The provisions of the Convention, including Article 3, in particular the principles in Article 3.1, which reads as follows: "The Parties should protect the climate system for the benefit of present and future generations of humankind, on the basis of equity and in accordance with their common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities. Accordingly, the developed country Parties should take the lead in combating climate change and the adverse effects thereof;"
(b) The specific needs and concerns of developing country Parties referred to in Article 4.8; the specific needs and special situations of least developed countries referred to in Article 4.9; and the situation of Parties, particularly developing country Parties, referred to in Article 4.10 of the Convention;
(c) The legitimate needs of the developing countries for the achievement of sustained economic growth and the eradication of poverty, recognizing also that all Parties have a right to, and should, promote sustainable development;
(d) The fact that the largest share of historical and current global emissions of greenhouse gases has originated in developed countries, that the per capita emissions in developing countries are still relatively low and that the share of global emissions originating in developing countries will grow to meet their social and development needs;
(e) The fact that the global nature of climate change calls for the widest possible cooperation by all countries and their participation in an effective and appropriate international response, in accordance with their common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities and their social and economic conditions;
(f) Coverage of all greenhouse gases, their emissions by sources and removals by sinks and all relevant sectors;
(g) The need for all Parties to cooperate in good faith and to participate in this process.
II
2. The process will, inter alia:
(a) Aim, as the priority in the process of strengthening the commitments in Article 4.2(a) and (b) of the Convention, for developed country/other Parties included in Annex I, both:
- to elaborate policies and measures, as well as
-
to set quantified limitation and reduction objectives within specified time-frames, such as 2005, 2010 and 2020, for their anthropogenic emissions by sources and removals by sinks of greenhouse gases not controlled by the Montreal Protocol,
taking into account the differences in starting points and approaches, economic structures and resource bases, the need to maintain strong and sustainable economic growth, available technologies and other individual circumstances, as well as the need for equitable and appropriate contributions by each of these Parties to the global effort, and also the process of analysis and assessment referred to in section III, paragraph 4, below;
(b) Not introduce any new commitments for Parties not included in Annex I, but reaffirm existing commitments in Article 4.1 and continue to advance the implementation of these commitments in order to achieve sustainable development, taking into account Article 4.3, 4.5 and 4.7;
(c) Take into account any result from the review referred to in Article 4.2(f), if available, and any notification referred to in Article 4.2(g);
(d) Consider, as provided in Article 4.2(e), the coordination among Annex I Parties, as appropriate, of relevant economic and administrative instruments, taking into account Article 3.5;
(e) Provide for the exchange of experience on national activities in areas of interest, particularly those identified in the review and synthesis of available national communications; and
(f) Provide for a review mechanism.
III
3. The process will be carried out in the light of the best available scientific information and assessment on climate change and its impacts, as well as relevant technical, social and economic information, including, inter alia, reports of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. It will also make use of other available expertise.
4. The process will include in its early stages an analysis and assessment, to identify possible policies and measures for Annex I Parties which could contribute to limiting and reducing emissions by sources and protecting and enhancing sinks and reservoirs of greenhouse gases. This process could identify environmental and economic impacts and the results that could be achieved with regard to time horizons such as 2005, 2010, and 2020.
5. The protocol proposal of the Alliance of Small Island States (AOSIS), which contains specific reduction targets and was formally submitted in accordance with Article 17 of the Convention, along with other proposals and pertinent documents, should be included for consideration in the process.
6. The process should begin without delay and be conducted as a matter of urgency, in an open-ended ad hoc group of Parties hereby established, which will report to the second session of the Conference of the Parties on the status of this process. The sessions of this group should be scheduled to ensure completion of the work as early as possible in 1997, with a view to adopting the results at the third session of the Conference of the Parties.
