Conference of the Parties
Second session
Geneva, 8 - 19 July 1996
Agenda item 5

REVIEW OF THE IMPLEMENTATION OF THE CONVENTION AND OF DECISIONS OF THE FIRST SESSION OF THE CONFERENCE OF THE PARTIES

Ministerial Declaration *

The Ministers and other heads of delegations present at the second session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change,

Noting that this, our meeting at Ministerial level under the Convention, is a demonstration of our intention to continue to take an active and constructive role in addressing the threat of climate change,

1. Recall Article 2 of the Convention; the principles of equity and of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities in Article 3.1 of the Convention; and the provisions of Article 3.3 concerning precautionary measures; as well as the specific national and regional development priorities, objectives and circumstances of the Parties to the Convention;

2. Recognize and endorse the Second Assessment Report of the IPCC as currently the most comprehensive and authoritative assessment of the science of climate change, its impacts and response options now available. Ministers believe that the Second Assessment Report should provide a scientific basis for urgently strengthening action at the global, regional and national levels, particularly action by Annex I Parties to limit and reduce emissions of greenhouse gases, and for all Parties to support the development of a Protocol or another legal instrument; and note the findings of the IPCC, in particular the following:

-The balance of evidence suggests a discernible human influence on global climate. Without specific policies to mitigate climate change, the global average surface temperature relative to 1990 is projected to increase by about 2ºC (between 1ºC and 3.5ºC) by 2100; average sea level is projected to rise by about 50 centimetres (between 15 and 95 centimetres) above present levels by 2100. Stabilisation of atmospheric concentrations at twice pre-industrial levels will eventually require global emissions to be less than 50 per cent of current levels;

- The projected changes in climate will result in significant, often adverse, impacts on many ecological systems and socio-econornic sectors, including food supply and water resources, and on human health. In some cases, the impacts are potentially irreversible; developing countries and small island countries are typically more vulnerable to climate change;

- Significant reductions in net greenhouse gas emissions are technically possible and economically feasible by utilising an array of technology policy measures that accelerate technology development, diffusion and transfer; and significant no regrets opportunities are available in most countries to reduce net greenhouse gas emissions;

3. Believe that the findings of the Second Assessment Report indicate that the continued rise of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere will lead to dangerous interference with the climate system, given the serious risk of an increase in temperature and particularly the very high rate of temperature change;

4. Recognize also the need for continuing work by the IPCC to further reduce scientific uncertainties, in particular regarding socio-economic and environmental impacts on developing countries, including those vulnerable to drought, desertification or sea-level rise;

5. Reaffirm the existing commitments under the Convention, including those intended to demonstrate that Annex I Parties are taking the lead in modifying longer-term trends in emissions by sources and removals by sinks of greenhouse gases not controlled by the Montreal Protocol, and agree to strengthen the process under the Convention for the regular review of the implementation of present and future commitments;

6. Take note that Annex I Parties are fulfilling their commitments to implement national policies and measures on the mitigation of climate change. Also take note that this is not the only commitment that Annex I Parties have made and that many of these Parties need to make additional efforts to overcome difficulties that they face in achieving the aim of returning their emissions of greenhouse gases to 1990 levels by 2000;

7. Acknowledge the considerable work done by the Ad Hoc Group on the Berlin Mandate (AGBM) since the first session of the Conference of the Parties, including the substantive proposals presented by a number of Parties, and call on all Parties to come forward with proposals to facilitate substantive negotiations beginning at the fifth session of AGBM in December 1996;

8. Instruct their representatives to accelerate negotiations on the text of a legally-binding protocol or another legal instrument to be completed in due time for adoption at the third session of the Conference of the Parties. The outcome should fully encompass the remit of the Berlin Mandate, in particular:

- commitments for Annex I Parties regarding:

* policies and measures including, as appropriate, regarding energy, transport, industry, agriculture, forestry, waste management, economic instruments, institutions and mechanisms;

* quantified legally-binding objectives for emission limitations and significant overall reductions within specified timeframes, such as 2005, 2010, 2020, with respect to their anthropogenic emissions by sources and removals by sinks of greenhouse gases not controlled by the Montreal Protocol;

- commitments for all Parties on continuing to advance the implementation of existing commitments in Article 4.1;

- a mechanism to allow the regular review and strengthening of the commitments embodied in a Protocol or other legal instrument;

- commitments to a global effort to speed up the development, application, diffusion and transfer of climate-friendly technologies, practices and processes; in this regard, further concrete action should be taken;

9. Welcome the efforts of developing country Parties to implement the Convention and thus to address climate change and its adverse impacts and, to this end, to make their initial national communications in accordance with guidelines adopted by the Conference of the Parties at its second session; and call on the GEF to provide expeditious and timely support to these Parties and initiate work towards a full replenishment in 1997;

10. Recognize that the continuing advancement of existing commitments by developing country Parties, in the context of their national priorities for sustainable development, requires determined and timely action, in particular by Annex II Parties. Access to financial resources and to environmentally-sound technologies consistent with Articles 4.3, 4+4, 4.5 and 4.7 will be most critical;

11. Thank the Government of the Swiss Confederation for its contribution to the work of the second session of the Conference of the Parties in Geneva and look forward to meeting again at the third session in Kyoto, in 1997, thanks to the generous offer of the Government of Japan.

This text was introduced by the President at the 6th plenary meeting, on 18 July