DOHA: With the climate talks in their second week, deep divisions remain in key areas of the unprecedented seven tracks of negotiations under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and its Kyoto Protocol, according to civil society groups and NGOs.
Given the wide divergences, many of the issues, especially those under the Adhoc Working Groups under the Kyoto Protocol and the UNFCCC, are expected to be forwarded to ministers for further political guidance.
The President of the Conference of Parties (COP), H E Abdullah bin Hamad Al Attiyah, convened an informal stocktake on Monday evening on the status of work of the negotiations. In his opening remarks, he said the 37th session of the Subsidiary Bodies closed on Saturday. Although many items were resolved, the Chairs of the Subsidiary Bodies had informed him that there were still some issues that needed further work and several of these were forwarded for consideration and finalisation under the Conference of Parties and the COP acting as Meeting of Parties to the Kyoto Protocol (CMP), Third World Network (TWN) noted yesterday.
Developing countries expressed strong concerns that developed countries are still not willing to commit to more ambitious greenhouse gases emission reductions or to even have decisions adopted on adaptation, finance, technology and capacity building, all of which are crucial for an effective and meaningful conclusion of the Bali Roadmap (the second commitment period of the Kyoto Protocol and the Bali Action Plan).
The issues forwarded to the COP for further guidance include development and transfer of technology, and methodological issues under different Protocol Articles.
On issues related to agriculture, there was no consensus amongst Parties to refer this matter to the COP for further consideration at the next 38th SBSTA session. On the implications of the establishment of new hydrochlorofluorocarbon-22 (HCFC-22) facilities seeking to obtain certified emission reductions for the destruction of hydrofluorocarbon-23 (HFC-23).
The Parties were able to successfully close many items for the COP and CMP to adopt. Some issues might need more attention and there is need to make political choices, including national adaptation plans and finalisation of implementation of MRV for non-Annex I Parties related to international consultation and analysis.
The Peninsula
