13 June
2008: Four parallel meetings took place between 2-13 June 2008, in Bonn,
Germany, under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and Kyoto
Protocol. The second session of the Ad Hoc Working Group on Long-term
Cooperative Action under the Convention (AWG-LCA), which was launched in Bali,
started its substantive work in Bonn, while the resumed fifth session of the Ad
Hoc Working Group on Further Commitments for Annex I Parties under the
Kyoto Protocol (AWG-KP) began the process of listing issues for further
negotiation, particularly on the Kyoto Protocol’s market-based mechanisms and
on carbon sinks.

The Subsidiary Body for Implementation advanced preparations
for a second review of the Kyoto Protocol under Article 9 in December 2009, and
the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice made some progress
on methodologies for reducing emissions from deforestation and degradation in
developing countries (REDD). Collectively, these meetings resulted in the adoption
of 30 conclusions and four draft decisions that will be taken up at subsequent
meetings
Since 13
June, the Secretariat’s focus has moved to the next round of talks, which will
take place from 21-27 August 2008, in Accra, Ghana. The Accra meetings will
include the third session of the AWG-LCA and the sixth session of the AWG-KP.
On 23 June, the Secretariat published a notification for parties and observer
states with details about the Accra talks and annexes containing provisional agendas
and guidelines for visas. The AWG-KP will consider conclusions on such key
issues as the Protocol’s flexible mechanisms and land use, land-use change and
forestry, while the AWG-LCA is expected to discuss sectoral issues and REDD.

In other
UNFCCC news, the fifth meeting of the Enforcement Branch of the Kyoto
Protocol’s Compliance Committee took place in Bonn on 14-15 June. The meeting
considered a question of non-compliance relating to Canada, and decided that it
would not pursue this matter further. [IISD RS coverage of the Bonn climate
change conference] [UNFCCC
website for Bonn climate change conference] [Notification
regarding Accra meetings] [UNFCCC
Enforcement Branch website]
Photo:AWG-LCA Chair Luiz Machado, Brazil, and UNFCCC Executive Secretary Yvo de Boer during the UNFCCC press conference. Source: IISD