31 May 2010: The Bonn Climate Change Talks began on 31 May 2010, and are scheduled to conclude on 11 June. The meeting brings together representatives from 182 countries and will include the 32nd sessions of the Subsidiary Bodies of the UNFCCC, the tenth session of the Ad Hoc Working Group on Long-term Cooperative Action under the Convention (AWG-LCA 10) and the 12th session of the Ad Hoc Working Group on Further Commitments for Annex I Parties under the Kyoto Protocol (AWG-KP 12).
The main item on the AWG-KP’s agenda focuses on further commitments by Annex I parties. The AWG-KP is expected to work based on documentation prepared by the Chair to facilitate negotiations (FCCC/KP/AWG/2010/6 and Adds.1-5). The AWG-LCA’s agenda focuses on preparation of an outcome to be presented to the 16th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 16) and parties are expected to consider a new text by the Chair to facilitate negotiations (FCCC/AWGLCA/2010/6).
The Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI) will consider issues including national communications and reporting, the financial mechanism and capacity building. The Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA) will consider, inter alia, methodological issues, technology transfer and the Nairobi Work Programme on impacts, vulnerability and adaptation to climate change.
At a press conference held on the first day of the talks, Yvo de Boer, UNFCCC Executive Secretary, noted that “The Copenhagen meeting may have postponed an outcome for at least a year, but it did not postpone the impacts of climate change.” He stressed the need to “act now, or face the worst” in the face of scientific evidence. He added that there is growing consensus that COP 16 should aim to agree on “a full, operational architecture to implement effective, collective climate action.”
The Bonn talks are being attended by over 4,500 participants, including government delegates, representatives from business and industry, environmental organisations and research institutions. [IISD RS Coverage] [UNFCCC Press Release]