26 July 2011: The UNFCCC has published a proposal (FCCC/CP/2011/3) from Cyprus and the EU to amend Annex I to the Convention, as well as a proposal (FCCC/CP/2011/4) from Papua New Guinea and Mexico to amend Articles 7 (Conference of the Parties) and 18 (right to vote) of the Convention.

Cyprus and the EU, by a letter dated 18 May 2011, submitted a proposal to amend Annex I to the Convention with a view to adding the name of Cyprus to that Annex as of 1 January 2013, or at a later date. This proposal is in line with the amendment agreed at the 15th session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 15) to include Malta in Annex I to the Convention (Decision 3/CP.15). In consequence of Cyprus’ changed political circumstance as a member State of the EU, it seeks to put Cyprus on the same legal footing as the other member States of the EU that are included in Annex I to the Convention.

The UNFCCC Secretariat has also published a proposal (FCCC/CP/2011/4) from Papua New Guinea and Mexico to amend Articles 7 (Conference of the Parties) and 18 (right to vote) of the Convention. This submission proposes that necessary amendments to the Convention be made in order to make effective the right to vote under Article 18 and allow a “last resort” vote to be taken only when every effort to reach consensus has failed and where there is a matter that carries broad-based support and “political will.” These submissions will be considered by COP 17. [Publication: Proposal from Cyprus and the European Union to Amend Annex I to the Convention] [Publication: Proposal from Papua New Guinea and Mexico to Amend Articles 7 and 18 of the Convention]