4 March 2009: The UNFCCC Secretariat has released a note prepared in response to a request made by the Ad Hoc Working Group on Further Commitments for Annex I Parties under the Kyoto Protocol (AWG-KP) at its sixth session, held in August 2008, containing possible elements for amendments to the Protocol pursuant to its Article 3, paragraph 9 (FCCC/KP/AWG/2009/3). This Article relates to the consideration of commitments for subsequent periods for Annex I parties, which are to be established through amendments to Annex B. Annex B consists of a list of parties together with their respective quantified emission limitation or reduction commitments expressed as a percentage of base year or period.

The note identifies and discusses possible amendments to Annex B to the Kyoto Protocol and consequential amendments to the Protocol that would flow directly from amendments to Annex B. The form that the amendments might take, as well as their adoption and entry into force are also outlined in the note. The note will be examined by the AWG-KP at its seventh session, scheduled to take place in Bonn, Germany, from 29 March-8 April 2009. [The Note]