(Agenda item 10)

1. Proceedings

56. The SBSTA considered this item at its 3rd and 7th meetings, on 13 and 16 June respectively.

57. Statements were made by representatives of nine Parties.

58. At the 3 rd meeting, on 13 June, statements were made by the Chairman of the IPCC and by the Director of the Global Climate Observing System (GCOS). Statements were also made by representatives of the World Health Organization (WHO), the Ramsar Convention and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP).

2. Conclusions

59. At its 7th meeting, on 16 June, having considered a proposal by the Chairman, the SBSTA adopted the following conclusions:

(a) The SBSTA welcomed the statement made by the Chairman of the IPCC on the status of preparation of the Third Assessment Report and key conclusions from the special report on emission scenarios. It noted the progress made in the preparation of the Third Assessment Report, and expressed appreciation to the IPCC for organizing a number of informative side events and presentations of special reports, as well as for its valuable contribution to the official SBSTA meetings;

(b) The SBSTA urged Parties and organizations in a position to do so to continue their financial support to the IPCC, to enable it to complete the Third Assessment Report in a timely manner. It also urged Parties to ensure the scientific integrity of the IPCC process;

(c) The SBSTA welcomed the report made by the Director of the GCOS secretariat, on behalf of the agencies participating in the Climate Agenda, on progress in responding to decision 5/CP.5 and on recent developments in the global observing systems;

(d) The SBSTA noted the efforts already made by the GCOS secretariat to organize regional workshops in the South Pacific and Africa to identify priority capacity-building needs of developing countries related to their participation in systematic observation. The SBSTA expressed appreciation to those Parties and organizations which provided support to the workshops;

(e) The SBSTA welcomed the information provided by the GCOS secretariat in response to the invitation contained in decision 5/CP.5, to consider the need for an intergovernmental process for global observing systems. It noted the recommendation that no new intergovernmental mechanism is needed at this time, but that the existing intergovernmental mechanisms, including those available to GCOS and its partners, should be used more efficiently;

(f) The SBSTA invited the GCOS secretariat to report periodically on its activities related to decision 5/CP.5, as well as on developments in the global observing systems for climate at its further sessions. It noted the appeal for additional resources by the GCOS secretariat. The SBSTA urged Parties to contribute financial support to the work of the GCOS secretariat to enable it to continue its activities, in response to decision 5/CP.5;

(g) The SBSTA welcomed the cooperation between the secretariat and United Nations bodies and other conventions. It noted with appreciation the reports by representatives of the WHO, the Ramsar Convention, and the UNDP;

(h) The SBSTA requested the secretariat to continue to explore areas of cooperation on substantive matters with these and other United Nations agencies and conventions, and to inform it at subsequent sessions of progress achieved.