Observer participation in the UNFCCC process The fourth

Observer participation in the UNFCCC process The fourth session of the Meeting of the Parties to the Aarhus Convention Chisinau, Moldova, 29 June 2011 Megumi Endo, Observer Organizations Liaison Officer UNFCCC secretariat, Conference Affairs Services

Table of Content • Levels of observer participation in UNFCCC process • Conclusions of the SBI 34 • Aarhus recommendations to UNFCCC • Conclusions

Historical Participation levels of COPs/CMPs

Observers only

Cumulative number of admitted organizations

Progress made by SBI 34 Conclusions of SBI 34 June 2011 (→) All Parties: • → National level stakeholder engagement Hosts of future COP/CMP: • Size of venues (2010) → recalled Aarhus recommendation (ii) • → Before and throughout the Presidency term

Progress made by SBI 34 Presiding officers: • Contact Groups (1998) → first and last informal Aarhus recommendation (vi) • Workshops (2002, 2007) → presentations by observers • Briefings (2009) → welcome continuation → observers to better utilize as dialogue platform • Interventions (2004, 2007) → seek opportunities Aarhus recommendation (v)

Progress made by SBI 34 The secretariat where appropriate: • Submissions on web (2004, 2010) → web accessibility • → Background documents The secretariat if resourced: • Technical means of participation (2007, 2010) → welcomed efforts, web redesign • → Name replacement during sessions exceptionally • → More webcast

Progress made by SBI 34 SBI 36: • → Discuss options for new channels to formalize observer inputs Aarhus recommendation (xi)

Progress made by SBI 34 Other issues discussed by SBI: • Guidelines for participation (2005) Aarhus recommendation (vii) • Financial support by interested Parties (2004) Aarhus recommendation (x) • Draft texts on the web Aarhus recommendation (iv) • Aarhus Convention and Almaty Guidelines upheld in UNFCCC’s well established practices (2007)

Other Aarhus recommendations (i) Explicit roles in decision making → Mandates, HCA and ratified legal instruments (iii) Rooms not buildings → Online registration system → Tickets to plenary halls (viii) NGOs on Party delegation → On-going

Other Aarhus recommendations (ix) Increase secretariat budget for observer participation → No increase for observer liaison team (xii) NGOs themselves need to get better organised → Enhanced organization observed (xiii) Interaction between UNFCCC and Aarhus Convention secretariats → UNFCCC in Aarhus workshops and the MOP → Aarhus secretariat’s practices shared → SBI 34 & report on the good practices of other UN processes

Conclusions • Aarhus recommendations discussed and concluded • Up to the Parties, collectively and individually • Visible progress since 2004 discussions • Message from the SBI Chair • Continued exchange with the Aarhus Convention