COP 9: The 9th Conference of the Parties to the UNFCCC
Date and Location: COP 9 took place in Milan, Italy, from 1 to 12 December 2003.
Background: By the time of COP 9, the discussions around the Kyoto Protocol and its mechanisms were evolving, with countries looking forward to its entry into force. The Conference built upon the outcomes of the previous COPs and aimed to refine some of the aspects of the protocol and related issues.
Key Highlights and Outcomes:
Good Practices in Policies and Measures:
COP 9 elaborated on the “Good Practices in Policies and Measures” among Annex I Parties, which are the developed countries and economies in transition. This focused on sharing best practices to achieve objectives related to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions.
LULUCF (Land Use, Land-Use Change, and Forestry):
Decisions regarding the accounting of activities in the LULUCF sector were refined. This is important as activities in this sector can act as carbon sinks or sources, and how they are accounted for can affect a country’s emission inventory.
Adaptation:
The issue of adaptation remained in the spotlight. There was further emphasis on the needs of developing countries, particularly the least developed countries (LDCs), and the challenges they face due to climate change impacts.
Funding:
The Special Climate Change Fund (SCCF) and the Least Developed Countries Fund (LDCF) under the Global Environment Facility (GEF) were operationalized. These funds aim to provide financial resources to support mitigation and adaptation activities in developing countries.
Kyoto Mechanisms:
Progress was made in elaborating on the rules, modalities, and guidelines for the Kyoto mechanisms, such as the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM), Joint Implementation (JI), and emissions trading.
National Communications and Reporting:
Discussions advanced on the guidelines for national communications, inventory reporting from Parties, and issues related to the UNFCCC’s reporting and review processes. The emphasis was on improving the transparency, consistency, comparability, completeness, and accuracy of the information provided by Parties.
Conclusion: COP 9 in Milan was less about groundbreaking decisions and more about refining and operationalizing the mechanisms, funds, and methodologies previously agreed upon. With the imminent entry into force of the Kyoto Protocol, which happened in February 2005, COP 9 played a crucial role in laying the groundwork and ensuring that Parties were equipped with clear guidelines and resources.
