Milan Conference To Promote Stronger National Action On Climate Change http://unfccc.int/press/prel2003/pressrel261103.pdf
Bonn, 26 November 2003 - The 188 Parties to the United Nations Climate Change Convention are meeting in Milan from 1 to
12 December to assess progress in addressing climate change and to set the global agenda for the coming year.
"The fact that 2003 is on track to be one of the warmest years on record should be a warning that we must all take
seriously. We can see growing evidence that many governments have been inspired by the Climate Change Convention and its
Kyoto Protocol to strengthen action at the national level, but more needs to be done to stop the increase in greenhouse
gas concentrations," said Joke Waller-Hunter, the Convention's Executive Secretary. "It is therefore encouraging that
more and more technologies that can reduce emissions at low cost are becoming available on the market."
The Milan conference will evaluate the efforts that governments have been making to tackle the climate change challenge.
The "national communications" that they submit on a regular basis reveal that the combined emissions of Europe, Japan,
the US and other highly industrialized countries could grow by 8% from 2000 to 2010 (or to about 17% over 1990 levels)
despite domestic measures currently in place to limit them.
At the same time, it is clear that governments are adopting more comprehensive and ambitious policies and measures for
cutting emissions than they did just several years ago. Although the 1997 Kyoto Protocol has not yet entered into force,
many governments cite its influence on their efforts to reinforce domestic climate change policies. The Protocol has
been ratified by 119 Parties, but its entry into force depends on the ratification by the Russian Federation.
The conference will see major achievements on the Protocol's Clean Development Mechanism. Thanks to two years of
intensive work, the CDM is now operational and the first projects will be registered early next year. (note: The CDM
promotes sustainable development in developing countries by channelling private-sector investment into emission
reduction projects, while offering industrialized countries credits against their Kyoto Protocol targets)
Forest related issues will require significant attention by delegates. They will explore how to expand CDM activities to
afforestation and reforestation projects that remove CO2 from the atmosphere. Decisions are also expected on new methods
for reporting national emissions from the forest sector.
While minimizing emissions and thus future climate change is essential, governments must also be ready to respond to the
impacts that humanity's past emissions now make inevitable. The meeting will therefore explore what needs to be done to
help countries cope with the impacts of climate change.
In addition to the formal intergovernmental talks, a wide spectrum of initiatives and institutions will tackle a wider
range of issues during numerous side events. Their presence in Milan confirms the central role that the Convention plays
in the broader global debate on climate change.
During the two weeks, over 100 workshops and debates will provide opportunities for policymakers, industry, civil
society, journalists and other stakeholders to discuss issues, exchange ideas, build partnerships and explore innovative
new approaches to the challenges of climate change. Topics will range from renewable energy and corporate activities to
scenarios for the next decade and beyond to institutional support to developing countries.
High-profile events include "Enabling Environments for Technology Transfer", a special panel discussion on technology
transfer (8 December); "The CDM: Power for the People", a debate on how the electric power industry can contribute to
limiting emissions in developing countries by making investments through the CDM (9 December); and "Getting There", a
forum bringing together government, business and NGO leaders to discuss how to tackle the transport sector's
fast-growing emissions (10 December).
Dozens of exhibits will mirror this avalanche of interest and will include a strong focus on science and technology,
research studies and materials promoting public awareness.
The Milan Conference is known officially as the Ninth Session of the Conference of the Parties to the Climate Change
Convention (COP 9). Some 4,000 participants are expected to attend. The high-level segment will take place on Wednesday
and Thursday, 10 - 11 December. Italian Prime Minister Silvio Berlusconi plans to address the meeting at the beginning
of this segment, and some 80 ministers from around the world are expected to participate in the high-level segment, thus
adding political momentum to the decisions taken by the conference.
See also www.unfccc.int