Late-breaking news bytes: Friday 6 Nov

Updates brought to you by the ENB team members throughout the day:

A drafting group on land-use, land-use change and forestry is continuing to seek agreement on one of the most contentious issues of the COP-4 negotiations. To date the draft decision calls for an elaboration by COP-6 or as soon as possible thereafter, of recommendations to COP/MOP-1 for adoption on: a. definitions related to activities under Article 3.3; b. guidelines for supplementary information (under the provisions of Article 7.4) for reporting activities under Article 3.3; and c. Modalities, rules and guidelines as to how, and which, additional human-induced activities might be included under Article 3.4. The SBSTA is requested to consider the requirements necessary to operationalize the first sentence of Article 3.4. While the EU continues to adopt a cautious approach, Australia, the US, Canada and Iceland are reported to be pressing for an accelerated approach.
Tensions have opened up between environmental NGOs focusing on climate change issues and those specializing in biodiversity conservation. The NGOs are attempting to agree on a common approach to land use and forest issues but might be forced to issue separate statements. Climate change activists are advocating caution within the negotiations on land use and forest issues because of the scientific uncertainties about the role of sinks and the potential for creating 'loopholes' in Protocol compliance.
COP-4 President Maria Julia Alsogaray, Secretary of Natural Resources and Sustainable Development of Argentina, has confirmed that informal consultations among countries with an interest in voluntary commitments for developing countries have been taking place. She considered it an obligation of the Presidency to facilitate such contacts among the Parties. Several delegations have informed the COP President that they have been meeting informally and would like to meet "in a more organized way probably early next week." Ms.Alsogaray said she had kept a certain "distance" from the consulting delegations until now to allow them to organize. She added that she would facilitate their meeting when they were ready for that. Several Latin American countries and Annex I countries would be ready to join the meeting to explore the Protocol and consider the best way to advance the fulfillment of their Convention commitments. The Presidency would facilitate a meeting before the end of COP-4 and would hear recommendations or suggestions which are to be put forward at a Plenary session.
RealAudio of the COP-4 President's announcement