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Highlights from Tuesday, 12 December
Plenary:
 Delegates
convened in a morning Plenary session to consider organizational
matters and hear statements from various UN bodies and related
organizations and NGOs. A Committee of the Whole (COW) was
established and met in an afternoon session. The Committee on
Science and Technology (CST) convened in an afternoon session to
consider its organization of work and begin discussion on scientific
and technical information used to measure progress.
Above photo: Zambiin Batjargal
of Mongolia was elected to the
post of COP-4 President
Right photo: The dias during the
morning plenary
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Plenary Statements:
CCD Executive Secretary, Hama Arba Diallo, summarized the
activities undertaken at the national, sub-regional and regional
levels, and reported that a Round Table of Parliamentarians will be
held between 12 and 13 December, in parallel with the COP sessions.
Hama
Arba Diallo's plenary statement
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 The
WORLD METEOROLOGICAL ORGANIZATION invited the COP to give
special attention to, inter
alia: developing and enhancing proactive drought early warning
systems; determining vulnerability profiles and comprehensive
assessment of social, economic and environmental impacts based on
indicators that can be monitored as drought develops; and providing
technical and financial resources to the most vulnerable countries.
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*RealAudio of the Plenary Statements to follow soon
Above
photo: G.O.P. Obasi, WMO Secretary General giving his plenary
statement
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Noting a steep increase in the number of requests for the Global
Mechanism’s (GM) services, the INTERNATIONAL FUND FOR
AGRICULTURAL DEVELOPMENT (IFAD) said bilateral support to the GM
has been sporadic and insufficient. He urged the COP to reaffirm its
commitments to support the GM and ensure that it is allocated the
necessary resources to perform its duties effectively.
Above photo: (L-R) Participants
from IFAD, Per Rydén,
Takao Shibata (IFAD Assistant President), and Fawzi Rihane
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The CONVENTION ON MIGRATORY SPECIES OF WILD ANIMALS (CMS)
called for synergies at all levels including national levels,
between the CCD and the CMS.
Left photo:Arnulf
Müller-Helmbrecht, Executive Secretary of the Convention on
Migratory Species of Wild Animals
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The FOOD AND AGRICULTURE ORGANIZATION highlighted the
need to strengthen efforts to identify and disseminate simple
and effective agricultural practices that simultaneously enhance
resource and biodiversity conservation, food security, social
stability and improve incomes, and undertake and implement
institutional reforms to strengthen local populations’ access
to micro-credit, agricultural markets.
Right
photo: Mr. El Hadji Sène of FAO delivering his opening
statements during this morning's plenary
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NIGERIA, on behalf of the G-77/China called for the:
enhancement of the GM to enable it to fulfil its mandate;
establishment of an institutional structure to monitor CCD
implementation; and formulation of a declaration with a time frame
and measurable results.
Left photo: Hon. Minister Imeh Okopido (Nigeria)
giving his plenary statement on behalf of G77/China.
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Committee of the
Whole:COW
 The
COW began, but failed to conclude consideration of Agenda
Item 7, on Implementation of the Convention. Executive Secretary
Diallo presented the documents to be considered (ICCD/COP(4)/3/Add
7 and Add 7(A)) and said only 33 reports could be considered at
COP-4. The rest would be deferred to two intersessional meetings
in March and April 2001.
Above photo: The dias during the afternoon session of the COW,
chaired by Kabelo Mafura (Lesotho)
Committee of Science and
Technology:CST
On the CST agenda, delegates agreed to an EU proposal to
discuss how to enhance the effectiveness of the CST in order to
submit concrete proposals for COP consideration.
Right photo: The dias during the afternoon session of the
CST, chaired by Olarewanju Smith (Canada)
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