1. SECTION IV: GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF STEPS TAKEN OR ENVISAGED BY NON-ANNEX I PARTY TO IMPLEMENT THE CONVENTION Workshop on the Use of the Guidelines for the Preparation of National Communications from non-Annex I Parties 8-11 April 2003 Port Louis, Mauritius Graham Sem UNFCCC secretariat gsem@unfccc.int

2. A. General Each non-Annex I Party shall, in accordance with Article 12, paragraph 1 (b), communicate to the COP a general description of steps taken or envisaged by the Party to implement the Convention, taking into account its common but differentiated responsibilities and its specific national and regional development priorities, objectives and circumstances. Non-Annex I Parties may provide information on programmes containing measures to mitigate climate change by addressing anthropogenic emission by sources and removals by sinks of all greenhouse gases not controlled by the Montreal Protocol, and measures to facilitate adequate adaptation to climate change, following the provisions in these guidelines. Taking into account Article 4, paragraph 7, and, as appropriate, Article 4, paragraphs 3 and 5, of the Convention, the extent to which developing country Parties will effectively implement their commitment to communicate this information will depend on the effective implementation by the developed country Parties of their commitments under the Convention relating to financial resources and transfer of technology.

3. Principles (Article 3, paragraph 2) of the Convention The specific needs and special circumstances of developing country Parties, especially those that are particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change, and of those Parties, especially developing country Parties, that would have to bear a disproportionate or abnormal burden under the Convention, should be given full consideration. Commitments (Article 4, paragraph 1(f)) under the Convention Take climate change considerations into account, to the extent feasible, in their relevant social, economic and environmental policies and actions, and employ appropriate methods, for example impact assessments, formulated and determined nationally, with a view to minimizing adverse effects on the economy, on public health and on the quality of the environment, of projects and measures undertaken by them to mitigate or adapt to climate change; B. Programmes containing measures to facilitate adequate adaptation to climate change

4. Reporting obligations under the Convention Non-Annex I Parties shall, in accordance with Article 12, paragraph 1(b) and (c), of the Convention, provide to the COP information on the general steps taken or envisaged towards formulating, implementing, publishing and regularly updating national and, where appropriate, regional programmes containing measures to facilitate adequate adaptation to climate change, and any other information they consider relevant to the achievement of the objective of the Convention and suitable for inclusion in their communications. Non-Annex I Parties should provide information on their vulnerability to the adverse effects of climate change, and on adaptation measures being undertaken to meet their specific needs and concerns arising from these adverse effects.

5. Reporting obligations under the Marrakesh Accords 1.Decision 2/CP.7: Capacity building in developing countries (non-Annex I Parties)  The COP invites Parties to provide information through national communications and other reports to enable the SBI to monitor progress in the implementation of the framework for capacity building in developing countries.  The initial scope of needs and areas for capacity building includes information on vulnerability and adaptation assessments and capacity building for implementation of adaptation measures.

6. Reporting obligations under the Marrakesh Accords 2.Decision 4/CP.7: Development and transfer of technologies (decisions 4/CP.4 and 9/CP.5).  Framework for meaningful and effective actions to enhance the implementation of Article 4, paragraph 5, of the Convention : technology needs and needs assessments, technology information, enabling environments, capacity building and mechanisms for technology transfer.  Implementation of technology needs and needs assessments includes encouraging Parties to make available information on the results of their needs assessments in their national communications and other related reports and channels … identification of adaptation technology priorities.

7. Reporting obligations under the Marrakesh Accords 3.Decision 5/CP.7: Implementation of Article 4, paragraphs 8 and 9, of the Convention (decision 3/CP.3 and Article 2, paragraph 3, and Article 3, paragraph 14, of the KP).  Part I: Adverse effects of climate change: Paragraph 1: The COP insists that action related to adaptation follow an assessment and evaluation process, based on national communications and/or other relevant information, so as to prevent maladaptation and to ensure that adaptation actions are environmentally sound and will produce real benefits in support of sustainable development.  Paragraph 3: COP encourages non-Annex I Parties to provide information, including in their national communications, and/or any other relevant information sources, on their specific needs and concerns arising from the adverse effects of climate change.

8. Definitions under the Convention  Climate change – change change of climate which is attributed directly or indirectly to human activity that alters the composition of the global atmosphere and which is in addition to natural climate variability observed over comparable time periods  Adverse effects – changes in the physical environment or biota resulting from climate change which have significant deleterious effects on the composition, resilience or productivity of natural and managed ecosystems or on the operation of socio-economic systems or on human health and welfare

9. Definitions under the IPCC  Vulnerability - degree to which a system is susceptible to, or unable to cope with, adverse effects of climate change, including climatic variability and extremes. Vulnerability is a function of the character, magnitude, and rate of climate variation to which a system is exposed, its sensitivity, and its adaptive capacity  Adaptation - adjustment in natural or human systems in response to actual or expected climatic stimuli or their effects, which moderates harm or exploits beneficial opportunities  Sensitivity - degree to which a system is affected (adversely or beneficially) by climate-related stimuli, e.g. rainfall and temperature.  Adaptive capacity - ability of a system to adjust to climate change including climate variability and extremes to moderate potential damages, to take advantage of opportunities, or to cope with the consequences

10. Methodological approaches  Non-annex I Parties may use appropriate methodologies and guidelines they consider better able to reflect their national situation for assessing their vulnerability and adaptation to climate change, provided that these methodologies and guidelines are consistent, transparent and well documented.  Non-Annex I Parties are encouraged to use, for the evaluation of adaptation strategies and measures, appropriate methodologies they consider better able to reflect their national situation, provided that these methodologies are consistent, transparent and well documented.  IPCC Technical Guidelines for Assessing Climate Change Impacts and Adaptations (1994), UNEP handbook on Methods for Climate Change Impact Assessment and Adaptation Strategies (1998), and International Handbook on Vulnerability and Adaptation Assessments (1996).  Compendium of Decision Tools to Evaluate Strategies for Adaptation to Climate Change (1999)

11. Reporting  Non-Annex I Parties are encouraged to: provide information on the scope of their vulnerability and adaptation assessment, including identification of vulnerable areas that are most critical include a description of approaches, methodologies and tools used, including scenarios for the assessment of impacts of, and vulnerability and adaptation climate change, as well as any uncertainties inherent in these methodologies provide information on their vulnerability to the impacts of, and their adaptation to, climate change in key vulnerable areas. Information should include key findings, and direct and indirect effects arising from climate change, allowing for an integrated analysis of the country’s vulnerability to climate change provide information on and, to the extent possible, evaluation of, strategies and measures for adapting to climate change, in key areas including those which are of the highest priority

12. Reporting (2)  Where relevant, Parties may report on the use of policy frameworks, such as national adaptation programmes, plans and policies for developing and implementing adaptation strategies and measures.  National adaptation programmes of action (NAPA) could be used in this analysis for least developed countries and other frameworks, e.g. adaptation policy framework, mainstreaming adaptation into development planning, etc.