Parties have promised that work under Article 3.9 will proceed “expeditiously”. This sense of momentum – one of the five broad themes identified by our COP/MOP President, Professor Kivutha Kibwana – needs to infuse not only the work of the open-ended Ad Hoc Working Group, but also the Article 9 review. Much remains to be done to achieve an effective agreement on how to proceed to address climate change post 2012. Both tracks are vital for success.

At Nairobi, to establish a sound scientific and technical basis for negotiations, CAN believes delegates need to agree to a one-year analysis phase under both Articles 3.9 and 9, leading to a negotiating mandate in 2007.  This will allow the work of the Dialogue, due to be completed by COP/MOP3, to also inform the negotiations. This negotiating mandate should result in a single coherent agreement to be agreed in 2008, with commitments adequate to address the enormity of the climate challenge. This end date is needed in order to avoid a gap in commitments periods.

Just a reminder: it took eight meetings over the course of over two years to prepare for the Kyoto agreement. Hence, CAN strongly believes a robust schedule of regular and intersessional meetings is needed, both during the analysis and negotiating phases. Parties are encouraged to pledge their political support and their financial backing for these meetings.