UNGA SECOND COMMITTEE: CLIMATE CHANGE, UNEP,

UNCLAS USUN NEW YORK 001105

SIPDIS

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV ECIN UNGA UNEP
SUBJECT: UNGA SECOND COMMITTEE: CLIMATE CHANGE, UNEP,
AGENDA 21 AND SIDS

REF: A. STATE 161170

B. USUN 001091

C. STATE 161819


1. Summary. Four resolutions were adopted by consensus
during the November 30 session of the UN General Assembly's
Second Committee. Per Ref A on the climate change
resolution, the U.S. requested a vote on a budgetary
paragraph, which lost 160-2 (U.S. and Japan),and the U.S.
joined consensus on the resulting resolution. Resolutions on
the United Nations Environmental Program (UNEP),
implementation of Agenda 21, and Small Island Developing
States (SIDS) were also passed by consensus. End summary.


2. As noted in Ref B, the committee considered today the
previously postponed draft resolution A/C.2/62/L.38 entitled,
"Protection of global climate for present and future
generations of mankind." In accordance with Ref A, the U.S.
called for a vote on operative paragraph 11 and provided the
Explanation of Vote (EOV). Japan also gave an EOV, stating
that since not every UN member is a party to the UN Framework
Convention on Climate Change, the conference costs of the
Convention should not come from the UN budget. With a vote
of 160-2(U.S. and Japan)-0, the paragraph was included in the
resolution. U.S. joined consensus and the resolution was
adopted. Portugal, on behalf of the EU, expressed in a
general statement that while the EU welcomes the adoption of
the resolution and the positive message it sends before the
Bali climate change talks next week, it wished greater
emphasis had been placed on the importance of the scientific
findings of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change
(IPCC).


3. The committee also considered draft resolution
A/C.2/62/L.39 entitled, "Report of the Governing Council of
the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) on its
twenty-fourth special session," submitted under Agenda item
54 (g). The Committee secretary delivered an oral statement
concerning the Program Budget Implication (PBI) of the
resolution, stating that for the 2007-2008 budget and the
proposed 2008-2009 budget, no additional budgetary provisions
would result from passage of this resolution. The resolution
was adopted by consensus.


4. In accordance with Ref C, the U.S. joined consensus on
the remaining two draft resolutions. Under Agenda item 54
(a),A/C.2/62/L.40 entitled, "Implementation of Agenda 21,
the Programme for the Further Implementation of Agenda 21 and
the outcomes of the World Summit on Sustainable Development"
contained no PBI and was adopted by consensus. Under Agenda
item 54 (b),A/C.2/62/L.41 entitled, "Follow-up to and
implementation of the Mauritius Strategy for the Further
Implementation of the Programme of Action for the Sustainable
Development of Small Island Developing States" contained no
PBI and was adopted by consensus.
Khalilzad