For the purposes of this Convention:

1.

"Adverse effects of climate change" refers to changes in the physical environment or biota due to climate change and which have significant adverse effects on composition, resistance or productivity Natural and managed ecosystems, the functioning of socio-economic systems or the health and well-being of man.

2.

Climate change refers to climate change that is attributed directly or indirectly to human activity that alters the composition of the global atmosphere and adds to the natural variability of climate Observed during comparable periods.

3.

The term "climate system" refers to the atmosphere, hydrosphere, biosphere and geosphere as well as their interactions.

4.

"Emissions" means the release of greenhouse gases or precursors of such gases into the atmosphere over an area and over a period of time.

5.

Greenhouse gases are the gaseous components of the atmosphere, both natural and anthropogenic, that absorb and reissue infrared radiation.

6.

"Regional economic integration organization" means an organization constituted by sovereign States of a given region which has competence in fields governed by this Convention or its protocols and has been duly authorized, according to the Its internal procedures, to sign, ratify, accept or approve such instruments or to accede to them.

7.

"Reservoir" means one or more components of the climate system that hold a greenhouse gas or a precursor of a greenhouse gas.

8.

"Well" means any process, activity or mechanism, natural or artificial, that removes a greenhouse gas, an aerosol or a precursor of a greenhouse gas from the atmosphere.

9.

"Source" means any process or activity that releases a greenhouse gas, an aerosol or a precursor of a greenhouse gas into the atmosphere.

The ultimate objective of this Convention and of any related legal instruments that the Conference of the Parties may adopt is to stabilise, in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Convention, the concentrations of greenhouse gases In the atmosphere at a level that prevents dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system. This level will have to be reached within a sufficient time so that ecosystems can adapt naturally to climate change, that food production is not threatened and that economic development can continue In a sustainable way.

In their actions to achieve and implement the Convention's objective, the Parties will be guided, inter alia, by the following:

1.

It is the responsibility of the Parties to preserve the climate system for the benefit of present and future generations, on the basis of equity and in accordance with their common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capacities. It is therefore up to the developed country Parties to be at the forefront of the fight against climate change and its adverse effects.

2.

The specific needs and special circumstances of developing country Parties, including those particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change, as well as Parties, should be fully taken into account In particular, developing country Parties, to which the Convention would impose a disproportionate or abnormal burden.

3.

It is the responsibility of the Parties to take precautionary measures to anticipate, prevent or mitigate the causes of climate change and mitigate its adverse effects. Where there is a risk of serious or irreversible disruption, the absence of full scientific certainty shall not be used as a reason to postpone the adoption of such measures, on the understanding that the policies and measures referred to in the changes Cost-effectiveness, so as to ensure overall benefits at the lowest possible cost. To achieve this goal, these policies and measures should take into account the diversity of socio-economic contexts, be comprehensive, extend to all sources and sinks and reservoirs of greenhouse gases, as appropriate. Include adaptation measures and apply to all economic sectors. Initiatives to address climate change will be the subject of concerted action by interested Parties.

4.

The Parties shall have the right to work for and shall work for sustainable development. Policies and measures to protect the climate system against human-induced changes should be adapted to the specific circumstances of each Party and integrated into national development programmes, Economic development is essential to adopt measures to address climate change.

5.

It is the responsibility of the Parties to work together in an international economic system that is bearer and open and that leads to sustainable economic growth and development for all Parties, in particular developing countries Parties, to enable them to better address the challenges of climate change. Measures to combat climate change, including unilateral measures, should be avoided as a means of imposing arbitrary or unjustifiable discrimination in international trade, or Disguised barriers to trade.

1. All Parties, taking into account their common but differentiated responsibilities and the specificity of their national and regional development priorities, their objectives and their situation:

(a)

Establish, regularly update, publish and make available to the Conference of the Parties, in accordance with Art. 12, national inventories of anthropogenic emissions by their sources and removals by sinks of all greenhouse gases not regulated under the Montreal Protocol ¹ Using comparable methodologies to be approved by the Conference of the Parties;

(b)

Establish, implement, publish and regularly update national programmes and, where appropriate, regional programmes containing measures to mitigate climate change taking into account anthropogenic emissions by their Sources and removals by sinks of all greenhouse gases not regulated under the Montreal Protocol, as well as measures to facilitate appropriate adaptation to climate change;

(c)

Encourage and support, through their cooperation, the development, application and dissemination, in particular by means of transfer, of technologies, practices and processes that enable the control, reduction or prevention of anthropogenic emissions of Greenhouse gases not regulated under the Montreal Protocol in all relevant sectors, including energy, transport, industry, agriculture, forestry and waste management;

(d)

Encourage sound management and encourage and support, through their cooperation, conservation and, where appropriate, the strengthening of sinks and reservoirs of all greenhouse gases not regulated under the Montreal Protocol, including Biomass, forests and oceans as well as other terrestrial, coastal and marine ecosystems;

(e)

Preparent, in cooperation, adaptation to the impact of climate change and design and develop appropriate and integrated plans for coastal zone management, for water resources and agriculture, and for protection and Rehabilitation of drought-stricken areas and desertification, particularly in Africa, and by floods;

(f)

Take into account, to the extent possible, climate change considerations in their social, economic and environmental policies and actions and use appropriate methodologies, e.g. impact assessments, formulated And defined at the national level, to minimize the adverse effects on the economy, public health and environmental quality-of the projects or measures they undertake to mitigate climate change or Adapt to it;

(g)

Encourage and support, through their cooperation, scientific, technological, technical, socio-economic and other research, systematic observation and the creation of data archives on the climate system for better To understand the causes, effects, magnitude and timing of climate change, as well as the economic and social consequences of the various response strategies, and to reduce and eliminate the uncertainties that remain This respect;

(h)

Encourage and support the exchange of scientific, technological, technical, socio-economic and legal data on the climate system and climate change as well as on the economic and social consequences Various response strategies, with the data to be exchanged in full, freely and promptly;

(i)

Encourage and support education, training and public awareness in the field of climate change through their cooperation, and encourage the widest participation in this process, in particular that of non-governmental organizations Government;

(j)

Communicate to the Conference of the Parties information concerning the application, in accordance with Article 12.

2. Developed country Parties and other Parties included in Annex 1 shall make the following specific commitments:

(a)

Each Party shall adopt national policies ² And is taking action to mitigate climate change by limiting its anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases and protecting and strengthening its sinks and reservoirs of greenhouse gases. These policies and measures will demonstrate that developed countries take the initiative to change the long-term trends of anthropogenic emissions in accordance with the objective of the Convention, recognizing that the return, by the end of this Decade, previous levels of anthropogenic emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases not regulated by the Montreal Protocol would contribute to such an amendment and, taking into account the differences between these Parties in terms of Their starting point and approach, their economic structure and their base of Resources, the need to maintain strong and sustainable economic growth, available technologies and other circumstances in each case, as well as the need for each of these Parties to contribute appropriately and Equitable to the global effort to achieve this goal. Such Parties may apply such policies and measures in association with other Parties and assist other Parties in contributing to the objective of the Convention, in particular the objective of this subparagraph;

(b)

In order to facilitate progress in this direction, each of these Parties shall submit, in accordance with Art. 12, within six months after the entry into force of the Convention in respect of it, and then at periodic intervals, detailed information on its policies and measures referred to in para. (a), as well as the resulting projections of anthropogenic emissions by its sources and removals by its sinks of greenhouse gases not regulated by the Montreal Protocol, for the period referred to in para. (a) for the purpose of individually or jointly reducing anthropogenic emissions of carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases not regulated under the Montreal Protocol to their 1990 levels. The Conference of the Parties shall review this information at its first session and at periodic intervals, in accordance with art. 7;

(c)

The calculation, for the purposes of para. (b) the quantities of greenhouse gases emitted by the sources and absorbed by the wells shall be carried out on the basis of the best available scientific knowledge, in particular as regards the effective capacity of the wells and the contribution of Each of these gases to climate change. The Conference of the Parties will review and adopt the methods to be used for this calculation at its first session and shall review them at regular intervals thereafter;

(d)

The Conference of the Parties at its first session will consider paras. (a) and (b) to see if they are adequate. It will do so in the light of the most reliable scientific and evaluation data on climate change and its impact, as well as relevant technical, social and economic data. On the basis of that review, the Conference of the Parties shall take the necessary measures, which may include the adoption of amendments to the commitments referred to in paras. (a) and (b). At its first session, it will also take decisions on the criteria for a joint application, as indicated in para. (a). It will conduct a second review of paras. (a) and (b) no later than 31 December 1998, and thereafter at regular intervals thereafter, until the objective of the Convention has been achieved;

(e)

Each Party shall:

(i)

Coordinates, as appropriate with other Parties, the appropriate economic and administrative instruments developed for the purpose of the Convention;

(ii)

Identify and periodically review those policies and practices that encourage activities raising the level of anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases not regulated by the Montreal Protocol at a level higher than that in which it Would otherwise be;

(f)

The Conference of the Parties shall review, by 31 December 1998 at the latest, the information available in order to decide on the changes to be made to the lists in Annexes I and II, with the agreement of the Party concerned;

(g)

Any Party not listed in Annex I may, in its instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession, or at any time thereafter, notify the Depositary of its intention to be bound by the provisions of paras. (a) and (b). The Depositary shall inform the other signatories and Parties of any such notification.

3. Developed country Parties and other developed Parties included in Annex II shall provide new and additional financial resources to cover all agreed costs incurred by developing country Parties The fulfilment of their obligations under s. 12, para. They shall also provide to developing countries Parties, in particular for the purposes of technology transfer, the financial resources in question, which are necessary for them to cover all agreed additional costs incurred by The application of the measures referred to in s. 1 of this Article and on which a developing country Party shall have heard with the international entity or entities referred to in Art. 11, in accordance with the article. The implementation of these commitments takes into account the need for adequate and predictable flows of funds, as well as the importance of appropriate burden-sharing among developed country Parties.

4. Developed country Parties and other developed Parties included in Annex II shall also assist developing countries Parties particularly vulnerable to the adverse effects of climate change in coping with the cost of adaptation Those effects.

5. Developed country Parties and other developed Parties included in Annex II shall take all feasible measures to encourage, facilitate and finance, as required, the transfer or access of technology and know-how To other Parties, in particular those of developing countries, in order to enable them to implement the provisions of the Convention. In this process, developed country Parties support the development and strengthening of the capacities and technologies of developing country Parties. Other Parties and organizations able to do so may also assist in facilitating the transfer of these technologies.

6. The Conference of the Parties shall accord to Annex I Parties which are in transition to a market economy, in order to make them better able to cope with climate change, a degree of flexibility in the implementation of their commitments Under subs. 2, particularly with respect to the historical level, which will be selected as a reference, of anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases not regulated under the Montreal Protocol.

7. The extent to which developing country Parties will effectively fulfil their commitments under the Convention will depend on effective implementation for developed countries Parties of their own commitments in respect of Financial resources and technology transfer and will take full account of the fact that economic and social development and poverty eradication are the primary and essential priorities of developing country Parties.

8. For the purposes of implementing the commitments set out in this Article, the Parties shall consider measures, including the financing, insurance and transfer of technology, to be taken under the Convention in respect of Respond to the specific needs and concerns of developing countries Parties to the adverse effects of climate change and the impact of response measures, including in the following countries:

(a)

Small island countries;

(b)

Countries with low-lying coastal areas;

(c)

Countries with arid and semi-arid zones, forest areas and areas prone to forest degradation;

(d)

Countries with areas subject to natural disasters;

(e)

Countries with areas subject to drought and desertification;

(f)

Countries with areas of high urban air pollution;

(g)

Countries with fragile ecosystems, including mountain ecosystems;

(h)

Countries whose economies are highly dependent on either the production, processing and export of fossil fuels and energy-intensive related products, or the consumption of such fuels, and Products;

(i)

Landlocked and transit countries.

The Conference of the Parties may also take appropriate action, as appropriate, in respect of this paragraph.

The Parties shall take fully into account, in their action concerning the financing and transfer of technology, the special needs and special circumstances of the least developed countries.

10. In carrying out the commitments arising out of the Convention, the Parties shall take into account, in accordance with Art. 10, of the situation of those of them, in particular developing countries, whose economy is vulnerable to the adverse effects of measures to respond to climate change. This is particularly the case for Parties whose economies are highly dependent on either the production, processing and export of fossil fuels and energy-intensive related products, or The use of fossil fuels and the use of fossil fuels is very difficult for these Parties to replace with alternative products.

When they meet their commitments under s. 4, para. 1 (g), the Parties:

(a)

Support and, as appropriate, further develop international and intergovernmental organizations or networks and networks whose purpose is to define, carry out, evaluate and fund research, data collection and Systematic observation, taking into account the need to limit duplication as much as possible;

(b)

Support international and intergovernmental efforts to strengthen systematic observation and national capacity and capacity for scientific and technical research, including in developing countries, and Encourage access to, and promote the exchange of, data from areas outside the national jurisdiction and their analysis;

(c)

Take into account the particular concerns and needs of developing countries and cooperate to improve their endogenous capacity and capacity to participate in the efforts referred to in paras. (a) and (b).

When they meet their commitments under s. 4, para. 1 (i), the Parties:

(a)

Encourage and facilitate at the national and, where appropriate, sub-regional and regional levels, in accordance with their respective laws and regulations and their respective capacities:

(i)

The development and implementation of public education and awareness programs on climate change and its effects;

(ii)

Public access to information on climate change and its effects,

(iii)

Public participation in the review of climate change and its effects and the development of appropriate measures to address them, and

(iv)

Training of scientific, technical and management personnel;

(b)

Supported by their cooperation and encourage at the international level, through the use of existing bodies, where appropriate:

(i)

The development and exchange of educational materials and materials aimed at raising public awareness of climate change and its effects, and

(ii)

The development and implementation of education and training programmes, including through the strengthening of national organizations and through the exchange or secondment of personnel to train experts in the field, in particular for countries in Development.

1. A Conference of the Parties shall be established.

2. As the supreme body of this Convention, the Conference of the Parties shall regularly review the implementation of the Convention and any other related legal instruments it may adopt and take, within the limits of its The decisions necessary to promote the effective implementation of the Convention. To this end:

(a)

It shall periodically review the obligations of the Parties and the institutional arrangements arising from the Convention, in accordance with the objective of the Convention, the experience gained in its application and the evolution of knowledge Scientific and technical;

(b)

It encourages and facilitates the exchange of information on the measures adopted by the Parties to address climate change and its effects, taking into account the diversity of situations, responsibilities and means of the Parties so Their respective commitments under the Convention;

(c)

It facilitates, at the request of two or more Parties, the coordination of measures adopted by them to address climate change and its effects, taking into account the diversity of situations, responsibilities and means of Parties and their respective commitments under the Convention;

(d)

It shall encourage and direct, in accordance with the objective and provisions of the Convention, the development and periodic development of comparable methodologies, to be agreed by the Conference of the Parties, including the identification of emissions of Greenhouse gas emissions from sources and removals by sinks, as well as to evaluate the effectiveness of the measures taken to limit these emissions and to increase the absorption of these gases;

(e)

It shall assess, on the basis of all information provided to it in accordance with the provisions of the Convention, the implementation of the Convention by the Parties, the overall effects of the measures taken under the Convention, The environmental, economic and social effects and their cumulative impacts, and progress towards the Convention's objective;

(f)

It reviews and adopts periodic reports on the implementation of the Convention and ensures its publication;

(g)

Makes recommendations on all matters necessary for the implementation of the Convention;

(h)

Endeavor to mobilize financial resources in accordance with art. 4, para. 3, 4 and 5, and art. 11;

(i)

It shall establish the subsidiary bodies deemed necessary for the implementation of the Convention;

(j)

It reviews the reports of these bodies, to whom it provides guidance;

(k)

It adopts and adopts, by consensus, internal regulations and financial management rules for itself and for all subsidiary bodies;

(l)

Where appropriate, it solicits and uses the services and assistance of relevant international organizations and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations, as well as the information they provide;

(m)

It shall carry out the other functions necessary to attain the objective of the Convention, as well as all other functions conferred upon it by the Convention.

The Conference of the Parties shall adopt, at its first session, its own rules of procedure and those of the subsidiary bodies established pursuant to the Convention; those regulations shall include the decision-making procedure applicable to the For which the Convention does not already provide for a procedure in this respect. This procedure may specify the majority required for the adoption of a particular decision.

The first session of the Conference of the Parties shall be convened by the provisional secretariat referred to in Art. 21, and shall be held one year at the latest after the entry into force of the Convention. Thereafter, the Conference of the Parties shall, unless it decides otherwise, hold regular sessions once a year.

5. The Conference of the Parties shall hold extraordinary sessions at any other time it deems necessary, or if a Party so requests in writing, provided that such request is supported by at least one third of the Parties, within six months Shall follow its communication to the Parties by the secretariat.

6. The United Nations, the specialized agencies of the United Nations and the International Atomic Energy Agency, as well as any member States of one of these organizations or observers, with one of those organizations that are not Parties to the Convention may be represented at the sessions of the Conference of the Parties as observers. Any national or international, governmental or non-governmental body or body competent in the areas covered by the Convention, which has informed the secretariat that it wishes to be represented at a session of the Conference of the Parties in Observer status, may be accepted in this capacity unless at least one third of the Parties present object to it. The admission and participation of observers shall be governed by the rules of procedure adopted by the Conference of the Parties.

1. A secretariat is established.

The functions of the secretariat are as follows:

(a)

To organize the sessions of the Conference of the Parties and subsidiary bodies of the Conference established under the Convention and to provide them with appropriate services;

(b)

Compile and disseminate the reports it receives;

(c)

On request, assist Parties, in particular, among developing countries, in compiling and disseminating the information required by the Convention;

(d)

Prepare reports on its activities and submit them to the Conference of the Parties;

(e)

Ensure the necessary coordination with the secretariats of other relevant international bodies;

(f)

Take, under the supervision of the Conference of the Parties, the administrative and contractual arrangements that may be required for the effective performance of its functions; and

(g)

Carry out the other functions of the secretariat entrusted to it by the Convention or any of its protocols, and any other functions which may be assigned to it by the Conference of the Parties.

At its first session, the Conference of the Parties shall appoint a permanent secretariat and shall make arrangements for its operation.

1. A Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice is established to provide the Conference of the Parties and, where appropriate, its other subsidiary bodies with information and advice on aspects Science and technology of the Convention. This body, open to the participation of all Parties, is multidisciplinary. It is made up of representatives of governments that are authoritative in their field of competence. It shall regularly report all aspects of its work to the Conference of the Parties.

2. The body, acting under the authority of the Conference of the Parties and relying on the work of the relevant international bodies, shall have the following functions:

(a)

To take stock of scientific knowledge of climate change and its effects;

(b)

To take stock of the scientific implications of the measures taken under the Convention;

(c)

Identify advanced, innovative and effective technologies and know-how, and identify ways of encouraging development and ensuring its transfer;

(d)

Provide advice on scientific programs, international cooperation and research and development on climate change, and ways to help developing countries develop their own capacity;

(e)

To respond to the scientific, technological and methodological issues that the Conference of the Parties and its subsidiary bodies may pose.

3. The functions and mandate of the body may be further elaborated by the Conference of the Parties.

1. A subsidiary body for implementation is established to assist the Conference of the Parties in monitoring and evaluating the effective implementation of the Convention. This body, which is open to the participation of all Parties, is composed of representatives of Governments, experts in the field of climate change. It shall regularly report all aspects of its work to the Conference of the Parties.

The body, acting under the authority of the Conference of the Parties, shall have the following functions:

(a)

To examine the information provided in accordance with Art. 12, para. 1, to assess the overall combined effect of the actions taken by Parties in light of the most recent scientific assessments of climate change;

(b)

To examine the information provided in accordance with Art. 12, para. 2, to assist the Conference of the Parties in performing arts reviews. 4, para. 2 (d);

(c)

To assist the Conference of the Parties, as appropriate, in the preparation and implementation of its decisions.

1. A mechanism to provide financial resources in the form of grants or concessiwith conditions, including technology transfer, is defined here. This mechanism is the responsibility of the Conference of the Parties to which it is responsible and defines its policies, programme priorities and eligibility criteria related to the Convention. Its operation is entrusted to one or more existing international entities.

2. The financial mechanism established on the basis of a fair and balanced representation of all Parties, within the framework of a transparent management system.

3. The Conference of the Parties and the entity-or entities-responsible for the operation of the financial mechanism shall agree on arrangements to give effect to the preceding paragraphs, which shall include:

(a)

Modalities to ensure that projects funded in the field of climate change are in line with the policies, programme priorities and eligibility criteria defined by the Conference of the Parties;

(b)

The manner in which a funding decision can be reviewed in light of these policies, program priorities and criteria;

(c)

Regular reporting by the entity-or entities-to the Conference of the Parties, of reports on its financing operations, in accordance with the principle of its responsibility to s. 1;

(d)

The determination in a predictable and identifiable form of the amount of financial resources necessary and available for the implementation of this Convention and the manner in which this amount will be periodically reviewed.

4. At its first session, the Conference of the Parties shall do the necessary to give effect to the above provisions, by considering and taking into account the provisional provisions referred to in Art. 21, para. 3, and it will decide whether these provisions should be maintained. Then, and within four years, it will take stock of the operation of the mechanism and take appropriate action.

5. Developed country Parties may also provide, and the developing countries Parties may obtain, bilateral, regional or multilateral financial resources for the implementation of the Convention.

1. In accordance with Art. 4, para. 1, each Party shall communicate to the Conference of the Parties, through the secretariat, the following information:

(a)

A national inventory of anthropogenic emissions by its sources, and removals by its sinks, of all greenhouse gases not regulated under the Montreal Protocol ¹ , to the extent that its means permit it, using comparable methods on which the Conference of the Parties will agree and which it will encourage use;

(b)

A general description of the measures it is taking or intends to take to implement the Convention;

(c)

Any other information that the Party deems appropriate in order to achieve the objective of the Convention and to be included in its communication, including, to the extent possible, data relevant to the determination of trends in emissions worldwide.

Each of the developed country Parties and each of the other Parties included in Annex I shall include in its communication the following information:

(a)

A detailed description of the policies and measures they have adopted to comply with the commitment to s. 4, para. 2 (a) and 2 (b);

(b)

The precise estimation of the effects that the policies and measures referred to in para. (a) above shall have on the anthropogenic emissions of greenhouse gases by their sources and removals by their sinks during the period referred to in Art. 4, para. 2 (a).

In addition, each of the developed country Parties and each of the other developed Parties set out in Annex II shall give details of the measures taken in accordance with Art. 4, para. 3 to 5.

4. Developing country Parties may, on a voluntary basis, propose projects to be financed, including the specific technologies, materials, equipment, techniques or practices to be carried out and by Possible an estimate of all the additional costs of these projects, the expected progress in reducing emissions and the increase in the absorption of greenhouse gases, and an estimate of the benefits that can be expected.

5. Each of the developed country Parties and each of the other Parties listed in Annex 1 shall submit its initial communication within six months of the entry into force of the Convention in its respect. Each Party which does not appear on this list shall submit its initial communication within three years of the entry into force of the Convention in its respect or the availability of financial resources in accordance with Art. 4, para. The Parties which are among the least developed countries shall be free to choose the date of their initial communication. Thereafter, the frequency of communications by all Parties shall be determined by the Conference of the Parties, which shall take into account the differences in maturity indicated in this paragraph.

The information provided by the Parties pursuant to this Article shall be transmitted as soon as possible by the secretariat to the Conference of the Parties and to the relevant subsidiary bodies. The Conference of the Parties may, if necessary, review the procedures for the transmission of information.

7. From its first session, the Conference of the Parties shall make arrangements for the provision of technical and financial assistance to developing countries Parties, upon their request, for the collection and communication of Information requested in this article and to identify the technical and financial means necessary to carry out the proposed projects and the response measures taken under Art. 4. Such assistance may be provided by other Parties, relevant international organizations and the secretariat, as appropriate.

8. Any group of Parties may, subject to compliance with the guidelines of the Conference of the Parties and to notify the Conference of the Parties in advance, of the obligations set out in this Article by submitting a joint communication, to The requirement to include information on the manner in which each Party has fulfilled its own obligations under the Convention.

The information received by the secretariat and of which the Party providing the information will have indicated that they are confidential, according to criteria established by the Conference of the Parties, will be compiled by the secretariat in such a way as to preserve this character Before being transmitted to one of the bodies called upon to receive them and to examine them.

10. Subject to subs. 9 and without prejudice to the possibility for any Party to make its communication publicly available at all times, communications submitted by the Parties pursuant to this Article shall be made available to the public by the secretariat Submitted to the Conference of the Parties.

The Conference of the Parties will consider, at its first session, the establishment of a multilateral consultative process, at the request of the Parties, for the resolution of issues relating to the implementation of the Convention.

1. In the event of a dispute between two or more Parties concerning the interpretation or application of the Convention, the Parties concerned shall endeavour to settle it by negotiation or by any other peaceful means of their choice.

2. When ratifying, accepting or approving the Convention or acceding to it, or at any time thereafter, a Party that is not a regional economic integration organization may declare in a written instrument submitted to the Depositary that, in respect of the In any dispute arising out of the interpretation or application of the Convention, it shall, in respect of any Party accepting the same obligation, recognize as compulsory as a full right and without a special agreement:

(a)

Submission of the dispute to the International Court of Justice;

(b)

Arbitration in accordance with the procedure to be adopted as soon as possible by the Conference of the Parties in an annex to arbitration.

A Party which is a regional economic integration organization may, in the field of arbitration, make a statement in the same direction, in accordance with the procedure referred to in para. (b).

3. The declaration made pursuant to s. 2 shall remain in force until such time as it expires in accordance with its own terms or until the expiration of three months from the date on which written notification of the revocation of that declaration has been filed with the Depositary.

(4) The filing of a new declaration, the notification of the revocation of a declaration or the expiration of a declaration shall in no way affect proceedings before the International Court of Justice or the arbitral tribunal, unless the parties The dispute does not otherwise agree.

5. Subject to subs. 2, if, upon expiry of a period of 12 months from the date on which a Party has notified another Party of the existence of a dispute between them, the Parties concerned have failed to resolve their dispute using the means Described in para. 1, the dispute, at the request of any of the parties to the dispute, shall be submitted to conciliation.

6. A conciliation commission shall be established at the request of one of the parties to the dispute. The Commission shall be composed of members appointed, in equal numbers, by each party concerned and by a chairperson chosen jointly by the members appointed by the parties. The Commission issues a recommendation, which the parties consider in good faith.

The Conference of the Parties shall adopt, as soon as possible, a supplementary conciliation procedure in an annex devoted to conciliation.

8. The provisions of this Article shall apply to any related legal instrument that the Conference of the Parties may adopt, unless otherwise provided by the instrument.

1. Any Party may propose amendments to the Convention.

2. The amendments to the Convention are adopted at an ordinary session of the Conference of the Parties. The text of any proposed amendment to the Convention shall be communicated to the Parties by the secretariat at least six months before the meeting to which it is proposed for adoption. The secretariat shall also communicate the proposed amendments to the signatories to the Convention and, for information, to the Depositary.

3. The Parties shall make every effort to reach agreement by consensus on any proposed amendment to the Convention. If all efforts to that end remain in vain and no agreement is reached, the amendment shall be adopted as a last resort by a majority vote of three-fourths of the Parties present and voting. The adopted amendment shall be communicated by the secretariat to the Depositary, which shall transmit it to all Parties for acceptance.

4. Instruments of acceptance of amendments shall be deposited with the Depositary. Any amendment adopted in accordance with paragraph 1. 3 shall enter into force in respect of the Parties having accepted it on the ninetieth day following the date of receipt by the Depositary of instruments of acceptance by at least three-fourths of the Parties to the Convention.

5. The amendment shall enter into force in respect of any other Party on the ninetieth day following the date of the deposit by that Party with the Depositary of its instrument of acceptance of the said amendment.

6. For the purposes of this Article, the expression "Parties present and voting" means those Parties that are present and vote for or against.

The Annexes to the Convention shall form an integral part thereof and, unless expressly provided otherwise, any reference to the Convention shall also constitute a reference to its annexes. Without prejudice to the provisions of Art. 14, para. 2 (b) and 7, the annexes are limited to lists, forms and other descriptive documents of a scientific, technical, procedural or administrative nature.

2. The annexes to the Convention shall be proposed and adopted in accordance with the procedure described in Art. 15, para. 2, 3 and 4.

(3) Any annex adopted pursuant to s. 2 shall enter into force in respect of all Parties to the Convention six months after the date on which the Depositary has notified them of its adoption, except for those Parties which, within the same time limit, notify the Depositary in writing that they do not accept The Annex in question. In respect of the Parties withdrawing this notification of non-acceptance, the Annex shall enter into force on the ninetieth day following the date of receipt by the Depositary of the notification of such withdrawal.

4. For the proposal, the adoption and entry into force of amendments to annexes to the Convention, the procedure is the same as for the proposal, the adoption and entry into force of the annexes themselves, in accordance with subs. 2 and 3.

5. If the adoption of an annex or an amendment to an annex requires an amendment to the Convention, this annex or amendment shall enter into force only when the amendment to the Convention enters into force.

The Conference of the Parties may, at any of its ordinary sessions, adopt protocols to the Convention.

The text of any proposed protocol shall be communicated to the Parties by the secretariat at least six months before the session.

3. The rules governing the entry into force of any protocol are defined by the Protocol itself.

4. Only Parties to the Convention may be Parties to a Protocol.

5. Only Parties to a Protocol shall make decisions under the Protocol.

Each Party to the Convention shall have one vote, subject to the provisions of subs. 2 below.

2. In the fields of their competence, regional economic integration organisations shall have, in order to exercise their right to vote, a number of votes equal to the number of their member States which are Parties to the Convention. Such organisations shall not exercise their right to vote if any of their member States exercises their right to vote, and vice versa.

The Secretary-General of the United Nations shall be the Depositary of the Convention and the protocols adopted in accordance with art. 17.

This Convention shall be open for signature by the States Members of the United Nations or members of a specialized agency of the United Nations or parties to the Statute of the International Court of Justice ¹ And regional economic integration organizations, in Rio de Janeiro, during the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development, and then at United Nations Headquarters in New York from 20 June 1992 to 19 June 1993.

Up to the end of the first session of the Conference of the Parties, the secretariat functions referred to in Art. 8 will be provisionally exercised by the secretariat established by the General Assembly of the United Nations in its resolution 45/212 of 21 December 1990.

2. The head of the provisional secretariat referred to in para. 1 above will work closely with the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change to ensure that it meets the scientific and technical advice needs. Other competent scientific bodies may also be consulted.

The Global Environment Facility of the United Nations Development Programme, the United Nations Environment Programme and the International Bank for Reconstruction and Development will be the international entity Responsible for the provisional functioning of the financial mechanism referred to in Art. 11. In this regard, it will be appropriate for the Fund to be redeveloped in the appropriate manner and for the membership of its members to become universal, so that it can meet the requirements of art. 11.

The Convention shall be subject to ratification, acceptance, approval or accession by States and regional economic integration organizations. It will be open for accession on the day following the day on which it ceases to be open for signature. Instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession shall be deposited with the Depositary.

(2) Any regional economic integration organization which becomes a Party to the Convention without any of its member States being a Party shall be bound by all the obligations under the Convention. Where one or more member States of such an organization are Parties to the Convention, that organization and its member States agree on their respective responsibilities in the fulfilment of their obligations under the Convention. In such cases, the organization and its member states are not entitled to exercise rights under the Convention concurrently.

3. In their instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession, regional economic integration organizations shall indicate the extent of their competence in matters governed by the Convention. In addition, these organisations shall inform the Depositary, who shall in turn inform the Parties, of any significant change in the scope of their competence.

The Convention shall enter into force on the ninetieth day after the date of deposit of the fiftieth instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession.

2. In respect of each State or regional economic integration organization which ratifies, accepts or approves the Convention, or accedes thereto, after the deposit of the fiftieth instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession, the The Convention shall enter into force on the ninetieth day after the date of the deposit by that State or organization of its instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession.

3. For the purposes of paras. 1 and 2, the instrument deposited by a regional economic integration organization shall not be counted in addition to those deposited by its member States.

No reservation may be made to this Convention.

(1) Upon expiry of a period of three years from the date of entry into force of the Convention in respect of a Party, that Party may denounce it by written notification to the Depositary.

(2) Such denunciation shall take effect upon the expiration of a period of one year from the date on which the Depositary receives notification thereof, or at any later date specified in the notification.

(3) Any Party that has denounced the Convention shall be deemed to have also denounced any protocol to which it is a Party.

The original of this Convention, of which the Arabic, Chinese, English, French, Russian and Spanish texts are equally authentic, shall be deposited with the Secretary-General of the United Nations.

In Faith What, The undersigned, duly authorized to that effect, have signed this Convention.

Done at New York on May 9, thousand nine hundred and ninety-two.

(Suivent signatures)