CABINET OF MINISTERS OF UKRAINE

to Minutes No. 12 of the Meeting of the
Interministerial Commission on Climate Change
of October 17, 2002

To the Members of the Interministerial Commission on Climate Change
(according to the list)

The Commission members are requested to ensure the fulfillment of the provisions of the Minutes of the meeting of the Interministerial Commission on Climate Change and pay attention to the necessity for personal participation of O. Revyakin and O. Pinsky in holding of its meetings.

O. Dubyna
October 30, 2002

MINUTES No. 12

of the Meeting
of the Interministerial Commission on Climate Change

Kyiv, October 17, 2002

Chaired by: O. Dubyna, Chairman of the Interministerial Commission, First Vice Prime Minister of Ukraine

Those present:
Interministerial Commission members: S. Kurykin, O. Velychko, S. Lysun, V.Lipinsky, L. Minin, Yu. Ostapchuk, V. Soroka, I. Trofimova, A. Shydlovsky, M.Kulyk

Those invited: S. Bevz, T. Gordiyenko, F. Dudynets, V. Yelchenko, O. Lototsky, I. Marynets, L. Musina, V. Pekarchuk, O. Revyakin, K. Telychko, O. Shapovalov

I. On Determination of the Ukrainian Delegation's Position to Key Issues of the Agenda of the 8th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
(O. Dubyna, S. Kurykin)

Having heard the report of S. Kurykin, the First Deputy Chairman of the Interministerial Commission, Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources on holding the 8th Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP-8) from October 23 to November 1, 2002 in New-Delphi (India) and on the position of the official delegation from Ukraine on key issues of the agenda, the Interministerial Commission decided:

1. To take into consideration information of S. Kurykin, the First Deputy Chairman of the Interministerial Commission, Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources on preparation for the participation of the Ukrainian delegation in COP-8.

2. To recommend the Ukrainian delegation during the COP-8:

• to participate in discussions of decisions on adoption of procedural rules, as well as modalities, rules and guidelines of mechanisms stipulated by the Kyoto Protocol;
• to emphasize the readiness of Ukraine to fulfill its commitments under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and take necessary measures with the purpose of implementing the provisions of the Convention;
• to point out in its position to the necessity of efficient control over the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions, transparent and efficient exchange of data on emission reduction units between national registries;
• to take efforts for accounting for the interests of countries with economy in transition in decisions of COP-8;
• during consideration of issues connected with relevant articles of the Kyoto Protocol to emphasize the necessity for development of transparent procedures of their implementation and generally support the proposals aimed at accounting for sinks of greenhouse gases in calculations of emission reduction amounts in the event of submission by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change of sound positive conclusions;
• during consideration of organizational issues to support nomination of TR Baalu, the Minister of Environment and Forests of India for the post of the President of COP-8;
• as agreed upon with authorized representatives from other countries with economy in transition, to make proposals on the expansion of participation of these countries in the work of the existing working bodies as their members and raise issues on the representation of these countries in new bodies, if created;
• to make proposals which would be advantageous for Ukraine, particularly for meeting the needs in development of the potential concerning the preparation of national greenhouse gas emission inventories and creation of national inventory systems via GEF;
• to give information about activity of Ukraine in addressing climate change issues, particularly about the work of the Interministerial Commission on Climate Change;
• with the purpose of adjusting and agreeing the positions of the Parties to the Convention, to hold consultations with delegations from countries of Central and Eastern Europe, "Central Group-11" (CG-11), members of the "Umbrella Group", countries included in the European Union and other groups;
• S. Kurykin, the Head of the Ukrainian delegation, Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources, shall ensure information about key results of the 8th Conference of the Parties to the Convention at the next meeting of the Interministerial Commission.

II. On Action Plan Concerning the Preparation of Required Documents and Draft Decisions on the Kyoto Protocol Ratification and Ensuring of Ukraine's Compliance with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
(S. Kurykin, O. Dubyna, O. Revyakin, V. Yelchenko)

In fulfillment of Item 4, Section III of Minutes # 11 of the Interministerial Commission of 07.18.02, the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources developed the draft Action Plan on the preparation for participation of Ukraine in the Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change with due account of proposals from stakeholder central executive bodies, namely: the Ministry of Economy, Ministry of Fuel and Energy, Ministry of Agricultural Policy, Ministry of Transport, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and State Committee for Energy Conservation. There were no proposals from the Ministry of Industrial Policy.

The Ministry of Economy informed about the possibility to prepare only the forecast of macroeconomic indicators of basic economic activities for medium- and short-term periods, while the preparation of forecast of economic mechanisms of influence on emission reduction regulation is possible on condition of financing relevant work from the State Fund of Environment Protection.

The Ministry of Fuel and Energy, Ministry of Agricultural Policy, Ministry of Transport and State Committee for Energy Conservation proposed to adjust mechanisms of international cooperation under UNFCCC and Kyoto Protocol within the framework of national and international laws. The Ministry of Fuel and Energy also stated that the Kyoto Protocol ratification by Ukraine did not threaten the rates of development of the domestic power sector and would promote not only the solution of ecological problems of the national economy, but also socio-economic development of the country.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources was entrusted with coordination of issues connected with compliance with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and in case of positive decision submission of documents for the Kyoto Protocol ratification should be carried out by the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources as established. A representative from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed the political expediency for Ukraine to ratify the Kyoto Protocol.

According to conclusions of the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources, most proposals do not meet Item 3, Section III of Minutes #11 of the Interministerial Commission of 07.18.02 and are related to measures which stipulate the ratification of the Kyoto Protocol by Ukraine. Moreover, some of measures proposed are related to the competence of some central executive bodies which should make decisions on their implementation.
Having heard the information of S. Kurykin, the First Deputy Chairman of the Commission, Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources about the development of the Action Plan regarding the preparation of required documents and draft decisions on the ratification of the Kyoto Protocol and Ukraine's compliance with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and with due account of proposals made at the meeting, the Interministerial Commission decided:

1. To approve the Action Plan regarding the preparation of required documents and draft decisions on the Kyoto Protocol ratification and Ukraine's compliance with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (attached hereto).

III. Miscellaneous
(M. Kulyk, O. Dubyna)

With the purpose of ensuring timely and qualitative solution of current issues connected with the preparation of greenhouse gas inventories in Ukraine for 1999-2000 and the next National Communication of Ukraine on climate change, efficient work with the Ministry of Ecology and Natural Resources and Institute of Energy of NAS of Ukraine, M. Kulyk, the academician of NASU, proposed to determine the responsible persons for submission of required data and information in ministries and other central executive bodies.

The Interministerial Commission decided:

1. Ministries and other central executive bodies shall, with the purpose of timely fulfilment of items 1 and 2 of the Action Plan on the preparation of the required documents and draft decisions on the Kyoto Protocol ratification and Ukraine's compliance with the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, appoint the responsible persons for submission of required data and information and within a week notify about this the Commission Secretariat.

O. Dubyna,
Chairman of the Interministerial Commission

O. Velychko,
Secretary of the Interministerial Commission

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APPROVED
by the Interministerial Commission
on Climate Change
(Minutes #12 of October 17, 2002, CL II, 1)

Action Plan
Of Participation of Ukraine in the Kyoto Protocol to United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC)

O. Velychko,
Secretary of the Interministerial Commission