ANNUAL CLIMATE CHANGE CONVENTION CONFERENCE IN BUENOS AIRES 6 TO 17 DECEMBER

BONN, 26 November (UNFCCC) -- The 10th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (COP 10) will be hosted by the Government of Argentina at the “La Rural” exhibition centre in Buenos Aires from 6 to 17 December 2004.

The conference is expected to attract some 5,000 participants from the Convention’s 189 Parties, as well as from non-governmental organizations, intergovernmental organizations and the world’s media.

During the 15-17 December high-level segment, ministers and heads of delegation will participate in a series of panel discussions.  The discussion themes will be “The Convention after 10 years:  accomplishments and future challenges”; “Impacts of climate change, adaptation measures and sustainable development”; “Technology and climate change”; and “Mitigation of climate change:  policies and their impacts”.

The recent announcement that the Convention’s Kyoto Protocol will become legally binding on its 129 Parties on 16 February 2005 promises to invigorate the meeting’s discussions.  The COP 10 will not only benefit from renewed political momentum but will be able to take more practical action on the Protocol’s international carbon-trading market, Clean Development Mechanism and Adaptation Fund.

In addition to preparing for the Protocol’s entry into force, the Buenos Aires conference will review progress under the Convention, develop a framework for international cooperation on adapting to the negative impacts of climate change, and address how to support implementation by developing countries.

More than 100 side events and 60 exhibits will highlight activities undertaken at international, national and local levels by international organizations, private actors, research institutions and non-governmental organizations.

Note to journalists:  For further information, see http://unfccc.int or contact:  Media Centre Coordinator – Axel Wuestenhagen at +54 911 1513 6211; Accreditation Supervisor – Carrie Assheuer at +54 911 15 5003 9567, cassheuer@unfccc.int or (until 29 November) +49 228 815 1005; Spokesperson – Michael Williams at +54 911 15 5413 6271, michael.williams@unep.ch or (until 5 December) +41 22 917 8242.

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