The 9th Conference of the Parties (COP-9) to the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) took place on 1-12 December 2003 in Milan, Italy and was attended by over 5,000 people and representatives of 171 states. At the meeting, agreement was reached, among other things, on modalities and procedures for including afforestation and reforestation activities under the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) of the Kyoto Protocol [the CDM promotes sustainable development in developing countries by channelling private-sector investment into greenhouse gas emission reduction projects, while offering industrialised countries credits against their Kyoto Protocol targets]. Relevant to GM trees, the COP adopted the text, "Recognizing that host Parties evaluate, in accordance with their national laws, potential risks associated with the use of genetically modified organisms by afforestation and reforestation project activities and that Parties included in Annex I evaluate, in accordance with their national laws, the use of temporary certified emission reductions and/or long-term certified emission reductions generated from afforestation and reforestation project activities that make use of genetically modified organisms". [Annex 1 parties are developed and transition countries listed in Annex 1 of the UNFCCC]. See http://unfccc.int/cop9/latest/sbsta_l27.pdf or contact [email protected] for more information.

02/01/2004