| Overview : The United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) was adopted in 1992 as the basis for a global multilateral response to the threat of anthropogenic climate change. The Convention invites Parties (national states) to become signatories, and to thereby commit themselves to taking actions to limit or reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions that contribute to anthropogenic climate change, as well as to co-operate in adapting to the impacts of climate change, dependent on their common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities. The Government of the Republic of South Africa signed the Convention in June 1993 and ratified it in August 1997. As a Party to this Convention, South Africa is obliged to comply with all the requirements of Non-Annex I Parties under the UNFCCC. Amongst the requirements for the Non-Annex I Parties are the reporting requirements to the Conference of Parties (COP) on what the country is doing to implement the Convention. The commitment for Parties to communicate to the COP information relating to the implementation of the Convention is guided by Articles 4 and 12 of the Convention. At the 16th Conference of Parties (COP 16) in Cancun, Mexico in 2010, the Parties decided to enhance reporting in national communications from non-Annex I Parties on National Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Inventories, mitigation actions and their effects, and support received. It was also decided that developing countries, consistent with their capabilities and the level of support provided for reporting, should submit their first Biennial Update Reports (BURs) by December 2014 and every second year afterwards. The Least Developed Countries (LDCs) and Small Island Developing States (SIDs) may submit this report at their discretion. BURs are intended to provide updates on actions undertaken by a Party to implement the Convention, including the status of its greenhouse gas emissions and removals by sinks, as well as on the actions to reduce emissions or enhance sinks, and support needed and received to implement these actions. Non-Annex I Parties shall prepare their BURs on the basis of the BUR guidelines adopted by COP 17, Durban, South Africa, in 2012, which are contained in annex III to decision 2/CP.17. Non-Annex I Parties are required to submit their first NC within three years of entering the Convention, and every four years thereafter. The NCs shall be prepared in accordance with the guidelines contained in decision 17/CP.8. The overall objective of the project is to appoint a qualified institution or consultancy team to compile the National Circumstances, Constraints and Gaps, as well as Other Information relevant to the Convention Chapters, of the 4th National Communication of South Africa to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change. |
