FOSSIL FUEL SUBSIDY REFORM (FFSR)

Convening Notice

The following convening notice, dated 19 November, is being circulated at the request of the delegation of New Zealand (as co-ordinator of the Fossil Fuel Subsidy Reform Initiative).

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The Fossil Fuel Subsidy Reform (FFSR) Initiative will hold its seventh meeting, in hybrid mode in Room E and via Zoom on 26 November, from 15.00 Geneva time. All WTO Members are invited to attend the meeting. Please see technical arrangements in Annex I.

Agenda

1._        Introductory Remarks by the Chair

2._        Update Reports

(a)_  Update on FFSR under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) following COP29 [TBC].

(b)_  Presentation on the Fossil Fuel Subsidy chapter of the Agreement on Climate Change, Trade and Sustainability (ACCTS) – Costa Rica and Switzerland

(c)_  Presentation by the IEA "Tracking Fossil Fuel Subsidies and Energy Investments: A Global Perspective".

(d)_  Presentation by the OECD on 2023 trends in fossil fuel subsidies [TBC].

3._        Next Steps on Concrete Options (WTO Doc _WT/MIN(24)/19, Annex I)

(a)_  Pillar One: Enhanced Transparency

(i)_   Updates on action steps taken under pillar one.

(b)_  Pillar Two: Crisis Support Measures

(i)_   Update by the Secretariat on table with examples of WTO Members' temporary support measures in response to the energy crisis.

(c)_  Pillar Three: Addressing Most Harmful Fossil Fuel Subsidies

(i)_   Report on the informal dialogue organised in September to enable deeper engagement on pillar three issues.

4.      Interventions by other stakeholders

5.      Conclusion

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Annex I

Technical Arrangements

Please note that this meeting will be held in hybrid mode (Room E and via Zoom).

1  REMOTE PARTICIPATION

Delegates wishing to participate virtually via the Zoom platform, including capital-based officials, must register in advance of the meeting through this link:

https://worldtradeorganization.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZAvcOitpjMpGtGB5DcV1ntu5-i6zkYH0SYw

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the meeting.

Before the meeting:

·_        We are available 30 minutes before the meeting to test your connection with you.

During the meeting:

·_        If technical difficulties result in delegations being unable to intervene virtually under a given agenda item, the opportunity to take the floor will be given at an appropriate juncture before the meeting closes. Should the technical problem persist, delegations may contact the meeting coordinators (ffsr@wto.org) during the course of the meeting, either to send their statement for it to be read out during the meeting, or to request that the attendees be informed of their interest in the item under consideration and their intention to circulate their written statement after the meeting.

2  ATTENDANCE IN THE MEETING ROOM

For the health protection of all, and to respect the sanitary measures in place, masks remain recommended in common areas and meeting rooms.

3  STATEMENTS

To facilitate interpretation, delegations are strongly encouraged to send their written statements to the Secretariat (ffsr@wto.org) before the meeting starts. Statements will also be gratefully received during the meeting (ffsr@wto.org).

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