A/RES/57/258 Reaffirming the Johannesburg Plan of Implementation, in which States that have ratified the Kyoto Protocol to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change5 strongly urge States that have not yet done so to ratify it in a timely manner,6 Recognizing the need for strengthening scientific and technological capabilities and networks for the exchange of scientific data and information, Stressing that the World Climate Change Conference will be supportive of the Convention process, Noting the importance of broad participation in this process by Governments, parliaments, international and national organizations, the scientific community, the private sector and other representatives of civil society, 1. Welcomes the initiative of the Government of the Russian Federation to convene the World Climate Change Conference at Moscow from 29 September to 3 October 2003 as a forum for the exchange of views among the scientific community, Governments, parliaments, international and national organizations, the private sector and other representatives of civil society and for facilitating the implementation of existing policies related to climate change; 2. Encourages Member States and relevant organizations and bodies of the United Nations system, as well as other international and national organizations, parliaments, the scientific community, the private sector and other representatives of civil society, to participate actively in the Conference; 3. Invites Member States, the United Nations system and all other actors to take advantage of the Conference in order to increase awareness of the importance of international efforts to address climate change. 78th plenary meeting 20 December 2002 _______________ 5 FCCC/CP/1997/7/Add.1, decision 1/CP.3, annex. Report of the World Summit on Sustainable Development, Johannesburg, South Africa, 26 August–4 September 2002 (United Nations publication, Sales No. E.03.II.A.1 and corrigendum), chap. I, resolution 2, annex, para. 38. 6 2