Background

The ultimate objective of the Convention is the stabilization of greenhouse gas concentrations in the atmosphere at a level that would prevent dangerous anthropogenic interference with the climate system. Accordingly, under Article 4.1(b) of the Convention, all Parties are required to undertake efforts to mitigate climate change.

Following consideration of the Third Assessment Report of the IPCC, the COP, by its decision 10/CP.9, requested the SBSTA to initiate work on two new agenda items:

• scientific, technical and socio-economic aspects of impacts of, and vulnerability and adaptation to, climate change; and
• scientific, technical and socio-economic aspects of mitigation of climate change.

This work is to focus on exchanging information and sharing experiences and views among Parties on practical opportunities and solutions to facilitate the implementation of the Convention.

The SBSTA, at its thirty-fourth session, welcomed the synthesis report prepared by the secretariat prepared on the work already undertaken under this agenda item (FCCC/SBSTA/2010/11), noting that the report contains a wealth of information that could inform Parties in their deliberations on possible areas of future work on scientific, technical and socio-economic aspects of mitigation of climate change.

At the same session, the SBSTA also welcomed with appreciation the IPCC Special Report on Renewable Energy Sources and Climate Change Mitigation (SRREN), noting that the report highlights the significant technical potential of renewable energy and its large potential to mitigate climate change and provide wider benefits. The SBSTA considered the information provided in the report to be of value to all Parties, including in the consideration of their mitigation activities.   

The SBSTA, at its thirty-fourth session, agreed to continue work on scientific, technical and socio-economic aspects of mitigation of climate change at its thirty-sixth session (June 2012).

The SBSTA, at its eighteenth session, requested the secretariat to organize a pre-sessional consultation before its nineteenth session to provide information and share experiences to facilitate the development of these two new agenda items.

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