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COP 17 (28 November - 09 December 2011, Durban, South Africa)
COP 17 adopted a decision on the research dialogue on developments in research activities
relevant to the needs of the Convention (FCCC/SBSTA/2011/L.27/Add.1),
which inter alia:
• Recognizes the progress made in the implementation of decision 9/CP.11
and the success of the activities undertaken under the research dialogue; as well as the continued
importance of the IPCC in conducting regular assessments of published scientific information;
• Expresses appreciation to the regional and international research programmes and
organizations active in climate change research, and the IPCC, for their participation and
continued provision of information on developments in research activities in the context of the
research dialogue;
• Decides that the research dialogue should continue;
• Urges Parties and invites regional and international research programmes and
organizations to utilize the dialogue as a forum to discuss needs for climate change research
and research-related capacity building, particularly those of developing countries; and to
convey research findings and lessons learned from activities by research programmes and
organizations, which are of relevance to the Convention.
SBSTA 35 (28 November - 3 December 2011, Durban, South Africa)
SBSTA considered matters related to research, as agreed at SBSTA 34, including views submitted by
Parties on the research dialogue (FCCC/SBSTA/2011/MISC.8
and Add.1),
including on ongoing activities, associated modalities and ways to enhance the
dialogue.
The SBSTA agreed that the research dialogue should continue on a regular basis, with the next
research dialogue to take place at SBSTA 36, and invited Parties to submit their views on specific
themes to be addressed. SBSTA also referred to the progress made in the implementation of decision
9/CP.11 and successful activities undertaken in the context of the research dialogue, including the
workshop organized in conjunction with SBSTA 34, and recalled its conclusions at SBSTA 34 relevant to
possible further workshops.
SBSTA also concluded that information on technical and scientific aspects of emissions and removals
from coastal and marine ecosystems, such as mangroves, tidal salt marshes, wetlands and seagrass
meadows would be considered as a theme for the next research dialogue, taking into account
information submitted by Parties and relevant research programmes and organizations on this matter,
as well as other views on specific themes to be submitted by Parties. The SBSTA also noted that there
are other important ecosystems with high-carbon reservoirs, such as steppe, tundra and peatlands.
SBSTA 36 may consider the need for a workshop to give in-depth consideration to the themes considered
in the research dialogue.
SBSTA recommend a draft decision on the research dialogue for adoption by COP 17. Related activities
to research and systematic observation during the Durban sessions.
SBSTA conclusions are available here (FCCC/SBSTA/2011/L.27).
The secretariat organized a side event on updates on climate change science, with a special focus on
Africa. The event brought together scientists and experts involved in international and
regional climate change research who presented latest findings and information from their research
activities, especially from Africa. For further information and the presentations, see the
side
events webpage.
The secretariat also organized a side event on funding for climate observations, with participation
of representatives from the GCOS, the GEF and the UNDP Africa Adaptation Programme. The event
illustrated requirements for meeting climate observation needs in developing countries and current
funding approches as well as on-going projects and lessons learnt. For further information and
the presentations, see the side events
webpage.
SBSTA 34
Prior to SBSTA 34, on 2-3 June 2011, the secretariat organized a workshop on research, with the
objective to consider in-depth the issues addressed in the research dialogue, as requested by SBSTA
32. The workshop also responded to the need to further enhance interaction between the science and
policy communities by strengthening the research dialogue between Parties and research
programmes and organizations. In addition, a regular SBSTA research dialogue meeting was organized
during SBSTA 34. The workshop and dialogue meeting were organized around the following three major
themes:
• Understanding the science: Recent climate change research findings and
uncertainty management;
• Communicating climate change science; and
• Building capacity for research in developing countries.
SBSTA 34 noted the information provided in preparation for the research dialogue meeting and the
workshop, and noted the progress made in the implementation of decision 9/CP.11 through
establishment and maintenance of the research dialogue. The SBSTA appreciated that the events under
the research dialogue enjoyed broadened participation by organizations, programmes and agencies
active in climate change research.
SBSTA welcomed the report on the workshop and noted that it included information on emerging research
outcomes since the publication of the IPCC AR4 that are of relevance to the UNFCCC, including on
ocean acidification, changes to the cryosphere, sea level rise and emissions scenarios.
SBSTA emphasized the need for improved communication and interaction between scientific community and
users of climate information in order to support adaptation and mitigation planning and activities,
and stressed the need to enhance the availability of research findings from developing
countries. It encouraged research programmes and organizations to include information on
developing country scientists’ participation in climate change research when reporting to the
UNFCCC.
SBSTA also emphasized the need to further enhance the relevance of the research dialogue and linkages
with other areas of the UNFCCC process, and the value of promoting the outputs of research through
activities undertaken under Article 6 of the UNFCCC, particularly in developing countries.
The secretariat was invited to continue to support the research dialogue, subject to the availability
of resources. Activities may include organization of further workshops upon agreement by the SBSTA,
and enhancing the visibility of scientific information of relevance to the Convention on its website,
such as through a calendar of key science-policy meetings in collaboration with research programmes
and organizations, and the IPCC.
Parties were invited to provide their views on the research dialogue, including ongoing activities,
associated modalities and ways to enhance it, by 19 September 2011.
Recent and earlier sessions
Research and systematic observation has been a regular and separate agenda item of the SBSTA since
its seventeenth session (October 2002).
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decision
9/CP.11