Better understanding of the science behind climate change and the evidence and information acquired from evolving understanding of the physical, natural, social and economic aspects of climate change provide an essential basis for issues under consideration in the UNFCCC process. The need for a better understanding of the global climate system and more accurate data on its variability and change are addressed in the Convention, which calls on Parties to promote and cooperate in research and systematic observation of the climate system, including through support to existing international and intergovernmental programmes and networks or organizations and exchange of information (see Articles 4.1(g,h) and 5). In doing so, the Convention commits Parties to cooperate in improving the capacities of developing countries to participate in research and systematic observation.

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SBSTA 38 will focus its consideration on matters related to research, including the holding of a research dialogue.

By 25 March 2013, Parties are invited to submit their views on the following:

• Possible items for consideration as part of the research dialogue during SBSTA 38;
• Content of a workshop to be held by SBSTA 39 on the technical and scientific aspects of ecosystems with high-carbon reservoirs not covered by other agenda items under the Convention, such as coastal marine ecosystems, in the context of wider mitigation and adaptation efforts;
• Information on the technical and scientific aspects of emissions by sources, removals by sinks, and reservoirs of all greenhouse gases, including emissions and removals from terrestrial ecosystems such as steppe, savannah, tundra and peatlands, with a view to identifying and quantifying the impact of human activities; this information would be considered as a theme for the SBSTA 38 research dialogue, taking into account the submissions received on possible items for consideration as part of the next dialogue.  Regional and international research programmes and organizations are also invited to provide such information.

SBSTA 37 (26 November - 1 December 2012, Doha, Qatar) continued its consideration of reserach and systematic observation on the basis of the draft text from SBSTA 36. With regard to reserach, the SBSTA:

• Welcomed the continuation of the research dialogue at SBSTA 36, and expressed its appreciation to the research programmes and organizations, the IPCC, and Parties, for their contributions to the dialogue;
• Invited Parties to submit, by 25 March 2013, their views on possible items for consideration as part of the SBSTA 38 research dialogue;
• Invited Parties and regional and international research programmes and organizations to provide information on the technical and scientific aspects of sources, sinks and reservoirs of greenhouse gas emissions and removals from terrestrial ecosystems (such as steppe, savannah, tundra and peatlands), with a view to identifying and quantifying the impact of human activities.  This information would also be considered as a theme for the SBSTA 38 research dialogue, taking into account the above-mentioned submissions on the possible items for consideration as part of the next dialogue;
• Requested the secretariat to organize a workshop by SBSTA 39, subject to the availability of financial resources, to consider information on the technical and scientific aspects of ecosystems with high-carbon reservoirs not covered by other agenda items under the Convention, such as coastal marine ecosystems, in the context of wider mitigation and adaptation efforts.  To this end, Parties are invited to submit, by 25 March 2013, their views on the content of that workshop.

For the full text of the SBSTA 37 conclusions on research and systematic observation, see FCCC/SBSTA/2012/L.25 and Add.1.

SBSTA 36

A research dialogue was organized on 19 May, with the participation of Parties and regional and international research programmes and organizations. More information, including the agenda, the presentations held, a webcast and the Chair's summary, are available on the SBSTA 36 research dialogue website.

The following contributions relevant to the research dialogue were provided for SBSTA 36,  as invited:

• Parties' views on specific themes to be addressed at the research dialogue (see FCCC/SBSTA/2012/MISC.2 and Add.1 and Add.2);
• Information on developments is research activities relevant to the needs of the Convention, including with respect to the long-term global goal referred to in decision 1/CP.16, para. 4, provided by regional and international research programmes and organizations (see FCCC/SBSTA/2012/MISC.3);
• Information on the technical and scientific aspects of emissions by sources, removals by sinks, and reservoirs of all greenhouse gases, including emissions and removals from coastal and marine ecosystems (such as mangroves, tidal salt marshes, wetlands and seagrass meadows), with a view to identifying and quantifying the impact of human activities, provided by Parties (see FCCC/SBSTA/2012/MISC.2 and Add.1 and Add.2) and relevant research programmes and organizations active in climate change research, including marine research (see FCCC/SBSTA/2012/MISC.3).

SBSTA 36 took note of the view of Parties and the progress made in developing draft conclusions under this agenda item, and agreed to continue consideration of research and systematic observation at SBSTA 37 on the basis of the draft text contained in Annex II of FCCC/SBSTA/2012/2.

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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