The Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA), at its fortieth session, invited Parties and admitted observer organizations to submit to the secretariat by 25 March 2015 their views on issues relating to (a) the development of early warning systems and contingency plans in relation to extreme weather events and its effects such as desertification, drought, floods, landslides, storm surge, soil erosion and saline water intrusion; and (b) the assessment of risk and vulnerability of agricultural systems to different climate change scenarios at regional, national and local levels, including but not limited to pests and diseases. The SBSTA requested the secretariat to compile the submissions into a miscellaneous document for consideration at SBSTA 42. The secretariat has received six such submissions from Parties. In accordance with the procedure for miscellaneous documents, these submissions are attached and reproduced. in the language in which they were received and without formal editing. In line with established practice, the three submissions received from intergovernmental organizations and the six submissions received from non-governmental organizations have been posted on the UNFCCC website