COP 17 (November-December 2011), Durban, South Africa
COP 17 adopted decision 11/CP.17 containing guidance to the Global Environment Facility (GEF), forwarded by SBI 35, requesting the GEF to, inter alia, continue to provide financial resources to developing countries for strengthening existing and, where needed, establishing national and regional systematic observation and monitoring networks under the Least Developed Countries Fund and the Special Climate Change Fund.
SBI 35 November-December 2011, Durban, South Africa and SBI 34, June 2011, Bonn, Germany
Conclusions
SBI 35 FCCC/SBI/2011/17
SBI 34 FCCC/SBI/2011/7
SBI 35 took note of the information provided, including the clarification by the GEF that its mandate under the Least Developed Countries Fund and Special Climate Change Fund covers the activities identified in decision 5/CP.7, paragraph 7(a)(iv).
SBI 35 recommended that COP 17 requests that the GEF under these two instruments continues to provide financial resources to developing countries to strengthen and establish national and regional systematic observation and monitoring networks (see FCCC/SBI/2011/17, paragraphs 55-59).
SBI 34, under its agenda item 5(c) Financial mechanism of the Convention - Other matters, considered the invitation by SBSTA 33 to discuss the funding needs for global climate observations and to explore how further support could be provided to strengthen observation networks and capabilities in developing countries. The SBI also noted the information on additional funding needs identified in the 2010 updated GCOS implementation plan. Following this consideration, SBI invited the following information to be provided for consideration at SBI 35:
- Response by the GEF to clarify in its annual report to COP 17 whether activities in decision 5/CP.7, paragraph 7(a)(iv) fall within its mandate (for activities referred to here see paragraph 230 of document FCCC/CP/2011/7);
- Submissions by Parties on support provided to developing country Parties and activities undertaken to strengthen existing and, where needed, establish national and regional systematic observation and monitoring networks (see FCCC/SBI/2011/MISC.6 and Add.1);
- Compilation by the secretariat on information provided by Parties in their submissions referred to above and from national communications from Annex I Parties (see FCCC/SBI/2011/INF.10).
SBSTA 35 November-December 2011, Durban, South Africa
Conclusions
FCCC/SBSTA/2011/5
SBSTA 35 focused mainly on matters related to the research dialogue.
With regard to systematic observation, the SBSTA took note of the summary of progress by the GTOS secretariat on the development of methodologies, standards and protocols for climate-related terrestrial observations and related matters (see FCCC/SBSTA/2011/MISC.14), provided in response to an invitation by SBSTA 33. SBSTA agreed to consider this information, in conjunction with any further updates received from GTOS on this matter, as well as matters related to the GCOS, at SBSTA 36 (see FCCC/SBSTA/2011/5, paragraph 44).
The SBSTA also noted with appreciation the statement by the WMO on progress towards the implementation of the Global Framework for Climate Services (GFCS), and recognized the GFCS as an important initiative to underpin science-based adaptation and to support countries in meeting the challenges of climate variability and change. The SBSTA invited WMO to continue to provide information on progress in the implementation of the GFCS at future SBSTA sessions (see FCCC/SBSTA/2011/5, paragraphs 45 and 46).
COP 17
Decision 16/CP.17 FCCC/CP/2011/9/Add.2, inter alia, urges Parties, in particular developing country Parties, and invites regional and international research programmes and organizations active in climate change research, to utilize the research dialogue as a forum for:
- Discussing needs for climate change research and research-related capacity-building, particularly those of developing countries, to support the work of the Convention;
- Conveying research findings and lessons learned from activities undertaken by regional and international research programmes and organizations 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 from SBSTA 34 relevant to possible further workshops.
SBSTA also concluded that information on technical and scientific aspects of emissions and removals of GHGs 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 on this matter submitted by Parties and relevant research programmes and organizations active in climate change research, including marine research, and taking into account views on other 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.
For the full text of the SBSTA 35 conclusions on research and systematic observation, see FCCC/SBSTA/2011/5, paragraphs 34-49.
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 the 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.
For the full text of the SBSTA 34 conclusions on research and systematic observation, see FCCC/SBSTA/2011/2, paragraphs 42-56.