COAG/2003/INF/7

1. The 16^th Session of COAG supported the view that the Interdepartmental Working Group (IDWG) on Climate Change should be formalised, thereby strengthening the cross-sectoral coordination and implementation of the FAO climate programme. It underlined that the role of the Organization is to provide technical inputs, focusing on such issues as data, definitions and methodologies related to agriculture and climate change. It supported the proposal to develop an integrated climate change programme based on current activities, within Regular Budget provisions, and consistent with the legal and political framework of the Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the technical work of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). It also supported a stronger collaboration among relevant Departments to address climate change issues in a harmonised way.

2. The IDWG on Climate Change is comprised of representatives from the Agriculture, Economic and Social, Fisheries, Forestry, Sustainable Development and Technical Cooperation Departments. It guides the work of the Priority Area for Interdisciplinary Action (PAIA) on Climate Change established in the Medium-Term Plan 2002-07¹, providing for cross-sectoral coordination and implementation of the FAO climate change programme.

3. Technical outputs have been produced in the following areas:

• harmonisation of forest-related definitions for the use of different stakeholders;
• methodologies and models on carbon sequestration in soils, crops, grasslands and forest areas;
• assessment of non-carbon dioxide greenhouse gas emissions;
• methodologies to promote productive uses of renewable energy, including the organization of a joint FAO/GEF International Workshop on this topic held in Rome in June 2002;
• observations of terrestrial carbon stocks and fluxes in the agriculture and rural sectors; methodologies and training on the application of the Clean Development Mechanism in agriculture and forestry, including collaboration with UNEP and IUCN in Central America and Africa; preparation and diffusion of information documents and CD-ROMs on FAO's activities and approaches to climate change in the fields of agriculture, forestry and fisheries;
• contribution in the preparation of IPCC studies and good practice guidelines, and technical inputs to expert meetings organized by IPCC and UNFCCC;
• assessing potential and means for incorporating poverty alleviation into climate change mitigation strategies.

4. An integrated climate change programme is further developed and refined under the PAIA on Climate Change in the Medium Term Plan 2004-09². The IDWG will guide the work of the PAIA in developing normative and methodological approaches integrating forestry, agricultural, cultural and economic issues in the context of climate change; and opening new channels of financing and other support measures for mitigating and adapting to climate change, building on cooperation with the Global Environment Facility.

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¹ CL 119/17

² CL 123/7