Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA) and Agriculture in 2016: Perspectives for Asia
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In 2011, the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA) was requested “to consider issues relating to agriculture […] with the aim of exchanging views”.1 In June 2013 in SBSTA, Parties decided to hold a workshop and related submission process – the first substantive decision on agriculture in the UNFCCC.2 This was followed one year later by a further decision in SBSTA where Parties agreed to hold a series of four workshops and related submission processes, open to Parties and admitted observer organizations.3 Two topics have already been discussed during dedicated workshops at SBSTA 42 in June 2015: A. 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. Workshop report. B. 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. Workshop report. The topics to be discussed at SBSTA 44 in May 2016 are: C. Identification of adaptation measures, taking into account the diversity of the agricultural systems, indigenous knowledge systems and the differences in scale as well as possible co-benefits and sharing experiences in research and development and on the ground activities, including socioeconomic, environmental and gender aspects; D. Identification and assessment of agricultural practices and technologies to enhance productivity in a sustainable manner, food security and resilience, considering the differences in agro-ecological zones and farming systems, such as different grassland and cropland practices and systems. Stronger engagement with the SBSTA is an important opportunity for countries in Asia and the Pacific to draw attention to country-specific and regional issues for climate change in the agricultural sectors, and climate change and food security more broadly. Parties have been invited to submit on topics C and D by 9 March 2016. These issues will be discussed in dedicated workshops during SBSTA 44 (16-26 May 2016). With this in mind, FAO and CCAFS are organizing a webinar to assist countries interested in making a submission for the SBSTA workshops and/or better preparing their negotiating teams for the SBSTA44 workshops. It is worth noting that in the landmark Paris Agreement, adopted on 12 December 2015 at COP21 by the 195 countries who are Parties to the UNFCCC, agriculture, food security, ending hunger, and sustainable development all feature prominently. The Preamble recognizes ‘the fundamental priority of safeguarding food security and ending hunger, and the particular vulnerabilities of food production systems to the adverse effects of climate change’. This reinforces and strengthens the language under the Framework Convention to ensure that ‘food security production is not threatened’ in responding to climate change by embracing the more inclusive concept of ‘food security’. The Agreement also specifies that efforts to strengthen the global response to climate change are undertaken in the context of sustainable development and efforts to eradicate poverty. Promoting opportunities to realizing the potential of the agricultural sectors to unite hunger eradication and sustainable development with climate action has never been more timely.
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