The Conference of the Parties at its seventeenth session, held in Durban in 2011, by decision 2/CP.17 "Outcome of the work of the Ad Hoc Working Group on Long-term Cooperative Action under the Convention" requested the SBSTA to consider issues relating to agriculture, with the aim of exchanging views. 

Outlook for SBSTA 47 (November 2017)

SBSTA 47 will continue to consider issues relating to agriculture, taking into account Parties’ deliberations and progress made at SBSTA 46.

SBSTA 46 (May 2017)

SBSTA 46 continued its work on issues relating to agriculture. It welcomed the rich exchanges at its past five in-session workshops on issues relating to agriculture and continued an exchange of view on issues relating to agriculture based on the outcomes of these workshops. The workshop reports are contained in documents FCCC/SBSTA/2014/INF.2, FCCC/SBSTA/2015/INF.6, FCCC/SBSTA/2015/INF.7, FCCC/SBSTA/2016/INF.5 and FCCC/SBSTA/2016/INF.6.

The conclusions for this agenda item are contained in document FCCC/SBSTA/2017/4 (paragraphs 37-40)

SBSTA 45 (November 2016)

SBSTA 45 continued its work on issues relating to agriculture in the areas referred to in document FCCC/SBSTA/2014/2, paragraph 85(a-d). It took note of the views submitted by Parties (contained in FCCC/SBSTA/2016/MISC.1 and Add.1) and observers (available here) in response to the invitation of SBSTA 40.

In accordance with the conclusions of SBSTA 43, it continued in Marrakesh its consideration of the reports on the four workshops held in conjunction with SBSTA 42 (contained in documents  FCCC/SBSTA/2015/INF.6 and FCCC/SBSTA/2015/INF.7) and SBSTA 44 (contained in documents FCCC/SBSTA/2016/INF.5 and FCCC/SBSTA/2016/INF.6), pursuant to the mandate set out in document FCCC/SBSTA/2014/2, paragraph 89, and welcomed those reports.

The conclusions for this agenda item are contained in document FCCC/SBSTA/2016/4 (paragraph 33-36).

SBSTA 44 (May 2016)

SBSTA 44 continued its exchange of views on issues relating to agriculture.

Following the request contained in document FCCC/SBSTA/2014/2, paragraph 89, the secretariat organized two in-session workshops on the elements referred to in paragraph 85(c) and (d) of the same document.

All documents relating to the in-session workshop on the 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 are available here.

All documents relating to the in-session workshop on the 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 are available here.

FCCC/SBSTA/2016/2

SBSTA 43 (December 2015)

SBSTA 43 took note of the reports on the two in-session workshops organized by the secretariat in conjunction with SBSTA 42, pursuant to the mandate set out in document FCCC/SBSTA/2014/2, paragraph 88, contained in documents FCCC/SBSTA/2015/INF.6 and FCCC/SBSTA/2015/INF.7.

The SBSTA agreed to continue its consideration of these reports at SBSTA 44 (May 2016) and, together with the reports on the two in-session workshops to be held at SBSTA 44 on the issues referred to in document FCCC/SBSTA/2014/2, paragraph 85(c) and (d), at SBSTA 45 (November 2016), in accordance with document FCCC/SBSTA/2014/2, paragraphs 83–89.

The conclusions on this agenda item are contained in document FCCC/SBSTA/2015/5 (paragraphs 19 - 20).

SBSTA 42 (June 2015)

SBSTA 42, recalling Article 9 of the Convention, on the basis of the objective, principles and provisions of the Convention, continued, in accordance with decision 2/CP.17, paragraph 75, its scientific and technical work on issues relating to agriculture in the areas of (a) 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) assessment of risk and vulnerability of agricultural systems to different climate change scenarios at the regional, national and local levels, including but not limited to pests and diseases; and will continue its work referred to in document FCCC/SBSTA/2014/2, paragraphs 87–89.

The SBSTA took note of the views submitted by Parties (contained in FCCC/SBSTA/2015/MISC.1 , Add.1 , Add.2 and FCCC/SBSTA/2015/MISC.2 ) and admitted observer organizations (available here) in response to the invitation made at SBSTA 40.

The SBSTA acknowledged with appreciation the rich exchange of views by Parties during the two in-session workshops held at this session (see below), and agreed to consider the reports on those workshops at SBSTA 43.

All documents relating to the in-session workshop on 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 are available here.

All documents relating to the in-session workshop on 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. are available here.

The conclusions on this agenda item are contained in document FCCC/SBSTA/2015/2 (paragraphs 25 - 27).

report

FCCC/SBSTA/2013/MISC.17

Add.1

Add.2

• (a) 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;
  
• (b) 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;
  
• (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.

The SBSTA invited Parties and admitted observer organizations to submit to the secretariat their views on issues relating to the elements referred to in bullets (a) and (b) above by 25 March 2015, and requested the secretariat to compile them into a miscellaneous document for consideration at SBSTA 42.

The SBSTA also invited Parties and admitted observer organizations to submit to the secretariat their views on issues relating to the elements referred to in bullets (c) and (d) above by 9 March 2016, and requested the secretariat to compile the views into a miscellaneous document for consideration at SBSTA 44.

The SBSTA requested the secretariat to organize two in-session workshops on the elements referred to in bullets (a) and (b) above, in conjunction with SBSTA 42, and also organize two in-session workshops on the elements referred to in bullets (c) and (d) above, in conjunction with SBSTA 44.

It further requested the secretariat to prepare a report on each of these workshops, with the first two reports for consideration at SBSTA 43, and the other two reports for consideration at SBSTA 45.

The conclusions on this agenda item are contained in document FCCC/SBSTA/2014/2 (paragraphs 81 - 90).

The workshop agenda, presentations, statements and report are available here.

The conclusions on this agenda item are contained in document FCCC/SBSTA/2013/5 (paragraphs 57 - 60).

FCCC/SBSTA/2013/MISC.17

Add.1

Add.2

The SBSTA also requested the secretariat to organize an in-session workshop at SBSTA 39 on the issues mentioned above and prepare a report on the workshop for consideration at SBSTA 40.

The conclusions on this agenda item are contained in document FCCC/SBSTA/2013/3 (paragraphs 78 - 85).

The conclusions for this agenda item are contained in document FCCC/SBSTA/2012/5 (paragraphs 66 - 67).

SBSTA 36 (May 2012)

SBSTA 36 initiated, in accordance with decision 2/CP.17, paragraph 75, an exchange of views on issues relating to agriculture.

Parties and admitted observer organizations submitted their views following the invitation contained in decision 2/CP.17, paragraph 76. The secretariat compiled these submissions into a document FCCC/SBSTA/2012/MISC.6 and Add.1, Add.2 and Add.3 according to the request contained in decision 2/CP.17, paragraph 77.

The conclusions on this agenda item are contained in document FCCC/SBSTA/2012/2 (paragraphs 51 - 53).