Scientific research is required to understand climate change - the historical background, current status, impacts and future predictions, the effects of human activities and the actions required at global, regional and local levels for mitigation and adaptation

The Convention calls on Parties to promote and cooperate in research, systematic observation and the development of data archives, including through exchange of information; to support programmes, networks and organizations; and improve the capacities of developing countries (Articles 4.1(g,h) and 5).

Parties report on their national and cooperative research activities and their contributions to climate science, as well as emerging research needs and priorities, in their national communications.

The Paris Agreement identifies the need for an effective and progressive response to the urgent threat of climate change on the basis of the best available scientific knowledge. 

Implementation of research under the Convention and Paris Agreement is supported through cooperation with the World Climate Research Programme (WCRP), which coordinates the coupled model intercomparison project (CMIP), the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) and other programmes, networks and organizations. The secretariat facilitates dialogue and communication on the research needs and priorities expressed by Parties to the scientific community and on the most recent and relevant information from the scientific community to Parties, including through the research dialogue.                        

The IPCC has a well established role in the Convention process in communicating scientific research information to the Convention through its assessment reports, special reports and technical papers.

Further background information >>

Negotiations on SBSTA Agenda item: Research and Systematic Observation

The SBSTA considers research during the first sessional period of every year (as mandated in FCCC/SBSTA/2012/5, paragraph 46)

An  informal compilation of all mandates on research (574 kB) , updated annually after the publication of the SBSTA report from the first sessional period, provides a complete list of all decisions and conclusions on research to date.

Outcomes from all previous sessions, including information notes, reports, submissions and statements, are available in the chronology section.

Upcoming session

SBSTA 48

• Resources for negotiators are available BELOW

The  most recent sessions and outcomes

SBSTA 46 (2017)

• SBSTA Conclusions FCCC/SBSTA/2017/4, paragraphs 41-49
• The Summary Report (1655 kB)  from the ninth meeting of the research dialogue (RD9), 10 May 2017, which focussed on
  • Regional climate research data and information, and gaps, and 
  • Science to take stock and assess progress on mitigation

SBSTA 44 (2016)

• SBSTA conclusions FCCC/SBSTA/2016/2, paragraphs 29-36
• The Summary report (2366 kB) from the eighth meeting of the research dialogue (RD8), 19 May 2016, which focussed on
  • Scientific analysis of pathways for achievement of the “well below 2ºC” global  temperature  goal  and  limiting  the  temperature  increase  to  1.5ºC,  including  global  and regional transformation pathways and related impacts; and
  • Risks  and  impacts  of  slow-onset  events as  a  result  of  climate change, particularly including temperature and those that occur in the cryosphere and hydrological cycle.

Research will be addressed at SBSTA 48, 30 Apr -10 May 2018

The tenth meeting of the research dialogue, RD10 will also be held during this session on Thursday 3 May.

Documents

• RD9 Summary Report (1655 kB)
• WMO Statement on the State of the Global Climate in 2017

Submissions

Available from the submissions portal and received from:

• African Group of Negotiators
• Brazil
• Bulgaria and the European Commission on behalf of the European Union
• Ethiopia on behalf of the LDC Group
• Japan
• Saint Lucia on behalf of CARICOM
• Australia's submission from 2017 is also relevant

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