1

Research and systematic observations +

Olga Pilifosova UNFCCC secretariat

UNFCCC workshop on the Preparation of National Communications from non-Annex I

26 - 30 April 2004 Manila

2

Content

• Systematic observation – New guidelines and User Manual– Matters relating to SO in developing countries &GCOS in

SBSTA– UNFCCC Guidelines for reporting on GCOS (5/CP.5)

• Research – New guidelines and User Manual– Matters relating to research in SBSTA

• Concluding remarks• Addendum

               

3

Guidelines and manual Climate change research and systematic observation

43. Parties encouraged to provide information on climate change research and systematic observation, including their participation in and contribution to activities and programmes, as appropriate, of national, regional and global research networks and observing systems

• Status of national programme for research and systematic observation

• Meteorological,atmospheric and oceanographic research and observations

• Level of participation in the global research and observation systems

• Needs and priorities for climate change research and systematic observations

4

Systematic observations at COPs & SBSTA

• The UNFCCC meetings adopted a number of important decisions aimed at strengthening the global observing systems for climate (GCOS)

• COP 3 on the GCOS: 'atmospheric' data were declining/this trend should be reversed, particularly in developing countries

• COP5: 5/CP.5 and the SBSTA sessions adopted 3 - tiered approach to address the problem: – regional workshops to develop NAPs and specific proposals to address

deficiencies in the climate observing networks; – the preparation of an 'adequacy report' by the GCOS secretariat to

identify priorities;  – separate national reports on GCOS as part of national communications

• SBSTA16, 17 named possible resources: GEF, multilateral and bilateral projects

5

Actions in response

• Status of regional workshops: • Pacific Islands-August 2000

• Eastern and Southern Africa-October 2001

• Central America and the Caribbean-March 2002

• East and Southeast Asia-September 2002

• Western and Central Africa-March 2003

• South America-October 2003

• Central Asia-May 2004

• South and Southwest Asia-October 2004

• Eastern and Central Europe-Spring 2005

• Mediterranean Basin-Fall 2005

• Adequacy report considered at SBSTA18, priority actions are to be defined

• First synthesis of 43 GCOS reports from AI Parties compiled

6

UNFCCC REPORTING GUIDELINES ON GLOBAL CLIMATE CHANGE OBSERVING SYSTEMS

• 5/CP.5 Invites all Parties to provide detailed reports on systematic observation in accordance with these guidelines, and on a voluntary basis for Parties not included in Annex I

• What constitutes the guidelines on GCOS?– a set of general instructions on the preferred approach for reporting on

the status of meteorological and atmospheric, oceanographic, and terrestrial observing systems (elements already included in 17/CP.8!)

• Why it is important to report in accordance with the guidelines on GCOS?– Global: standard reporting enable to easier construct an overall picture

of the status of global observing systems

– National/regional: provide essential information that can be used in making the case for upgrading climate observing systems in developing countries

7

Research programmes: guidelines and UM

• Paragraph 44: Non-Annex I Parties are encouraged to provide information on research relating to programmes containing measures to mitigate climate change;programmes containing measures to facilitate adequate adaptation to climate change; and the development of emission factors and activity data.

– Should be built on information in the respective sections – Include specific research programmes – Include research activities with other bilateral and

multilateral institutions, projects and programmes– Other

8

Research related issues in SBSTA

• Research & SO was re-introduced the in the agenda of the SBSTA at its 16 session as a result of consideration of the IPCC TAR by the SBSTA in order to:– enhance interaction with international research programmes on

the scientific questions – communicate research needs identified by Parties to the

research community– encourage coordinated and multidisciplinary approach to

address research on cross-cutting issues such as the relationship between climate change, sustainable development and equity, stabilization of atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations, and uncertainty

• Official side events during SBSTA 17 and SBSTA20 with the research community

9

Concluding remarks

• Reporting on Research and Systematic Oservation is important

• Reporting in accordance with the UNFCCC REPORTING GUIDELINES ON GLOBAL CLIMATE OBSERVING SYSTEMS is your contribution to both global and national observing networks

• Events to look out for at SBSTA20: UNFCCC side event on research; side event on methodologies to assess impacts, vulnerability and adaptation; IN SESSION workshops on mitigation and adaptation

10

NEW ITMES ON THE AGENDA OF THE SBSTA

• SBSTA15-18 Consideration of the TAR findings

• COP9 and SBSTA18: – Initiated 2 new agenda items: “Scientific, technical and socio-

economic aspects of impacts of, vulnerability and adaptation to climate change” and “Scientific, technical and socio-economic aspects of mitigation”

– Focus on exchange of information on practical experiences, solutions and opportunities

• SBSTA 19 – Themes vulnerability and risks, sustainable development and

solutions and opportunities are relevant to these agenda items– “In – session” workshops on adaptation and mitigation to

explore these themes and facilitate the consideration of the scope of the work under the new agenda items