The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) has published a report of the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA) workshop on technical and scientific aspects of ecosystems with high-carbon reservoirs not covered by other agenda items under the Convention, held on 24–25 October 2013, in Bonn, Germany.
1 April 2014: The UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Secretariat has published a report of the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA) workshop on technical and scientific aspects of ecosystems with high-carbon reservoirs not covered by other agenda items under the Convention, held on 24–25 October 2013, in Bonn, Germany.
The report presents information provided by scientific experts, government representatives, the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC), and international and regional research programmes and organizations on such aspects, including coastal marine ecosystems, in the context of wider mitigation and adaptation efforts. The report summarizes the presentations and discussions, which include: an overview of the global context; current scientific and technical knowledge of high-carbon content ecosystems, such as coastal ecosystems, terrestrial ecosystems, and methodological aspects, monitoring and modeling in high-carbon ecosystems; management of ecosystems in the mitigation and adaptation context; and challenges and opportunities regarding research needs.
The panel discussion also identified possible roles and next steps for SBSTA, including: continuing to use the research dialogue as a platform for providing up-to-date scientific information and for communicating research needs, including through further workshops; encouraging enhanced research regarding high-carbon ecosystems, particularly in developing countries; promoting and enhancing further collaboration, cooperation and networking among research institutions; linking science and policy communities, including through the Nairobi work programme on impacts, vulnerability and adaptation to climate change (NWP), and bringing together key actors to enhance further knowledge on mitigation and adaptation; acknowledging IPCC methodological developments on high-carbon ecosystems and considering recommendations to the IPCC for further work; guiding further work on high-carbon ecosystems and providing guidance on methodology use, such as encouraging the development of common terminology, data sharing and knowledge platforms. [UNFCCC Workshop Report]