Towards a UNFCCC/SBSTA Work Programme on Agriculture

Agriculture can potentially be part of the solution to climate change in ways that respect and support the development and food security requirements of developing countries: development-smart responses to climate change. However to realize this potential, systematic and dedicated discussion and decisions within the Ad-hoc Working Group for Long-term Cooperative Action (AWG-LCA) and Subsidiary Body on Scientific and Technical Advice (SBSTA) are needed to clarify options for action and related support. At the forthcoming climate change meetings during June 2010 in Bonn, Parties could, if they so wish, accelerate action on the proposal for a SBSTA work programme on agriculture, which seems to have enjoyed broad support throughout the negotiations on agriculture. Establishing a work stream on agricultural mitigation, under the SBSTA Agenda 9 “Scientific, technical and socio-economic aspects of mitigation of climate change” could be a first step in this direction. Such a work programme could be of benefit to those countries that have and will elect to embark on nationally appropriate mitigation action on agriculture, funded from fast start financing provided by developed countries.

• Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) (submitted 14 May 2010)