Bonn Climate Change Conference

16 - 26 May 2016. Bonn. Climate negotiators from around the world met for the first time since brokering the Paris climate deal to start filling in some of the gaps left in that landmark agreement.

The midyear U.N. meeting in Bonn, Germany, is much lower-profile than the conference on the outskirts of the French capital in December and the agenda is more mundane. The two-week meeting will deliver an agenda for the ad-hoc working group tasked with implementing the Paris.

In 2014 the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA), as part of its mandate to consider issues related to agriculture, decided to invite submissions from parties and observers, covering four topics, in 2015 and 2016.

The topics to be discussed at this year's meeting are:

1. 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.
2. 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.

Related resource:

Hussein Alfa Nafo, Mali, speaking on behalf of the African Group

Views on issues relating to agriculture Submissions from Parties and admitted observer organizations

Paper no. 3: submission made by the African Group: page 12 - page 22

PART A: Identification of Adaptation Measures in Agricultural systems 

PART B: Identification and Assessment of Agricultural Practices and Technologies to Enhance Productivity: (Include diversity of agro-ecological zones) 

• IDENTIFICATION OF RESILIENT AGRICULTURAL TECHNOLOGIES AND PRACTICES
• KEY ISSUES FOR TRANSFORMATION OF AFRICA’S AGRICULTURAL SYSTEMS PRODUCTION 

The African Group of Negotiators (AGN) highlights agricultural approaches that have proven to effectively support adaptation in different farming systems. This includes improved:

1. crop and livestock breeding, investments in water and land management that can deal with droughts and floods, 
2. better agro-processing technologies that can transform the value chain, 
3. integrated pest and disease management, enhanced insurance for farmers, 
4. and better climate information services.

“We need business unusual,” said Fred Kossam, Head of Climate Change and Research Services, Ministry of Natural Resources, Energy and Mining, Malawi, who spoke on behalf of the AGN. “We need to change how we adapt agriculture in Africa. We highlighted the approaches to be supported for effective upscaling in countries,” he explained.

Workshops related to agriculture:

• 20 May 2016, 15:00-18:00 SBSTA workshop on agriculture: Identification of adaptation measures
• 23 May 2016, 15:00-18:00 SBSTA workshop on agriculture: Enhancement of productivity
• Official side events with CCAFS and partners:
• 17 May 2016, 18:30-20:00 Adapting to climate change in agricultural systems: experience from Latin America, Africa and Asia
• 18 May 2016, 15:00-16:30 Establishing country emission reduction targets in agriculture: What is fair, ambitious and feasible?
• 19 May 2016, 14:30-18:00 Eighth meeting of the Research Dialogue (RD8): RD8 provides an environment for research organizations to share information with Parties, and encourage effective discussion between experts and Parties. 

Thematic areas:

• Scientific analysis of pathways for achievement of the “well below 2 ºC” global temperature goal and limiting the temperature increase to 1.5 ºC, including global and regional transformation pathways and related impacts.
• The risks and impacts of slow-onset events as a result of climate change, particularly including temperature and those that occur in the cryosphere (sea level rise and ocean acidification) and hydrological cycle (drought).
• Meryl Richards (CCAFS Low Emissions Agriculture) will present on "Reducing emissions from agriculture to meet ambitious limits on global temperature increase" during a of Poster presentation, Part 2 (16:45-18:00): Supporting scientific knowledge and capacity building
• For more information visit the RD8 webpage

For more information visit the official SBSTA 44 website.

Related:

To support countries in developing their submissions, the CGIAR Research Program on Climate Change, Agriculture and Food Security (CCAFS) prepared technical background papers on these topics, and provided technical advice to several countries and negotiating teams. Agriculture issues will be further discussed at two special workshops during the Bonn meetings.

Info note: Measures for climate change adaptation in agriculture. Messages to the SBSTA 44 agriculture workshops	Info note: Climate change adaptation in agriculture: practices and technologies. Messages to the SBSTA 44 agriculture workshops

At a 17 May side event, CCAFS scientists and country partners from Africa, Asia and Latin America shared their approaches and visions for enhancing food security, resilience and productivity in agricultural systems, in an effort to highlight real adaptation measures, practices and technologies that deliver positive outcomes for farmers.

Watch the video: Adapting to climate change in agricultural systems: experience from Latin America, Africa and Asia

Watch Dr. Vermeulen's presentation: Adapting to climate change in agricultural systems: Key findings from CGIAR and partners: