SBSTA

The Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA) is one of the two permanent subsidiary bodies of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), the other being the Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI). It provides the Conference of the Parties (COP) with information and advice on scientific, technological, and methodological aspects of climate change. The SBSTA’s work covers climate science, climate-related data and observations, and the development and transfer of technologies needed to address climate change, including issues related to measurement, reporting, and verification.

The SBSTA is composed of government representatives from Parties to the UNFCCC, and it convenes sessions parallel to COP meetings. It also engages with scientists, experts, and observer organizations to inform its discussions. In its sessions, the SBSTA discusses the latest scientific findings, methodological questions concerning greenhouse gas inventories and reporting, and the use and development of climate technologies. It also considers topics related to science and technology policy, adaptation, mitigation, and the integration of scientific knowledge into policy decisions.

Outputs from the SBSTA include conclusions and recommendations that inform COP decisions. Its work with the IPCC and other scientific bodies helps ensure that policy decisions align with current scientific understanding. By addressing technological development and transfer, research priorities, and the enhancement of observation systems, the SBSTA supports advances in climate science and technology to support climate action under the UNFCCC framework.