Governance & Policy

Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA)

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Definition

The Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice is one of two permanent subsidiary bodies of the UNFCCC, established to provide the COP with timely information and advice on scientific and technological matters. It serves as the link between scientific information — above all IPCC assessment reports — and the policy-oriented work of the COP, and handles technical agenda items including methodologies for inventories and markets, technology transfer (with the Technology Mechanism), research and systematic observation, and agriculture.

References

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This reference provides supporting context for how “Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA)” is defined and used.

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Overview

How it is used

The body structures science agenda items, methodology negotiations (Article 6 rules, GHG inventory guidance), technology framework work and research dialogue in the climate regime.

Why it matters

SBSTA keeps the climate regime tethered to evidence — the institutional guarantee that negotiations cannot drift too far from the science.