What is Subsidiary Bodies (SB60)?

Why in News ? Subsidiary Bodies (SB60), formally called the 60th meetings of the Subsidiary Bodies, is a crucial event under the umbrella of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) .

• It’s essentially a preparatory meeting held biannually in June, with another session coinciding with each annual Conference of the Parties (COP) to the UNFCCC.
• National delegates and civil society representatives will make up a significant part of the around 6,000 participants expected to attend the meetings.
• The meeting will serve as a crucial midpoint between the 28th CoP in Dubai and CoP29 in Azerbaijan and its outcomes will set the stage for the next phase of global climate negotiations.

Structure:

SB60 consists of two main bodies:

Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice (SBSTA): This body bridges the gap between scientific findings and policy needs.  They  analyze scientific reports,  particularly those from the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC),  to  advise policymakers on actions  to address climate change.

Subsidiary Body for Implementation (SBI): This body focuses on the practicalities of implementing the UNFCCC,  including the Kyoto Protocol and the Paris Agreement.

• Their role is to oversee countries’ progress on their commitments,  reviewing their actions and ensuring they meet  transparency and reporting requirements.

Importance of SB60:

• Prepares the Ground for COP: The discussions and recommendations formulated at SB60 pave the way for more productive negotiations during the subsequent COP meeting.
• They identify key issues, areas of contention, and potential solutions to be addressed by world leaders at COP.

Technical and Scientific Focus: SB60 delves deeper into the technical and scientific aspects of climate change. Experts discuss challenges, explore innovative solutions, and provide evidence-based recommendations to policymakers.

Implementation and Transparency: SBI, a key part of SB60, ensures countries are implementing their commitments effectively. This includes standardizing reporting methods to facilitate transparency and tracking progress towards global climate goals.