Agreements have been reached in how to progress the text of the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework following 15 days of discussions between world governments in Geneva.
Final agreement of the text has been scheduled for the United Nations 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP15) in Kunming, China later this year. The first half of the conference was held in the same location in October 2021.
Some of the main areas of progress in the “intense discussions” were towards a solution for the fair and equitable sharing of benefits from digital sequence information on the use of genetic resources, as well as intersessional work agreed to address resource mobilisation and monitoring framework.
“During the session, governments retained the overall shape and structure of the first version of the framework, which includes goals, targets, and means of implementation, but added many other elements and qualification that require further negotiation,” said Basile van Havre co-chairs the Global Biodiversity Framework negotiations working group. “These are expected to be held at the end of June in Nairobi, where delegates will further refine the framework and agree on language to present for adoption in Kunming.”
Subsidiary bodies on science and implementation met at the same time as the main discussions in Geneva were taking place. The Subsidiary Body on Implementation (SBI-3) worked on ensuring the mobilisation and scaling up of finance for biodiversity, including a resource mobilisation strategy and the role of the Global Environment Facility. The SBI also made progress on a mechanism to keep the implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) under review and to allow for course corrections in CBD policy.
Charlotta Sörqvist, SBI-3 chair: “The discussions in the convention’s body to keep implementation under review showed that there is a great deal of work to do… but it also showed a tremendous willingness to work towards compromise and a consensus.”
The Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA-24) discussed how best to monitor progress – they examined existing and proposed indicators, using a traffic light system to judge the readiness of different indicators.
“Parties have taken the time to provide the best available scientific advice in support of this ambitious framework” said Hesiquio Benitez, chair of SBSTTA-24. “We will continue these discussions in the intersessional period.”
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Meanwhile, delegates in Geneva reaffirmed the overarching goals of the draft framework — to protect the elements of biodiversity at all levels (genetic, species and ecosystem), ensuring sustainability and human well-being in the use of biodiversity, and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits from the use of biodiversity.
Elizabeth Maruma Mrema, executive secretary of the CBD said: “Governments came to Geneva eager to meet in person and make progress on urgent action on the goals, targets and institutions needed to protect nature.
“They have engaged in intense discussions drawing a variety of positions and shown the power of multilateralism and a willingness to seek common ground.”
Further negotiations to refine the framework and agree on language will be held in June in Nairobi.
