New Global Biodiversity Agreement: China to Host a Two-Part Summit on Nature

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New Global Biodiversity Agreement:

China to Host a Two-Part Summit on Nature

11-15 Oct 2021: UN Biodiversity Conference (COP15/COP-MOP10/COP-MOP4) - Part 1 (Virtual), including online high-level segment

25 Apr - 8 May 2022: UN Biodiversity Conference Part 2, meetings resume in-person to conclude negotiations, decide on new Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework and will also include a high-level segment

Open-Ended Working Group on the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework

to meet online to advance draft text: 23 August - 3 September 2021, also includes a high-level segment

UN Biodiversity Conference Media Registration Opens

Montreal, 18 August 2021 - Decisive in-person meetings on a highly-anticipated new UN agreement on biodiversity have been paused for a few more months by the coronavirus pandemic.

Host country China and the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) today announced dates for the UN Biodiversity Conference, which includes the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP-15), www.cbd.int/meetings/COP-15, to be convened in two parts, the 10th meeting of Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (CP-MOP 10) and the 4th meeting of Parties to the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization (NP-MOP 4).

From Monday 11 to Friday 15 October 2021, an official opening will take place online, followed by final negotiations on the post-2020 global biodiversity framework during face-to-face meetings in Kunming, China, Monday 25 April to Sunday 8 May 2022.

The opening meeting will address agenda items essential to the continued operations of the biodiversity convention and its two Protocols. It will also include a High‑Level Segment to be held on 12 and 13 October and expected to produce a Kunming Declaration adding political momentum to the Framework negotiations.

H.E. Mr. Huang Runqiu, Minister of Ecology and Environment of the People’s Republic of China, said, “China will continue to work with the Parties of the Convention and the Secretariat to overcome the adverse impact of the global epidemic on the Conference, fulfill the obligations of the host country, steadily advance the preparations, and make all efforts to host a landmark Conference.”

At the two-week in-person Kunming meetings next spring, that global framework agreement will be presented for final consideration and decision by CBD’s 196 Parties.

CBD Executive Secretary, Elizabeth Maruma Mrema, calls the two-step summit process essential given ongoing uncertainties created by COVID-19 and the necessity for face-to-face meetings to conclude the complex global framework negotiations.

"Addressing the challenge of halting ongoing losses of species and genetic diversity and the damage to our ecosystems will determine the well-being of humanity for generations to come,” she says. “Protecting nature’s invaluable contributions to people requires that we harmonize our policies and actions at every level. The global biodiversity framework, based on the best available science and evidence, is fundamental to meeting these needs."

Says Ms. Mrema: “Convening virtually throughout the pandemic has limited the times for essential global meetings of CBD Parties, Bureau and subsidiary bodies to narrow windows. The Secretariat extends deep gratitude to all participants worldwide for their extraordinary consideration, dedication and cooperation to advance negotiations as far as they have in these extraordinary circumstances.”

“Convening COP-15 in two parts will enable maximum progress on the several remaining difficult issues prior to our conclusive face-to-face sessions in Kunming.”

Most immediate among the next virtual meetings is that of the Open-Ended Working Group (WG2020) on the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework, 23 August to 3 September www.cbd.int/conferences/post2020.

It will further refine and revise the framework, the first official draft which was released 12 July proposes 21 targets for 2030 including, among others:

At least 30% of land and sea areas global (especially areas of particular importance for biodiversity and its contributions to people) conserved through effective, equitably managed, ecologically representative and well-connected systems of protected areas (and other effective area-based conservation measures)
A 50% of greater reduction in the rate of introduction of invasive alien species, and controls or eradication of such species to eliminate or reduce their impacts
Reducing nutrients lost to the environment by at least half, and pesticides by at least two thirds, and eliminating the discharge of plastic waste
Nature-based contributions to global climate change mitigation efforts of least 10 GtCO2e per year, and that all mitigation and adaptation efforts avoid negative impacts on biodiversity
Redirecting, repurposing, reforming or eliminating incentives harmful for biodiversity, in a just and equitable way, reducing them by at least $US 500 billion per year
A $US 200 billion increase in international financial flows from all sources to developing countries.

The full draft of the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework is available at cbd.int. For more information, see: www.cbd.int/article/draft-1-global-biodiversity-framework

CBD Notification on revised COP-15 dates: www.cbd.int/doc/notifications/2021/ntf-2021-058-cop15-en.pdf

On 30 August, President Iván Duque Márquez of the Government of Colombia will host a one-day hybrid “Pre-COP” meeting that will feature the participation of heads of state and government. This “Pre-COP” event will include announcements of commitments by governments which are members of the High Ambition Coalition and signatories to the “Leaders’ Pledge for Nature.”

A final WG2020 meeting, together with meetings of two CBD Subsidiary Bodies (on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA 24), and Implementation (SBI 3) -- crucial to finalize the preparations for COP-15 Part 2), are tentatively planned, to be in person, in Geneva in January 2022, subject to the pandemic situation.

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The road ahead: Timeline at a glance

23 August to 3 September, online:

Third meeting, Open-Ended Working Group (WG2020-3) on the Post-2020 Global Framework Agreement (www.cbd.int/post2020)
News conference(s): Details to follow for accredited media

30 August

“Pre-COP” meeting hosted by the President of Colombia in the Colombian Amazon with fellow members of the High Ambition Group for Nature and signatories of the Leaders’ Pledge for Nature. For more information: CBD National Focal Point for Colombia - Sra. Adriana Mejia Hernand, Viceministra de Asuntos Multilaterales Ministerio de Relaciones Exteriores Calle 10 No. 5-51; +571 381 4000 ext. 1889, ext. 1349; E-Mail: juliana.arciniegas@cancilleria.gov.co sebastian.acosta@cancilleria.gov.co

11 to 15 October, online

COP-15 Part 1
11 October: Opening ceremony
12 - 13 October: High-level segment
News Conference for the closing of the High-level segment 13 October
Closing news conference, 15 October: Details to follow for accredited media

January 2022, Geneva (tentative):

Open-Ended Working Group (WG2020) on the Post-202o Global Framework Agreement
CBD Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA 24)
CBD Subsidiary Body on Implementation (SBI 3)

25 April to 8 May 2022, in person