Governments advance text of landmark global agreement on biodiversity, prepare final steps in negotiation to be concluded in Montreal in December
– Governments converge towards consensus for key elements of the Global Biodiversity Framework to safeguard nature
– Good progress made on issue of Digital Sequence Information
– A process will be developed to advance discussions before COP 15
Nairobi. 26 June 2022.
Representatives of the National Coordination Biosafety Centre and the National Coordination Centre on Access to Genetic Resources and Benefit-sharing attended the fourth meeting of the Open-ended Working Group on the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework.
With six days of negotiations behind them, Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity advanced a global plan to bend the curve on biodiversity loss, expected to be adopted in Montreal, Canada in December 2022.
Parties set out their ambitions with respect to the goals of the framework, and refined the essential targets related to conservation, sustainable use, and benefit-sharing.
They worked to develop a plan for resource mobilization and other means of implementation and highlighted the contribution of nature to climate change mitigation and adaptation.
Parties also charted the pathway for an agreement on the sharing of benefits from Digital Sequencing Information on genetic resources.
Their discussions also strengthened the role of Indigenous peoples, local communities, women, youth, and other stakeholders and to ensure that all voices will be heard, and no one will be left behind.
Discussions over the week covered the entire framework text, which includes 4 goals, 23 proposed
targets, and all of the elements that will enable nations to meet them. Delegates also made progress on the issue of Digital Sequence Information; a separate agenda item related to the framework.
The important four goals of the framework — A through D, were also a subject of intense discussion:
Goal A ― protecting biodiversity at all levels and preventing extinctions
Goal B ― ensuring that biodiversity can meet people’s needs and support their human rights
Goal C ― benefits from the use of biodiversity and genetic resources are shared with equity and the
traditional knowledge and rights of Indigenous and Local Communities are respected.
Goal D ― Adequate level of the means of implementation are enabled, including financial
resources, capacity building and other supports to action.
Notwithstanding the important advances, a considerable amount of work will be required to
advance the text for final high-level consideration by CBD’s 196 Parties at COP15.