TAG: GS 3: ECOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENT
THE CONTEXT: The fourth meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Implementation (SBI4) concluded without consensus on several crucial decisions for the upcoming 16th Conference of Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP16), scheduled to take place in Cali, Colombia, in October 2024.
EXPLANATION:
- Despite extensive negotiations, key issues remain unresolved, necessitating further discussions before COP16.
Key Issues
- The Subsidiary Body on Implementation (SBI4) meeting, held in Nairobi, brought together over 1,000 delegates to address critical aspects of the Biodiversity Plan, previously known as the Kunming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.
- This framework, adopted in December 2022, sets forth 23 targets and four overarching goals to be achieved by 2030 and 2050, respectively.
- However, much of the negotiation text remains bracketed, indicating unresolved sections that require further deliberation.
Resource Mobilization and Funding Challenges
- One of the central challenges highlighted during SBI4 is the issue of resource mobilization.
- Funding is crucial for the successful implementation of the Biodiversity Plan, particularly for developing countries.
- Acting executive secretary of the Convention emphasized the need for developed countries to fulfill their commitments to provide new, additional, and adequate financial resources by 2025.
- This includes generating at least $20 billion annually through international financial flows starting next year.
- To address funding needs, the United Nations Environment Programme and China have initiated the Kunming Biodiversity Fund, aimed at supporting biodiversity conservation in developing countries.
- Despite its potential, the fund is not yet operational.
- This fund complements the Global Biodiversity Framework Fund, established last year under the Global Environment Facility (GEF).
- The GEF, responsible for mobilizing biodiversity funds since 1992, reported its largest replenishment for biodiversity in the latest cycle (GEF-8), with negotiations for the next replenishment (GEF-9) anticipated to incorporate outcomes from SBI4.
Capacity Building and Technical Cooperation
- Delegates in Nairobi also focused on capacity building and technical cooperation among countries and organizations.
- These efforts are vital for bridging gaps in international cooperation and ensuring effective implementation of biodiversity targets.
- To this end, SBI4 selected 18 organizations worldwide to support actions across different regions, addressing specific needs and fostering collaboration.
National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs)
- Another critical area of discussion was the alignment and progress of National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs).
- These plans are essential for countries to meet the goals and targets set by the Biodiversity Plan. Despite the requirement for parties to submit updated NBSAPs at COP16, only eight countries have done so to date.
- The progress on NBSAPs will be reviewed at the next SBI meeting (SBI5) before COP16, underscoring the urgency for countries to finalize and submit their plans.
Digital Sequence Information
- The issue of digital sequence information (DSI) was also on the agenda, with parties working towards developing and operationalizing a multilateral mechanism for its management.
- This mechanism was agreed upon at COP15, and a dedicated group will meet in Montreal soon to finalize the plan for presentation at COP16.
Path Forward to COP16
- Chair of SBI4, acknowledged the significant work ahead, stating, “While we have many issues to resolve at COP16, the foundation is laid for our discussions in Cali, Colombia, later this year.”
- The need for further negotiation and collaboration is clear, with the aim of finalizing the text and addressing the critical challenges to ensure the effective implementation of the Biodiversity Plan.
Subsidiary Bodies: Roles and Focus Areas
- Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA)
- SBSTTA 26, one of the key subsidiary bodies, is addressing several scientific and technical issues essential for the implementation of the Biodiversity Plan.
- The primary focus areas include:
- Development of Indicators: Establishing metrics to monitor progress towards the 23 targets of the Biodiversity Plan.
- Scientific and Technical Needs: Identifying the requirements to support effective implementation of the framework.
- Synthetic Biology: Evaluating the implications of synthetic biology on biodiversity.
- Risk Assessment and Management: Formulating strategies to assess and manage risks associated with living modified organisms.
- Detection and Identification: Enhancing methods for identifying living modified organisms.
- Marine and Coastal Biodiversity: Addressing the specific needs and challenges in marine and coastal ecosystems.
- Biodiversity and Health: Exploring the interconnections between biodiversity and human health.
- Subsidiary Body on Implementation (SBI)
- SBI 4 is concentrating on the practical aspects of implementing the Biodiversity Plan. Its key areas of focus include:
- Review of Implementation: Evaluating current progress and updating national biodiversity strategies and action plans.
- Resource Mobilization and Financial Mechanism: Ensuring adequate financial resources are available for implementation.
- Capacity Building and Development: Strengthening the capabilities of nations to implement biodiversity strategies.
- Technical and Scientific Cooperation: Fostering collaboration among countries and with international organizations.
- Knowledge Management: Improving the sharing and management of information related to biodiversity.
- Cooperation with Other Conventions: Enhancing synergies with other international conventions and organizations.
Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD):
- The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is an international treaty established in 1992 during the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
- The Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) has three main objectives:
- the conservation of biological diversity;
- the sustainable use of the components of biological diversity;
- the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources.
- The Convention acknowledges the special needs of LDCs, among those of other developing countries:
- Preamble: Parties acknowledge that “special provision is required to meet the needs of developing countries, including the provision of new and additional financial resources and appropriate access to relevant technologies” and, in this regard, note “the special conditions of the least developed countries and small island States”.
- Article 20.5: Parties commit to taking “full account of the specific needs and special situation of least developed countries in their actions with regard to funding and transfer of technology”.
