Notification 2011-085

Dear Madam/Sir, At the tenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), Parties to the CBD adopted decision X/33 which includes a section on climate-related geo-engineering and its impacts on the achievement of the objectives of the CBD. This decision contains actions for both Parties and calls for additional research by the CBD Secretariat. The full text of geo-engineering elements of the decision is available in the annex to this notification. As outlined in the decision, in order to make significant progress on policy setting for geo-engineering, additional work needs to be done on: • defining climate-related geo-engineering, and • assessing the potential impacts of geo-engineering on biodiversity. In order to complete the above work, a liaison group will be established thanks to the kind contribution of the Government of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. Expert members of the liaison group should possess knowledge and understanding of geo-engineering, global change processes and biodiversity. Most of the work of the liaison group will be carried out electronically, however, some members of this liaison group will meet from 29 June to 1 July 2011 in London, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland. If you are interested in participating in this liaison group, either through online participation only, or through online participation and attendance at the liaison group meeting, please send your curriculum vitae and full contact information to the Secretariat at secretariat@cbd.int no later than 1 June, 2011. When indicating your interest, please also advise as to whether, if selected, you would be available to attend the London meeting from 29 June to 1 July 2011. Please accept, Madam/Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration. Annex Climate-Related Geo-engineering Elements of Decision X/33 8. Invites Parties and other Governments, according to national circumstance and priorities, as well as relevant organizations and processes, to consider the guidance below on ways to conserve, sustainably use and restore biodiversity and ecosystem services while contributing to climate change mitigation and adaptation: (w) Ensure, in line and consistent with decision IX/16 C, on ocean fertilization and biodiversity and climate change, in the absence of science based, global, transparent and effective control and regulatory mechanisms for geo-engineering, and in accordance with the precautionary approach and Article 14 of the Convention, that no climate-related geo-engineering activities that may affect biodiversity take place, until there is an adequate scientific basis on which to justify such activities and appropriate consideration of the associated risks for the environment and biodiversity and associated social, economic and cultural impacts, with the exception of small scale scientific research studies that would be conducted in a controlled setting in accordance with Article 3 of the Convention, and only if they are justified by the need to gather specific scientific data and are subject to a thorough prior assessment of the potential impacts on the environment; 9. Requests the Executive Secretary to: (l) Compile and synthesize available scientific information, and views and experiences of indigenous and local communities and other stakeholders, on the possible impacts of geo engineering techniques on biodiversity and associated social, economic and cultural considerations, and options on definitions and understandings of climate-related geo-engineering relevant to the Convention on Biological Diversity and make it available for consideration at a meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice prior to the eleventh meeting of the Conference of the Parties; (m) Taking into account the possible need for science based global, transparent and effective control and regulatory mechanisms, subject to the availability of financial resources, undertake a study on gaps in such existing mechanisms for climate-related geo-engineering relevant to the Convention on Biological Diversity, bearing in mind that such mechanisms may not be best placed under the Convention on Biological Diversity, for consideration by the Subsidiary Body on Scientific Technical and Technological Advice prior to a future meeting of the Conference of the Parties and to communicate the results to relevant organizations; 1. Without prejudice to future deliberations on the definition of geo-engineering activities, understanding that any technologies that deliberately reduce solar insolation or increase carbon sequestration from the atmosphere on a large scale that may affect biodiversity (excluding carbon capture and storage from fossil fuels when it captures carbon dioxide before it is released into the atmosphere) should be considered as forms of geo-engineering which are relevant to the Convention on Biological Diversity until a more precise definition can be developed. Noting that solar insolation is defined as a measure of solar radiation energy received on a given surface area in a given hour and that carbon sequestration is defined as the process of increasing the carbon content of a reservoir/pool other than the atmosphere.

Executive Secretary

To: SBSTTA Focal Points, Consortium of Scientific Partners on Biodiversity, and Consortium of Universities