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11.12.2024 Statement by Astrid Schomaker, Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity on International Mountain Day (11 December)
11.12.2024 Statement by Astrid Schomaker, Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity, on the occasion of the International Human Rights Day 10...
10.12.2024 // 2024-113 Operationalizing the multilateral mechanism for the fair and equitable sharing of benefits from the use of digital sequence information on genetic res...
10.12.2024 // 2024-115 The multilateral mechanism for the fair and equitable sharing of benefits from the use of digital sequence information on genetic resources, including...
03.03.2023 Linked Climate Variability Between Distant Regions Highlights Interconnectivity of Global Climate Change
04.08.2022 Overconsumption by the rich must be tackled, says acting UN biodiversity chief
// COP-16-R1 First resumed session of the sixteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity
// NP-MOP-05-R1 First resumed session of the fifth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity serving as the meeting of the Pa...
// NP-MOP-05 Decision NP-5/13 - Costs of convening an in-person resumed session of the fifth meeting of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the...
// CP-MOP-11 Decision CP-11/12 - Costs of convening an in-person resumed session of the eleventh meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biol...

Updates

Astrid Schomaker | Executive Secretary, CBD Secretariat

The United Nations Secretary-General has designated Astrid Schomaker of Germany as Executive Secretary of the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). Ms. Schomaker officially took up her appointment as of 1 July 2024. Prior to her appointment, Ms. Schomaker has work on a variety of issues ranging from bilateral and multilateral relations to chemicals, oceans, and the water industry. Most recently, as Director for Green Diplomacy and Multilateralism with the European Commission in Brussels, she promoted a global transition to resource efficient, low emission, nature-positive circular economies.

Programmes

Thematic

The Conference of the Parties (COP) has established seven thematic programmes of work (listed below) which correspond to some of the major biomes on the planet. Each programme establishes a vision for, and basic principles to guide future work. They also set out key issues for consideration, identify potential outputs, and suggest a timetable and means for achieving these. Implementation of the work programmes depends on contributions from Parties, the Secretariat, relevant intergovernmental and other organizations. Periodically, the COP and the SBSTTA review the state of implementation of the work programmes.

Cross-Cutting

The COP has also initiated work on key matters of relevance to all thematic areas. These cross-cutting issues correspond to the issues addressed in the Convention's substantive provisions in Articles 6-20, and provide bridges and links between the thematic programmes. Some cross cutting initiatives directly support work under thematic programmes, for example, the work on indicators provides information on the status and trends of biodiversity for all biomes. Others develop discrete products quite separate from the thematic programmes.

Newsletters

Clearing-House

Clearing-House Mechanism of the Convention on Biological Diversity

The Clearing-House Mechanism (CHM) contributes to the implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity by promoting and facilitating scientific and technical cooperation, knowledge sharing and information exchange, and by establishing a fully operational network of Parties and partners.

Biosafety Clearing-House

The Biosafety Clearing-House (BCH) is a mechanism set up by the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety to facilitate the exchange of information on Living Modified Organisms (LMOs) and assist the Parties to better comply with their obligations under the Protocol.

Access and Benefit-Sharing Clearing-House

The Access and Benefit-Sharing Clearing-House (ABSCH) is a platform for exchanging information on ABSCH and a key tool for facilitating the implementation of the Nagoya Protocol.