Twenty-third meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice, (25 - 29 November 2019, Montreal, Canada)

25 November 2019, Montreal, Canada – The Convention on Biological Diversity’s (CBD) body on science (Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice meeting (SBSTTA- 23)) is meeting to lay the groundwork for negotiations to prepare the next year’s UN Biodiversity Conference in Kunming, China and achieve an ambitious and effective post-2020 global biodiversity framework.

In preparation for the implementation of the framework, Parties are considering the implications of: 

• The findings of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services’ (IPBES) Global Assessment Report on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services.
• The executive summary of the fifth edition of the Global Biodiversity Outlook.

• Other relevant information, data and documents on the broad range of issues relevant to the future of terrestrial, marine and coastal biodiversity.

It is anticipated that these discussions will confirm that the framework be developed with reliable, scientifically accurate information, with measurable and achievable objectives. 

Technical and Scientific Co-operation

In the pursuit of strengthening technical and scientific cooperation in support of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework, a document will be circulated, containing draft elements of a strategy to support technical and scientific co-operation on innovations relevant to the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity.  The intention of the strategy would be to further promote open access to biodiversity-related data that facilitate capacity-building among Parties, governments and other organizations.  This strategy will review how collaboration with partnerships and collaborations between regions and organizations could be developed for technological innovations in the approaches to remote sensing, scenario analyses and modelling, valuation of biodiversity and ecosystem functions and services, and training in DNA technologies. 

Other Reports Being Considered

Parties will also discuss the findings of The Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5 °C, a 2018 special report by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) on the impacts of global warming of 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels and the context in which the results have on implications work of the Convention;  a progress report on the actions taken towards sustainable wildlife management by Parties; and, a summary report on the scientific criteria for ecologically or biologically significant marine areas, specifically in the North-East Atlantic Ocean will be prepared and discussed at the meeting. 

Please find more information at https://www.cbd.int/meetings/SBSTTA-23