©FAO/Alessandra Benedetti
At a Glance: Highlights from the Second Meeting of the Open-ended Working Group on the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework, February 2020
Day 1
The Second meeting of the Open-ended Working Group on the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework (OEWG-2) opened with statements from Qu Dongyu, Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, (FAO), and Elizabeth Maruma Mrema, Acting Executive Secretary of the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity.
Regional statements were made, as well as statements from representatives of stakeholder groups, the COP 14 Presidency (Yasmine Fouad) and the incoming COP 15 Presidency (Xia Yingxian).
The first information session was also held, covering FAO’s work on sustainable food production, ecosystem health and resilient livelihoods. A panel of distinguished experts described how FAO contributes to the global biodiversity agenda, supports family farming, and builds connections between the Sustainable Development Goals.
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©FAO/Alessandra Benedetti -- Opening of the meeting &" Lunch time Information Session
Day 2
The day began with a statement from Ambassador Peter Thomson, UN Secretary-General’s Special Envoy for the Ocean. Ambassador Thomson asked Parties to reflect on whether the current zero draft of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework sufficiently rises to the planetary emergency we are currently facing. He reminded participants that now is the time to strengthen its ambition.
The work of Contact Group 1 on goals for the post-2020 global biodiversity framework and Contact Group 2 on reducing threats to biodiversity commenced.
In an information session delegates heard about the outcomes of the First Global Dialogue on Digital Sequence Information, which took place in November 2019. The dialogue was said to have:
- Provided an opportunity to discuss Digital Sequence Information in an informal context
- Allowed for exchange of technical information
- Enhanced participants' understanding of views, priorities and expectations.
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©FAO/Alessandra Benedetti -- Information Session: Outcomes of the First Global Dialogue on Digital Sequence Information
Day 3
Contact Group 2 convened to discuss reducing threats to biodiversity. The group made several useful suggestions to address pollution and the direct drivers of biodiversity loss. Contact Group 3 assembled on meeting people’s needs.
A lunchtime information session was held on resource mobilization and the financial mechanism.
The International Institute for Sustainable Development (IISD) reported that some deft adjustments to the negotiations format have yielded positive results: Read the IISD update here:
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©FAO/Giulio Napolitano -- CBD Working Group - Information Session 3 - Resource Mobilization and Financial Mechanism - Progress on the work of the CBD expert panels
Day 4
This day's debate on the zero draft text focused on:
- Implementation and mainstreaming
- Responsibility and transparency
- Outreach and awareness
A special session, “The Post-2020 Biodiversity Framework and the Role of Science”, consisted of a virtual panel discussion between participants at the World Biodiversity Forum in Davos, Switzerland and the OEWG-2 meeting in Rome.
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©FAO/Giulio Napolitano -- Special Session: “Post-2020 Biodiversity Framework - the role of science” - a Virtual Panel Discussion at the World Biodiversity Forum in Davos, Switzerland and the Post-2020 OEWG-2, FAO headquarters
Day 5
Consideration of the zero draft of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework resumed.
Reports were presented summarizing the discussions of Contact Groups 2 and 3. Contact Group 4 on tools and solutions also reported back on the work of the group thus far.
The fifth Information Session was held during the lunch break under the heading: "The role of the financial and business sectors in implementing the post-2020 Framework”. The session presented the latest, relevant reports from the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the World Economic Forum, Price-Waterhouse-Coopers and World Wildlife Fund.
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©FAO/Giulio Napolitano -- Information Session: The role of the financial and business sectors in implementing the post 2020 Framework
Day 6
The OEWG-2 meeting concluded with an overall acknowledgement that negotiators made progress in a variety of areas, with detailed comments and recommendations on the draft framework. Parties' recommendations give mandates for next steps to the Co-Chairs, the Subsidiary Bodies and the Executive Secretary. The Working Group will reconvene in July in Cali, Colombia, its final meeting before the UN Biodiversity Conference (COP 15), in October 2020.
Quote of the day:
"…With representatives from indigenous peoples and local communities, youth, women, business, the private sector, academia and a range of other stakeholders, participation was indeed universal... We are seeing transformative change in the nature of the negotiations going on, as well as transformative change in terms of participation and transformative change in terms of the different recommendations and proposals which the co-chairs have been asked to consider. " - Elizabeth Maruma Mrema, Acting Executive Secretary, Convention on Biological Diversity.
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©FAO/Pier Paolo Cito -- Closing Press Conference
More Information: