Closing the 2023 Nairobi Meetings

Delegates from around the world concluded their meetings in Nairobi, agreeing on recommendations that embrace the science behind invasive alien species, plant conservation, the sustainable use of wildlife, biodiversity and climate change and other elements of the technical base that supports the implementation of the ambitious Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and the monitoring of its progress.

Twenty-fifth meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA-25)

This 25th meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA-25) came to a close on Thursday, 19 October 2023, with an agreement to conduct further work that will develop the monitoring framework agreed in decision 15/5 . Governments asked the Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group dealing with the indicators to continue its work and provide results to the 26th meeting of SBSTTA, scheduled for next year.

The work of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), such as assessments on Invasive Alien Species, the multiple values of Biodiversity, and Sustainable Wildlife Management, and the report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) were also discussed, including their implications for the work under the Convention.  

Monitoring Framework
At COP 15, Parties to the Convention recognized the importance of monitoring and improving national monitoring systems in order to inform biodiversity planning and implementation. Governments considered issues related to how monitoring would work in practice as well as next steps to ensure high quality, robust data and information are available for all countries.

Scientific, Technical and Technological inputs to inform the Global Review of the collective progress
A global review of collective progress in the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework will be conducted at COP 17. Governments considered the scientific and technical inputs that would be necessary to inform a global report on collective progress. 

Plant Conservation
Governments looked at the lessons learned from the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation implemented over the last decade, and recommended the use of a set of voluntary complementary actions related to plant conservation that complements almost all targets of the new Framework.
Invasive Alien Species (IAS):  

Governments welcomed the Thematic Assessment Report on Invasive Alien Species and their Control: Summary for Policymakers and its key messages by IPBES and noted the relevance of the findings of the assessment for the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. Parties also endorsed elements of voluntary guidance based on the work of the Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group on Invasive Alien Species and a peer-review process to support the implementation of the Framework, in particular Target 6.

Sustainable Wildlife Management
Governments requested the Secretariat to undertake further analysis on issues related to sustainable wildlife management, including a gap analysis to identify areas that are not adequately covered by existing guidance, taking into consideration the seven key elements of effective policy for the sustainable use of wild species identified in the IPBES Assessment Report on the Sustainable Use of Wild Species. The work with the Collaborative Partnership on Sustainable Wildlife Management was also highlighted.

Identifying scientific and technical needs to support the implementation of the Framework
Governments asked the Secretariat to undertake a comprehensive review and analysis of existing tools and guidance that can support the implementation of the goals and targets of the Framework, soliciting views and information from Parties, other Governments, indigenous peoples and local communities, and women and youth, the secretariats of other multilateral environmental agreements, relevant intergovernmental bodies and organizations and relevant stakeholders, including by using the Clearing-House Mechanism.

Biodiversity and Climate Change
Governments welcomed the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and expressed alarm about the accelerating negative impact of climate change on biodiversity. As consequences, the capacity of nature to provide its contributions to people including for climate change resilience, adaptation, mitigation and disaster risk reduction are being seriously undermined. The impact on the most vulnerable, including indigenous peoples and local communities, women, and youth, as well as on ecosystems was strongly highlighted. The importance of enhancing collaboration between the CBD and the UNFCCC was highlighted to raise awareness on relevant interlinkages between biodiversity and climate change.

The recommendations prepared by SBSTTA-25 at this Nairobi meeting will be sent for agreement at COP 16, scheduled to be held in 2024. 
 

Watch the SBSTTA-25 Closing Plenary here:

Resumed second part of the Fifteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP 15)

With the election of chairpersons for its subsidiary bodies and the Bureau, the closing gavel marked the end of the resumed session of COP 15 of the Convention on Biological Diversity, and the COP-MOPs of its Cartagena and Nagoya protocols. 

Elections were held at the resumed session of the COP and COP-MOPs of the Convention and its Protocols.  Governments nominated and elected the following members of the bureau for COP 15, who would serve a term from the end of the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity until the close of the sixteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties:  

• Hlobsile Sikhosana (Eswatini)
• Abderahman Zino Izourar (Algeria)
• Krishneel Nand (Fiji)
• Somaly Chan (Cambodia)
• Gillian Guthrie (Jamaica)
• María Teresa Becerra Ramírez (Colombia)
• Norbert Bärlocher (Switzerland)
• Eric Schauls (Luxembourg)
• Teona Karchava (Georgia)
• Angela Lozan (Republic of Moldova)

The date and venue for the meeting of the next UN Biodiversity Conference, which will include COP 16, COP-MOP-11 and COP-MOP-5, are still to be determined. Türkiye, which was originally expected to hold the meeting, announced withdrawal of its offer to serve this role, due to force majeure, resulting from the disastrous earthquakes earlier this year. Discussions are taking place with potential hosts. In the event that no host is identified, the meetings will be held in Montreal, Canada, at the seat of the Secretariat. 

Watch the Resumed Session of COP 15 here:

More information:

Press Release: Closing SBSTTA-25

Press Release: Closing COP 15

Meeting Documents