The High-Level Segment of the UN Biodiversity Conference will take place on 14-15 November 2018 in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt.  The UN Biodiversity Conference will be the first of its kind to be hosted by the African region.

The High-level Segment is convened at an opportune moment, with only two years remaining to meet the Convention on Biological Diversity’s Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and its Aichi Biodiversity Targets, and at a time when engaging the global community on biodiversity issues becomes pressing. Under the theme “Investing in Biodiversity for People and Planet”, the High-level Segment will set the stage for lively exchanges amongst ministers of environment and other sectors, key leaders from all sectors of society, including the business sector, heads of United Nations Agencies, and high-ranking representatives. The High-level Segment will also provide political lead to the outcomes of the UN Biodiversity Conference, which will also address these same issues, among others.

The prime objective of the High-level Segment is to provide a platform for discussions on ways and means to mainstream biodiversity into the sectors of energy and mining, infrastructure, manufacturing and processing, and health, within the broader context of sustainable development and the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.  It will also address how to engage the international community in the transformational path needed for the new global biodiversity framework to be adopted in 2020. Participation in the High-level Segment is of strategic importance to facilitate a multi-sectoral dialogue aimed at further mainstreaming biodiversity in the sectors of energy and mining, infrastructure, manufacturing and processing, and health, especially in the context of sustainable development.

The format of the High-level Segment over the two days will consist mainly of plenaries and roundtable sessions. The first day will open with a plenary, followed by two parallel roundtable sessions on infrastructure and manufacturing and processing.  The second day will open with two parallel roundtable sessions on energy and mining and health, followed by a closing plenary.  The roundtable sessions will commence with a few keynote presentations from Parties and industry, followed by an interactive discussion.

It is envisaged that the High-level Segment will adopt a political declaration on mainstreaming in the sectors of energy and mining, infrastructure, manufacturing and processing, and health.