Media Advisory
Media Registration Opens for the Last Meetings of the Subsidiary Bodies of the Biodiversity Convention Before COP 16 in Colombia
The UN Convention on Biological Diversity invites media to apply for accreditation to the two subsidiary bodies meetings that will be held back-to-back at the United Nations Environment Programme headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya.
The twenty-sixth meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA 26) takes place 12-18 May 2024, and the fourth meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Implementation (SBI 4) takes place 21-29 May 2024.
Re-watch the webcasts of the SBSTTA 26 and SBI 4 meetings
During these meetings, representatives of the 196 Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity are expected to advance discussions towards COP 16. The main items for consideration include reporting on the monitoring framework, national status of implementation, and mobilization of financial resources of the recently adopted historic Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, also known as the Biodiversity Plan.
Press Releases
20 May 2024 - Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity seek progress in implementation ahead of COP 16
30 May 2024 - Table Set for October’s UN Summit on Achieving Vital Targets, Goals of Global Biodiversity Plan
Press Conferences
CBD Press Conferences
Opening Press Conference of SBSTTA - 13 May 2024 – 09:00 to 09:45 (EAT)
Closing Press Conference of SBSTTTA - 18 May 2024 – 13:00 to 13:45 (EAT)
Opening Press Conference of SBI - 21 May 2024 – 13:15 to 14:00 (EAT)
Closing Press Conference of SBI - 29 May, 2024 – 13:00 to 13:45 (EAT)
Other Organizations' Press Conferences
Title: Press Conference: Launch of "Gender Equality and the CBD: A Compilation of Decisions Texts from COP1 to COP15" and "Advancing Gender Equality Module for Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework Implementation" Subject: CBD and gender equality, Target 23 Date and Time: Thursday 23 May at 13:30 Venue: Press Room Speakers: TBC Contact details:
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Biodiversity Beat
Biodiversity Beat is a series of video interviews featuring a wide array of actors undertaking action in support of the implementation of the Biodiversity Plan. These Biodiversity Beat videos are being produced on the sidelines of the SBSTTA-26 and SBI-4 meetings.
- 13 May 2024 - Overview on Day 1
- 15 May 2024 - Dr. Carlo Fadda - Research Director, Agrobiodiversity, the Alliance of Bioversity International and CIAT
- 15 May 2024 - Dan Leskien - Senior Liaison Officer, Commission on Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN
- 16 May 2024 - Simangele Msweli, Senior Manager, Youth Leadership Program, African Wildlife Foundation
- 17 May 2024 - Cargele Masso, Director of the Environment and Biodiversity Impact Platform - CGIAR
- 17 May 2024 - Marja Ruohonen Lehto, Chair of the Adhoc Technical Expert Group on Risk Assessment of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety
- 18 May 2024 - Linda Kruger, Director, Biodiversity and Infrastructure Policy, The Nature Conservancy
- 18 May 2024 - Heitor Ponce Dellasta, Heitor Ponce Dellasta, Policy Coordinator, Global Youth Biodiversity Network (GYBN)
- 19 May 2024 - Julie Bélanger, Natural Resources Officer (Biodiversity), Office of Climate Change, Biodiversity and Environment, Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN
- 20 May 2024 - Professor Andy Gonzalez, Co-Chair, the Group on Earth Observations Biodiversity Observation Network (GEO BON)
- 20 May 2024 - Florian Rabitz (Lithuania) and Kishma Primus Ormond (Antigua and Barbuda), Co-Chairs, Adhoc Technical Expert Group on Synthetic Biology
- 20 May 2024 - Meenal Tatpati, Research and Policy Associate Women4Biodiversity
- 20 May 2024 - Jerker Tamelander, Director, Science and Policy, Ramsar Convention on Wetlands Secretariat
- 20 May 2024 - Alejandra Duarte, Policy Associate, Women4Biodiversity
- 21 May 2024 - Manoela Pessoa de Miranda, Programme Management Officer, Minamata Convention on Mercury, United Nations Environment Programme
- 21 May 2024 - Frederick Kwame Kumah Vice President, Global Leadership, African Wildlife Foundation
- 22 May 2024 - Robin Goffaux, Co-operation for the Convention of Biological Diversity (CO-OP4CBD)
- 22 May 2024 - Amelia Arreguin, Coordinator, Convention on Biological Diversity Women’s Caucus
- 23 May 2024 - Sooto Ajayi, Africa Lead, Business for Nature
- 24 May 2024 - Jenny Hawley, Policy Manager, Plantlife
- 24 May 2024 - Ingrid Coetzee, Director of Biodiversity, Nature and Health, ICLEI - Local Governments for Sustainability, Africa
- 29 May 2024 - Mweene Chaambwa, WWF
- 29 May 2024 - Éliane Ubalijoro, CEO, Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR) and World Agroforestry (ICRAF)
Media Accreditation
Media wishing access to the meetings in person, or to participate in interactive online news conferences and other media events, may register here.
Accredited journalists should make their own travel and hotel bookings. An "Information Note for Participants" including information on accommodation is available to participants.
Due to visa processing times, media who will require a Kenyan entry visa are kindly urged to complete the online Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA) well in advance. CBD Secretariat assistance with entry visas will be available to accredited media. Please note that Media traveling to Kenya for the meetings are strongly advised to consult the government's website on health-related measures and updates prior to travel.
Double accreditation is not permitted (e.g. as press and delegate, or as press and NGO).
Press officers from delegations will need to register as part of their delegation and then contact franca.damico@un.org for information on how to access the press center.
Once accreditation is confirmed, press passes for the meeting can be picked up at the registration counter onsite upon presentation of two forms of photo ID (passport, official national press pass, driver’s license, work ID, etc.) or of a photo press pass from the United Nations in New York, Paris, Geneva, Vienna, or Nairobi.
Site access is subject to further restrictions depending on available space in the venue and / or health and security provisions that can change without notice. Information will be made available to all on-site journalists.
Further information regarding media guidelines, news conferences and other relevant information will be made available via email and on the CBD's website pages.
Meeting Information
The subsidiary bodies meeting in Nairobi are comprised of:
- the 26th meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice
- the 4th meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Implementation
Provisional agendas of the meetings:
Issues Under Discussion
The main issues under discussion are captured in the following briefs:
Capacity-Building and Development, and Technical and Scientific Cooperation
Detection and Identification of LMOs
Knowledge Management and the Clearing-House Mechanism
Marine and Coastal Biodiversity
Mechanisms for Planning, Monitoring, Reporting, and Review
National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs)
Review of the Convention and its Protocols
Risk Assessment and Risk Management
About SBSTTA
Article 25 of the Convention on Biological Diversity establishes an open-ended intergovernmental scientific advisory body known as the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA) to provide the Conference of the Parties (COP) and, as appropriate, its other subsidiary bodies, with timely advice relating to the implementation of the Convention. As a subsidiary body of the COP, SBSTTA is to report regularly to the COP on all aspects of its work. Multidisciplinary and open to participation by all Parties, SBSTTA comprises government representatives competent in the relevant field of expertise. Its functions include: providing assessments of the status of biological diversity; providing assessments of the types of measures taken in accordance with the provisions of the Convention; and responding to questions that the COP may put to the body. How SBSTTA carries out its work is described in its consolidated modus operandi set forth in annex III of decision VIII/10.
About SBI
In Decision XII/26, the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity established the Subsidiary Body on Implementation (SBI) to replace the Ad Hoc Open-ended Working Group on Review of Implementation of the Convention, with the terms of reference contained in the annex to decision XII/26.
The four functions and core areas of work of SBI consist of: (a) review of progress in implementation; (b) strategic actions to enhance implementation; (c) strengthening means of implementation; and (d) operations of the convention and the Protocols. The Bureau of the Conference of the Parties serves as the Bureau of the Subsidiary Body on Implementation.
About the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)
Opened for signature in 1992 at the Earth Summit in Rio de Janeiro, and entering into force in December 1993, the CBD is an international treaty for the conservation of biodiversity, the sustainable use of the components of biodiversity and the equitable sharing of the benefits derived from the use of genetic resources.
With 196 Parties, the CBD has near universal participation among countries. The CBD seeks to address all threats to biodiversity and ecosystem services, including threats from climate change, through scientific assessments, the development of tools, incentives and processes, the transfer of technologies and good practices and the full and active involvement of relevant stakeholders including indigenous peoples and local communities, youth, women, NGOs, sub-national actors and the business community.
The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety and the Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit-Sharing are supplementary agreements to the CBD. The Cartagena Protocol, which entered into force 11 September 2003, seeks to protect biodiversity from the potential risks posed by living modified organisms resulting from modern biotechnology.
To date, 173 Parties have ratified the Cartagena Protocol. The Nagoya Protocol aims at sharing the benefits arising from the utilization of genetic resources in a fair and equitable way, including by appropriate access to genetic resources and by appropriate transfer of relevant technologies. Entering into force on 12 October 2014, it has been ratified by 141 Parties.
More information
David Ainsworth, Information Officer, E-mail: david.ainsworth@un.org
Jihed Ghannem, Communications Officer, ghannem@un.org
Franca D’Amico, Programme Assistant, franca.damico@un.org
Social Media
Join us in amplifying the social media campaign for SBSTTA 26 and SBI 4!
Trello boards have been created to compile social media assets and other communications products related to the meetings. Contribute to the meetings' social media campaigns by sharing resources from the boards.
Trello Board: SBSTTA 26 Nairobi Meetings 2024
Trello Board: SBI 4 Nairobi Meetings 2024
Regular updates will also be shared across the Secretariat’s primary social media channels and on this media web page