Decision COP 15/13

The Conference of the Parties,

Recalling decisions XIII/24 and 14/30,

Recognizing the critical role of actions for the restoration, conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity for helping to address multiple global crises, including climate change and pollution, as well as biodiversity loss simultaneously,

Acknowledging the independent nature of the mandates of biodiversity-related conventions, other multilateral environmental agreements and international organizations, emphasizing the need to fully observe their respective mandates and reaffirming that synergies in their implementation at the global, regional and national levels should be promoted on a Party-driven basis, in accordance with the priorities set out within each instrument and with national circumstances, capabilities and priorities,

Reaffirming the importance of enhancing cooperation in the implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity and its Protocols and other multilateral environmental agreements and initiatives, including but not limited to biodiversity-related conventions and agreements, chemicals and waste conventions, and the Rio conventions, at the global, regional, subregional, national and subnational levels, in a manner respectful of their respective mandates,

Emphasizing the importance of cooperation among all relevant conventions, organizations and initiatives to achieve the three objectives of the Convention and to implement and monitor progress in the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework in an effective and timely manner in order to achieve its targets, goals, 2030 mission and 2050 Vision,

Taking note of the work conducted by the United Nations Environment Management Group and the United Nations System Chief Executives Board for Coordination to facilitate system-wide attention to biodiversity and the post-2020 global biodiversity framework,

Welcoming with appreciation the support provided by the Government of Switzerland for the organization of the consultation workshops of biodiversity-related conventions on the post-2020 global biodiversity framework (Bern I and II) and welcoming the reports of both workshops,

Also welcoming with appreciation the support provided by the United Nations Environment Programme to the implementation of decisions XIII/24 and 14/30 with respect to enhancing synergies among biodiversity-related conventions, including in convening the Bern II workshop,

Welcoming the contributions of other biodiversity-related conventions, multilateral agreements and international organizations and processes to the preparation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, including through their active participation in the “Bern process”,

Recognizing that relevant multilateral environmental agreements have specific contributions to make in implementing elements of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, in line with their mandates,

Welcoming with appreciation the work conducted by other organizations to fulfil elements of decision 14/30, including the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, the International Tropical Timber Organization and the World Health Organization,

Also welcoming with appreciation the work undertaken by the Global Partnership for Plant Conservation in promoting plant conservation and contributing to the 2050 Vision for Biodiversity as described in the fifth edition of the Global Biodiversity Outlook and the 2020 Plant Conservation report,

Noting the work to establish a “World Coastal Forum” in response to paragraphs 15 and 16 of decision 14/30, as well as related resolutions adopted by the Conference of the Contracting Parties to the Convention on Wetlands of International Importance especially as Waterfowl Habitat at its thirteenth meeting and by the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals at its twelfth meeting, which call for increased focus on coastal ecosystems,

Welcoming the cooperative activities under the Rio conventions,

Taking note of United Nations Environment Assembly resolution 5/5 on nature-based solutions supporting sustainable development,

Recognizing the rolling work programme up to 2030 of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services,

Welcoming with appreciation the resolution of the United Nations General Assembly proclaiming the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration 2021-2030 and the contribution that this may provide to objectives of the Convention and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework,

1. Welcomes the contributions of other biodiversity-related conventions, multilateral agreements and international organizations and processes to enhancing synergies in the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework;

2. Encourages the strengthening of cooperation and synergies among relevant conventions and multilateral agreements by, as appropriate and in line with their respective mandates, legal authority and responsibilities, establishing or renewing cooperation frameworks, as needed;

3. Invites the governing bodies of other biodiversity-related conventions and relevant multilateral environmental agreements, as well as international organizations and other relevant programmes, to formally endorse the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework through their own governance processes, as appropriate, in order to support its operationalization and contribute to the transparency and monitoring of progress in its implementation by, among others, using synergetic modular reporting tools such as the Data Reporting Tool for MEAs (DaRT);

4. Also invites the governing bodies of biodiversity-related conventions and relevant multilateral environmental agreements, as well as international organizations and other relevant programmes, to contribute to the implementation and monitoring of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, in particular by further strengthening cooperation at the global level within their respective mandates and enhancing synergies among themselves, to encourage mutually supportive decisions, to coordinate their own strategies with the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and to propose key issues for thematic discussions facilitated by the Liaison Group of Biodiversity-related Conventions, taking into account, where appropriate, the conclusions of the Bern II workshop included in document CBD/SBI/3/10;

5. Invites the Liaison Group of Biodiversity-related Conventions, as well as the informal advisory group on synergies, to enhance cooperation, reduce inefficiencies and facilitate synergies between the heads of the secretariats of biodiversity-related conventions, including through thematic consultations, on key issues for the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and to provide common messages or draft recommendations to their respective governing bodies to act upon;

6. Encourages Parties and other Governments to work together with all stakeholders to jointly implement the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework in a spirit of cooperation and mutual support, at global, regional, subregional, national and subnational levels, across areas and sectors, through bilateral joint work programmes where appropriate, and through existing global, regional, subregional, national and subnational instruments, mechanisms and processes;

7. Invites the United Nations Environment Programme, and encourages the United Nations Development Programme, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, as well as other relevant international organizations, to support the Parties and secretariats of the biodiversity-related conventions and agreements to continue to enhance synergies in areas of priority established by their Parties, including by facilitating and implementing key actions aimed to enhance synergies at the national and regional levels outlined in decisions XIII/24 and 14/30, in particular regarding reporting and the use of supportive tools, such as DaRT, capacity-building and development, and by facilitating linkages between biodiversity-related conventions and relevant multilateral environmental agreements, in accordance with international rights and obligations;

8. Invites the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations and the United Nations Environment Programme to continue to liaise closely with the secretariats of the Rio conventions and relevant partner organizations in the implementation of the United Nations Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, and to provide a report on its progress to the Conference of the Parties for consideration at its sixteenth meeting;

9. Invites the United Nations Environment Management Group to facilitate United Nations system-wide coordination towards the objectives of the Convention, its Protocols and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, in a manner fully respectful of the mandates of different multilateral environmental agreements and international organizations;

10. Urges Parties, invites other Governments and invites non-governmental organizations, indigenous peoples and local communities, subnational governments, cities and other local authorities, women’s groups, youth groups, the business and finance community, the scientific community, academia, faith-based organizations, the media, representatives of sectors related to or dependent on biodiversity, among others, to reinforce actions to enhance synergies in the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, the Sustainable Development Goals, the biodiversity-related conventions, the Rio conventions and other relevant multilateral agreements and initiatives at the national level, including through their national coordination, planning, review and reporting processes, including through existing common and voluntary reporting platforms such as DaRT, in line with the options for action at the national level provided in annex I of decision XIII/24, and in accordance with national circumstances and priorities;

11. Encourages Parties to implement the Convention and other biodiversity-related conventions and multilateral agreements to which they are party, in a complementary manner, including in reviewing and updating their national biodiversity strategies and action plans, in order to enable the effective implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework;

12. Invites the Global Partnership on Plant Conservation, with the support of the Secretariat, to prepare a set of complementary actions related to plant conservation to support the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework aligned with the final version of the framework, other relevant decisions adopted by the Conference of the Parties at its fifteenth meeting, as well as previous experiences with the implementation of the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation as described in the fifth edition of the Global Biodiversity Outlook and the 2020 Plant Conservation report, to be considered by a meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice following the fifteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties;

13. Invites the United Nations Environment Programme to build on the Bern Process and continue to strengthen cooperation and collaboration among biodiversity-related conventions, contributing to effective and efficient implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework by facilitating a process for cooperation among Parties to the relevant biodiversity-related conventions;

14. Requests the Executive Secretary and encourages Parties to actively engage in the Bern process on cooperation among Parties to the various biodiversity-related conventions facilitated by the United Nations Environment Programme, contributing to effective and efficient implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework;

15. Requests the Executive Secretary, subject to the availability of resources:

16. Also requests the Executive Secretary and invites the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization and the International Union for Conservation of Nature, subject to the availability of resources, to advance the Joint Programme of Work on the Links between Biological and Cultural Diversity, where appropriate in cooperation with relevant initiatives of Parties, other Governments and other organizations, such as the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, and to report on progress to the Subsidiary Body on Implementation and other mechanisms, as appropriate;

17. Further requests the Executive Secretary, subject to the availability of resources, to exchange information with the World Health Organization on access to pathogens and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising from the utilization of genetic resources in the context of ongoing work under the World Health Organization on pandemic prevention, preparedness and response.