Decision COP 16/24

The Conference of the Parties,

Reaffirming that all its meetings, as well as the meetings of the intergovernmental subsidiary bodies of the Convention on Biological Diversity, must follow their respective rules of procedure,

1. Affirms that its meetings, as well as the meetings of the intergovernmental subsidiary bodies of the Convention on Biological Diversity, should be held in person, unless extraordinary circumstances, as indicated in paragraph 2 below, render the holding of in-person meetings impractical for an extended period;

2. Reaffirms that, in the event of extraordinary circumstances that render the holding of in-person meetings impractical, sessions of the meetings referred to in paragraph 1 above could be held virtually through modalities that allow for online interactive participation, following consultations among Parties and a decision of the Bureau of the Conference of the Parties, as long as no substantive decisions are taken online, with the exception of decisions on budgetary and procedural matters to allow the Secretariat of the Convention to function;

3. Notes that, in the event of extraordinary circumstances that render the holding of in-person meetings impractical, urgent decisions, such as those on budgetary matters, may be taken by the Conference of the Parties under a silence procedure in line with United Nations practice and a decision of the Bureau of the Conference of the Parties, following consultations by the Bureau members with their respective regions, and applying the procedures set out in the rules of procedure for the convening of an extraordinary meeting;

4. Requests the Executive Secretary to ensure that arrangements for meetings referred to in paragraph 1 above always include a provision for streaming the proceedings online to enable all duly registered delegates to follow the proceedings in real time;

5. Notes that expert groups, advisory groups and other groups with limited membership may meet in person, online or in a hybrid format, in line with their respective mandates and, as applicable, their respective rules of procedure; 

6. Also notes that, during the intersessional period, the Bureaux can meet online to provide continued guidance to the Secretariat with regard to the preparation for, and conduct of, the meetings of the Conference of the Parties and relevant subsidiary bodies; 

7. Decides that: