Notification 2021-004

Dear Madam/Sir, I am pleased to inform Parties and observers of a series of webinars in preparation for the upcoming sessions of the twenty-fourth meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA 24) and the third meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Implementation (SBI 3). The briefing webinars are being convened to provide information on the documents for SBSTTA 24 and for selected agenda items of SBI 3. They are also relevant to the ongoing preparations for the third meeting of the Open-ended Working Group on the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework (WG2020-3) and the fifteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP 15) and related meetings. Four briefing webinars are planned as follows: • Briefing Webinar 1 on Tuesday, 19 January 2021. SBI 3 agenda item 5: relating to the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework process. • Briefing Webinar 2 on Thursday, 21 January 2021. SBI 3 agenda item 9: on enhancing reporting and review mechanisms with a view to strengthening the implementation of the Convention. • Briefing Webinar 3 on Tuesday, 26 January 2021. SBSTTA 24 agenda item 3: on the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework; scientific and technical information to support the review of the updated goals and targets, and related indicators and baselines. • Briefing Webinar 4 (part 1) on Thursday, 28 January 2021. SBSTTA 24 agenda items 4 (Synthetic biology), 5 (Risk assessment and risk management of living modified organisms), and 6 (Marine and coastal biodiversity). • Briefing Webinar 4 (part 2) on Tuesday, 2 February 2021. SBSTTA 24 agenda items 7 (Biodiversity and agriculture), 8 (Programme of work of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services), 9 (Biodiversity and health), and 10 (Invasive alien species). To accommodate participants in different time zones, each webinar will be held twice, each covering the same material, as follows: - Firstly, from 8:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m. EST (UTC -5) on the dates indicated above, intended for time zones for the Americas, Europe, Africa, Central and Eastern Europe, and West Asia. - Secondly, from 8:00 p.m. - 10:00 p.m. EST (UTC -5) on the dates indicated above, intended for time zones for Asia and the Pacific (Note that for some time zones, the local time will be on the day following the date indicated above). The briefing webinars are intended to assist Parties and observers in becoming familiar with the documentation for SBSTTA 24 and SBI 3, its structure and content, and to respond to questions from participants. The briefing webinars are not negotiation sessions and the statements and views expressed during the webinars will not be considered part of the official work of SBSTTA 24, SBI 3 and WG2020 3. All briefing webinars are in English only. Participants can register at https://register.gotowebinar.com/rt/5659180163226301967. After registering, participants will receive a confirmation e-mail containing further information on how to join the webinars. Further information on the briefing webinars, including the schedule and proposed agenda for each webinar, will soon be made available on the Convention’s meetings page https://www.cbd.int/meetings/. I look forward to your participation in this process and thank you for your continued support for the work of the Convention. Please accept, Madam/Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration.

Executive Secretary

To: CBD National Focal Points, SBSTTA Focal Points, indigenous peoples and local communities and relevant organizations, cc: Cartagena Protocol Focal Points, ABS Focal Points