Notification 2023-081

Dear Madam/Sir, At its meeting held on 31 July 2023, the Bureau of the Conference of the Parties decided that the resumed sessions of the second part of the fifteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, the tenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, and the fourth meeting of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization (collectively, the Meetings), should be convened on 19-20 October 2023 in Nairobi, Kenya, immediately after the twenty-fifth meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA 25). Due to logistical constraints on availability of venue, in order to hold the resumed sessions of the Meetings back-to-back with SBSTTA 25, the dates of SBSTTA 25 will need to be adjusted by one day. The new dates of SBSTTA 25 are 15-19 October 2023. Participants to SBSTTA 25 do not need to submit credentials. However, for the resumed sessions of the Meetings, representatives from Parties must submit credentials in accordance with rule 18 of the rules of procedure. Credentials must be signed by the Head of State or Government or by the Minister of Foreign Affairs, except in the case of regional economic integration organizations, in which case they should be signed by the competent authority of that organization. Parties that already submitted valid credentials for their representatives for participation in the second part of the Meetings in December 2022 may confirm, through a Note Verbale, that these credentials remain valid for the purpose of the resumed sessions. Such Note Verbale should be issued by a senior official in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Party concerned and should make specific reference to the credentials submitted for the Meetings in December 2022. Credentials, in original form (Parties are invited to send an advance scanned copy of their credentials or Note Verbale, as appropriate, for the attention of Mr. Worku Yifru, Senior Legal Officer, by email to: secretariat@cbd.int or by fax at +1 514-288-6588. The original of the same should be sent by courier/post to the Secretariat office in Montreal, or handed to Mr. Worku Yifru or Ms. Inonge Mweene in Nairobi, by 15 October 2023), are to be submitted to the Secretariat preferably on or before 30 August 2023, and in any case by 15 October 2023. Model templates for credentials are available at: https://www.cbd.int/doc/meetings/cop/cop-15/cop-credentials-template-en.docx. Those Parties who were not present at the Meetings held in December 2022 or those who were present but did not submit credentials then, should submit credentials in accordance with rule 18 of the rules of procedure if they wish to participate in taking decisions at the resumed sessions of the Meetings. In addition, since, according to rule 30 of the rules of procedure, a minimum of 131 Parties (i.e. two-thirds of the Parties) with valid credentials are needed to be present at the resumed sessions in order to take decisions on the remaining agenda items of the Meetings, and to ensure an orderly preparation in that regard, Parties are called upon to confirm in writing to the Secretariat, as soon as possible and not later than 30 August 2023, that they would be represented in the planned resumed sessions of the Meetings and that the credentials of their representatives will be submitted, or the validity of the previous ones confirmed, in time for the resumed sessions. Please note that the resumed sessions will only proceed if sufficient confirmations of Parties’ participation are received by the aforementioned deadline. Convening these resumed sessions will incur additional costs, both for the organization of the meetings and for the participation of developing country Parties, in particular the least developed countries and small island developing States, as well as Parties with economies in transition. Accordingly, I invite Parties in a position to do so to provide additional resources to support the convening of the resumed sessions. Given the proximity of the dates of the resumed sessions, the Secretariat would greatly appreciate receiving an indication of Governments’ intention to financially support the resumed sessions as soon as possible and no later than 30 August 2023. Details on the organization of the resumed sessions of the Meetings will be communicated in due course. Representatives from Parties, other Governments, indigenous peoples and local communities, and relevant organizations are kindly requested to take note of the dates of SBSTTA 25 and the resumed sessions of the Meetings when arranging travel to and hotel accommodation in Nairobi, as appropriate. In the case of delegates whose participation is funded by the Secretariat, the Secretariat will adjust the dates accordingly. Please accept, Madam/Sir, the assurances of my highest consideration

Acting Executive Secretary

To: To: CBD national focal points, SBSTTA focal points, indigenous peoples and local communities, and relevant organizations, Cc: Cartagena Protocol focal points, ABS focal points