ENB:09:65
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SPECIAL SESSION OF THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY TO REVIEW IMPLEMENTATION OF AGENDA 21 (AGENDA ITEM 16)
Initial discussion on Agenda Item 16 was conducted in the COW on Friday, 8 November, and focused on documents UNEP/CBD/COP/3/25, Inf. 6 and Inf. 42. Delegates considered the provision of a report from the perspective of the Convention’s three objectives to the Special Session of the UN General Assembly in June 1997.
Numerous delegations supported an EU proposal recommending that the report be succinct, include a summary of the Convention’s work and lessons learned thus far on each of three objectives, and express a willingness to continue to work closely with other international fora. NEW ZEALAND and INDONESIA underscored the need to avoid duplication of work. CANADA said the COP should use the opportunity to exhort the major financial institutions to factor the Convention’s objectives into their deliberations. CUBA, COLOMBIA and HUNGARY highlighted the relations established with other Conventions. The NETHERLANDS emphasized the cross-sectoral nature of biodiversity and the need to integrate it into the relevant CSD agenda items. NORWAY and ZIMBABWE underscored the importance of integrating biodiversity concerns into other processes and sectors.
A Working Group, chaired by Terry Jones (the Seychelles), convened over the weekend to discuss the draft statement to the Special Session. Delegates made amendments on the need for “new and” additional financial resources and added language on terrestrial biodiversity, collaboration with other relevant conventions, and public awareness and education programmes.
The final decision (UNEP/CBD/COP/3/L.10) describes the relevance of the CBD to several chapters of Agenda 21 and outlines substantive issues discussed at COP-3 and those on the medium-term programme of work. The decision also calls for special attention to future challenges, including: development and implementation of national plans; consideration of access and benefit-sharing arrangements; development of means to respect, preserve and maintain traditional knowledge; technology transfer; and provision of new and additional resources.