Highlights and images for 21 May 2024

The fourth meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Implementation (SBI 4) of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) began its deliberations with many delegates and participants stressing the body’s importance for advancing work under the CBD and ensuring timely and effective implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF). SBI’s main functions, to review progress in implementation, analyze strategic actions, and strengthen means of implementation and the Convention’s operations, are of paramount significance. A successful SBI 4 will pave the road for a successful 16th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP 16), to be held in October-November 2024 in Cali, Colombia.

Want to dig deep into today's talks? Read the full Earth Negotiations Bulletin daily report.

In his opening remarks, SBI 4 Chair Chirra Achalender Reddy (India) urged participants to invest their “time, energy, and wisdom” in a productive meeting.

Inger Andersen, UN Environment Programme Executive Director, encouraged focus on implementation means and resource mobilization for the GBF, emphasizing that while its Goals are "aspirational and inspirational they are also implementable and monitorable," and necessary to “put biodiversity back on the path to recovery, for the benefit of people and the planet.”

CBD Acting Executive Secretary David Cooper acknowledged parties’ commitments and progress thus far, and urged participants at SBI 4 to build on previous work, including recommendations of the 26th meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA 26), and ensure timely and effective GBF implementation. 

Liu Ning, China, on behalf of COP 15 President Huang Runqiu, Minister of Ecology and Environment, China, urged global action for GBF implementation.

Pedro León Cortés Ruíz, Colombia, on behalf of the COP 16 Presidency, said the COP 16 theme, “Peace with Nature” addresses the direct and indirect drivers of biodiversity loss and the necessary reconciliation with nature, recognizing the essential role of Afro-descendants, and Indigenous Peoples and local communities. 

Regional groups’ and major stakeholder groups’ representatives also offered opening statements.

After addressing organizational matters, delegates focused on: the review of implementation, tracking progress in national target setting and the updating of national biodiversity strategies and actions plans (NBSAPs); and mechanisms for planning, monitoring, reporting, and review.

On review of implementation, many parties offered progress reports on efforts to update their NBSAPs and national targets, committing to submitting them prior to COP 16. Many delegates underscored the importance of timely submissions to facilitate a global analysis, with some suggesting a hard deadline for submissions.

Many delegates urged a whole-of-society and whole-of-government approach, underscored the importance of regional and subregional dialogues on NBSAPs, and expressed appreciation for support mechanisms facilitating the NBSAP process. Others called for additional support through the Global Environment Facility and the GBF Fund, addressing existing challenges in updating NBSAPs and national targets. Many suggested further efforts on capacity building, technical support, and awareness raising in line with national priorities.

Chair Reddy noted a conference room paper will be prepared for further discussion.

The afternoon saw delegates consider the mechanisms for planning, monitoring, reporting, and review with a view to enhancing the implementation of the Convention and the GBF. They addressed updated templates for national reporting and new templates for non-state actors to report on voluntary commitments, the modus operandi for the open-ended forum for voluntary country review, as well as terms of reference for a proposed advisory committee for the global review of collective progress in implementing the GBF. Discussions will continue.