Highlights and images for 30 July 2026

With just two days of negotiations remaining at SBSTTA 28, delegates faced an important question: Will the long hours spent around negotiating tables translate to tangible progress by the close of the meeting?  Delegates have waded through dense technical text, balancing scientific findings with political nuances and implementation realities. As the meeting enters its final stretch, attending is turning from time required for meetings to the substance of outcomes that can accelerate implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF).

Contact Group on Matters Related to the IPBES Work Programme 

Delegates considered draft recommendations related to the Business and Biodiversity Assessment and its Summary for Policymakers (SPM). Discussions centered on the level of recognition to be accorded to the assessment, with differing views expressed on whether to “take note,” “take note with appreciation,” or “welcome” it. Some favored taking note of the assessment with appreciation, saying gaps in treatment of small and informal businesses of relevance to some regions limits the one-size-fits all applicability of the report. 

Delegates further discussed provisions related to enabling policy and regulatory frameworks for sustainable business practices and agreed on language encouraging support for capacity-building activities related to measuring and managing business impacts and dependencies on biodiversity.

Contact Group on Marine and Coastal Biodiversity 

Discussions focused on strengthening coordination and cooperation on marine biodiversity of areas beyond national jurisdiction (ABNJ), and how to ensure the participation of stakeholders such as Indigenous Peoples and local communities. The group considered whether to update existing Convention on Biological Diversity guidance on marine protected areas, cold-water ecosystems, and biodiversity-inclusive environmental assessments. Delegates agreed to request an analysis of progress in implementing the programme of work on island biodiversity.

Consideration of the terms of reference for an informal advisory group on marine biodiversity in ABNJ resulted in agreement that the group would provide advice on opportunities for cooperation and relevant scientific and technical information, consistent with the Convention’s mandate and jurisdictional scope.

Contact Group on Planning, Monitoring, Reporting and Review 

Delegates reviewed a revised draft decision on the global review of collective progress in implementing the GBF. A key issue was whether the draft decision should reproduce the overarching message and six key messages contained in the global review report. While some participants expressed concern that including the text verbatim could be interpreted as endorsing the report’s conclusions, others emphasized the value of retaining the messages to help communicate findings and guide future implementation efforts.

The group also considered the appropriate level of detail to include in the decision text, including information on implementation trends, self-assessment findings, and support needs related to national reporting and future review processes under the Framework. 

The contact groups on Programme of Work on Protected Areas and Synthetic Biology met in the evening and late into the night.