Urial sheep

Highlights and images for 10 November 2023

Geneva, Switzerland

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora – CITES

  1. Negotiations
  2. Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora – CITES
  3. 77th Meeting of the CITES Standing Committee
SC 77 Chair Naimah Aziz, US, breathes a sigh of relief as SC 77 comes to a close

SC 77 Chair Naimah Aziz, US, breathes a sigh of relief as SC 77 comes to a close

Opening the last meeting day, CITES Standing Committee Chair Naimah Aziz charted a way forward to complete the agenda by proposing that any item requiring the SC to simply “note” a given matter rather than make specific recommendations would not be presented or discussed in plenary, and delegates agreed. The Secretariat will invite comments on these documents to be submitted before the end of the year. Furthermore, delegates agreed documents do not need to be orally introduced by the Secretariat or their authors, unless to present relevant updates.

SC 77 Chair Naimah Aziz, US

SC 77 Chair Naimah Aziz, US

Delegates worked swiftly and diligently throughout the day, reviewing outstanding agenda items and reviewing in-session documents on Article XIII compliance cases and National Ivory Action Plans, among others.

Throughout the day, delegates turn on their microphones to indicate their inclusion in different working groups

Throughout the day, delegates turn on their microphones to indicate their inclusion in different working groups

In her concluding address, CITES Secretary-General Ivonne Higuero commended Chair Aziz for her calm demeanor and success in leading the meeting, at which SC Aziz received a standing ovation. SG Higuero further thanked delegates for their commitment, Switzerland as the host, the venue staff, interpreters, translators, technicians, and the Secretariat which is “stretched so thin.” In closing, she called on parties to offer to host CoP20.

Ivonne Higuero, CITES Secretary-General, congratulates SC 77 Chair Naimah Aziz, US, for her excellent chairing of the meeting

Ivonne Higuero, CITES Secretary-General, congratulates SC 77 Chair Naimah Aziz, US, for her excellent chairing of the meeting

In their closing remarks, Ukraine drew attention to the war with Russia and the resulting CITES violations. Indonesia lamented the situation in Ukraine and in Palestine, in particular in Gaza, stressing that Israel’s ferocious bombing was causing severe destruction and environmental devastation. The EU voiced solidarity to Ukraine and its people, and condemned Hamas, particularly the use of civilians as human shields. Further, the EU deplored all loss of civilian life.

Delegates listen to the interventions

Delegates listen to the interventions

In closing, the Secretariat said SC 78 will be held in Geneva from 3 to 8 February 2025, noting an extra day had been added to the schedule. SC77 Chair Aziz thanked everyone for their support, grace, and patience, giving her confidence when she “felt like hiding under the desk,” in particular Sofie Flensborg from the CITES Secretariat and the Secretariat staff.

To receive free coverage of global environmental events delivered to your inbox, subscribe to the ENB Update newsletter.

All ENB photos are free to use with attribution. For SC 77, please use: Photo by IISD/ENB | Kiara Worth.

Morning Plenary

Delegates gather in plenary an hour early to tackle the long list of agenda items scheduled for the day

Seydou Bari Sidibé, Guinea

Vera Voronova, Kazakhstan

Teona Karchava, Georgia

Ilya Demidov, Russian Federation

Xu Jing, China

Anne St. John, US

Afternoon Plenary

Delegates gather for the final afternoon plenary

Goutam Kumar Dey, Bangladesh

Carolina Caceres, Canada

Stéphanie Bourgeois, Gabon

Rakesh Kumar Jagenia, India

The CITES Secretariat consults on the dais

Dany Chheang, Cambodia

Around the Venue

A side event was held on gender and illegal wildlife trade (IWT)

A side event was held on closing tiger facilities of concern

Delegates from the Democratic Republic of Congo and Japan consult

Delegates from Russia and Canada consult

Delegates from Germany speak informally in the corridors

Delegates speak informally between sessions

Tags

Topic
Biodiversity
Negotiations
Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora – CITES

Related content

11th Session of the IPBES Plenary and Stakeholder Day

Delegates will focus on approving an assessment on the biodiversity-water-food-health nexus as well as an assessment of the underlying causes of biodiversity loss and the determinants of transformative change.
Event 9 December 2024 - 16 December 2024

Towards Living in Harmony with the Ocean from Coasts to Areas Beyond National Jurisdiction: Synergies between the BBNJ Agreement and work under the CBD

The adoption in June 2023 of the Biodiversity Beyond National Jurisdiction (BBNJ) Agreement signified a change in tides, not only for ocean governance in areas beyond national jurisdiction, but also for biodiversity conservation. With the expectation that the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) and ratification of the BBNJ Agreement will soon come into fruition, stakeholders are becoming increasingly aware of the possible opportunities and challenges that it may bring. This side event considered how the BBNJ Agreement can work in synergy with efforts undertaken by the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), including the GBF.
Event 23 October 2024