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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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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
Narjes Khalil, Bahrain
Elke Malfait, Belgium
Marco Pani, Conservation Force
Sabri Zain, TRAFFIC
Bonita Bigham, Indigenous Peoples representative, New Zealand
David Cooper, Acting Executive Secretary, Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)
Abdramane Chaibo, Chad
Julia Nakamura, Food and Agricultural Organization of the UN (FAO)
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
Esfandri Nurb, Indonesia, speaking on behalf of a group of countries, including Palestine
Eric José Robsomanitrandrasana, Madagascar
Delegates from the EU
Raphaël Barbiche, Democratic Republic of the Congo, consults with Hayat Mesbah, Morocco
Vanesa Patricia Tossenberger, Argentina, consults with Levente Kőrösi, Hungary
Delegates give SC 77 Chair Naimah Aziz, US, a standing ovation for her excellent chairing of SC 77, after stepping into the role at short notice
Delegates applaud SC 77 Chair Naimah Aziz, US
SC 77 Chair Naimah Aziz, US, thanks delegates for their support over the week
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
The IISD ENB team covering CITES SC 77: Olivia Pasini, Switzerland; Tanya Rosen, Central Asia; Jennifer Bansard, France/Germany; and Kiara Worth, South Africa
Family photo of the CITES Secretariat
Delegates from France
Delegates from the UAE
Delegates from WWF
Delegates from the Environmental Investigation Agency (EIA)
Delegates from Panama with Ivonne Higuero, CITES Secretary-General
Delegates from Brazil with SC 77 Chair Naimah Aziz, US
Delegates from the US
