Summary
Highlights for Tuesday, 3 September 2019
The Committee of the Whole (COW) convened in the morning to consider reports on finance and budget, links between the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and implementation of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), and preparations for the mid-term review of the UNCCD Strategic Framework 2018-2030. Delegates agreed to establish two contact groups, on finance and other matters, to begin a review of decision texts.
The two UNCCD subsidiary bodies also convened their opening sessions. Meeting in the morning, the Committee on Science and Technology (CST) discussed items resulting from the work programme of the UNCCD Science-Policy Interface (SPI), including proposals for refining guidance for implementation of Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN). The afternoon session considered coordination activities of the SPI work programme 2018–2019. Following the opening statements and adoption of the agenda, the Committee for the Review of the Implementation of the Convention (CRIC) established a contact group on matters relating to the Committee.
Initial reactions to the reports highlighted some areas of convergence as well as potential sticking points. In the COW, numerous delegations presented their views on the 2030 Agenda. On LDN for example, while many lauded the momentum generated on the ground through the Target-Setting Programme (a representative of the African Group pointed out that 50 of the 54 countries in the region have established their targets), some also expressed concern about narrowing the scope of the Convention to just the LDN target and recalled the UNCCD’s broader mandate to address desertification, land degradation and drought issues. Several delegates also welcomed the planned mid-term review of the UNCCD Strategic Framework 2018-2030 and expressed hope that the COP would further clarify modalities for enabling countries to accelerate achievements.
Other important COP 14 outcomes on the “wishlist” of delegates included reaching agreement on drought indicators, receiving targeted technical assistance and capacity building on sustainable land management, and finding agreement on disincentivizing unsustainable land practices.For more details on the day’s negotiations and to hear what delegates said in the corridors, see our daily Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB).
IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB meeting coverage, is providing daily web coverage and daily reports from UNCCD COP 14. In addition, IISD Reporting Services will publish a summary and analyrs report from this session on Monday, 16 September 2019.
Photos by IISD/ENB | Ángeles Estrada
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COW
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