Summary
The second meeting of the Working Group on the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework (WG) resumed for the final day on Saturday to address pending issues, including negotiations on the zero draft of the global biodiversity framework (GBF). Delegates heard a report back from the contact group on Tools and Solutions for Implementation and Mainstreaming, and agreed on elements presented in the group’s report compiled by the co-leads. The WG thereafter reviewed and approved the final recommendations of the meeting with minor amendments, and adopted the meeting’s report.During the closing session, Elizabeth Mrema, Acting Executive Secretary, Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), said while all roads led to Rome for the second meeting of the WG, the journey to generate a clear, actionable, and transformative GBF continues. Providing regional statements:
- The African Group, noting the increased level of ambition based on new elements included into the GBF, called for additional funds for implementation;
- The EU said the GBF should be realistic and ambitious enough to communicate and engage everyone in the desired transformative change;
- The Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC) said the desire to conserve biodiversity is clearly reflected in the GBF’s ambitions, but cautioned that financial resources have always been the “Achilles heal of the CBD”;
- New Zealand, on behalf of a group of non-EU developed countries, emphasized the need to involve indigenous peoples and local communities (IPLCs), women, youth, subnational and local governments, and the private sector in order to provide a roadmap for transformative actions; and
- Central and Eastern Europe noted the importance of measurable indicators and called for sharing of outcomes of upcoming consultative meetings.
As weary delegates arrived in plenary on the last day of the meeting of the WG, words of praise and thanks were abundant for the hard work and constructive participation of co-chairs, co-leads, the secretariat, delegates, and participants. The lengthy report from the contact group on Tools and Solutions for Implementation and Mainstreaming, showcased the extensive discussions held during the last meeting of the contact group, which lasted untill midnight on Friday. The late session induced some delegates to blame minor confusions with respect to the report of the contact group on a “lack of sleep” and excitement to “wrap up the meeting.” As the time for closing statements rolled around, delegates continued to praise the tone and collaborative spirit of the meeting, yet highlighted the extensive amount of work yet to be done. Elizabeth Mrema, Acting Executive Secretary, CBD highlighted that “time is not on our side,” especially in light of the great number of requests made in Rome. Yet, she expressed confidence that the WG will succeed and deliver a robust and ambitious GBF in Kunming to reverse biodiversity loss, end the cycle of destruction, and ensure that future generations will not have to face a planet irreversibly damaged by human activity.Co-Chairs Basile Van Havre and Francis Ogwal, gaveled the meeting to a close at 5:44 pm.
IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB Meeting Coverage, provided daily digital coverage. Α summary and analysis report from the 2nd Meeting of the Open-ended Working Group on the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework is available in HTML and PDF.
Photos by IISD/ENB | Mike Muzurakis
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