Highlights and images for 12 April 2018

2nd Meeting of the Sustainable Ocean Initiative (SOI) Global Dialogue with Regional Seas Organizations and Regional Fishery Bodies on Accelerating Progress Towards the Aichi Biodiversity Targets and Sustainable Development Goals

Summary

On Thursday, with a view to contributing specific, concrete input to an outcome document for the 2nd Global Dialogue, participants met in regional break-out groups. In the morning, following an overview presentation, they worked to identify elements of a roadmap for enhancing regional-scale dialogue, partnerships, cooperation and collaboration. The groups reported feedback on:

regional views for a common vision;
associated milestones and pathways;
thematic issues;
key actors and their roles;
potential collaborative activities;
modalities to engage players; and
three-year priority actions to create enabling conditions.

On further enhancing inter-regional sharing of experiences through the SOI Global Dialogue, the introductory presentation highlighted the value of conducting alignment exercises to map out specific ways regional strategies can correlate with the Aichi Targets and SDGs. Discussions during the break-out groups focused on how to define and advance regional contributions to implementation of global goals. Groups reported feedback on:

regional examples of implementing and reporting;
how regional organizations support member state efforts to achieve targets;
potential value of regional organizations functioning as a platform for monitoring and reviewing achievement of global goals and targets; and
what inter-regional intersessional activities of the SOI Global Dialogue might look like.

Participant feedback was both specific and extensive. Recurrent comments noted that: many Regional Fishery Bodies activities may already support Aichi Targets and SDGs, but have not been through an alignment process; more reporting requirements won’t translate into better implementation of targets and goals; and intersessional work, facilitated by the CBD, could further communication and cooperation at regional levels.

IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB+ Meeting Coverage, provided daily digital coverage and a summary report from the 2nd Meeting of the Sustainable Ocean Initiative (SOI) Global Dialogue with Regional Seas Organizations and Regional Fishery Bodies on Accelerating Progress Toward the Aichi Biodiversity Targets and Sustainable Development Goals. Our summary report is available in HTML or PDF format.

Photos by IISD/ENB | Natalia Mroz
For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page