Delegates praised the Convention as an example of how to translate global commitments into regional action. The week’s highlights included the adoption of the new Programme of Work and Budget 2024-2025, and the Portorož Ministerial Declaration, in which Parties commit to a healthy Mediterranean environment.

Parties adopted a decision operationalizing the new loss and damage fund and a number of parties announced pledges for its initial capitalization. But negotiations were difficult on the other central outcomes: the first Global Stocktake, the Global Goal on Adaptation, the mitigation work programme, just transition pathways, and climate finance.

Although they appear distinct, the issues under the two Working Groups’ consideration are interrelated as they are developing ways to implement the targets and goals of the landmark Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and both address issues of fair and equitable participation and sharing of benefits in relation to biodiversity.

Delegates faced with 77 agenda items, with over 101 related documents spanning some 2,700 pages, were unable to complete the entire agenda, but were able to make recommendations on 11 compliance cases, establishment of the CITES Global Youth Network, seizure reporting on big cats, monitoring elephant poaching, and stockpiling timber.