Central and Eastern Europe

On Saturday, 30 April 2016, SBSTTA 20 plenary convened in the morning and adopted 15 recommendations. Costa Rica for GRULAC underscored the recommendations on synthetic biology and invasive alien species (IAS), noting that biodiversity mainstreaming is key for sustainable development and requires stakeholder participation. Indonesia for Asia-Pacific stressed the importance of implementing CBD guidelines, capacity building and adequate funding. The Democratic Republic of Congo, on behalf of the African Group, called upon parties to redouble their efforts to achieve those Aichi targets that show least progress, and underscored the recommendations on restoring ecosystems, mainstreaming biodiversity and IAS, noting that more work is needed on synthetic biology. Turkmenistan, on behalf of Central and Eastern Europe, emphasized the need to mainstream biodiversity targets into the Sustainable Development Agenda. The International Indigenous Forum on Biodiversity called for a rights-based approach to ensure the successful implementation of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity. CBD Executive Secretary Braulio Dias welcomed SBSTTA 20 outcomes ensuring: progress towards achieving the Aichi targets; a strong relationship with IPBES; and mainstreaming biodiversity across sectors, also with regard to pollinators. He also praised SBSTTA recommendations containing the action plan on ecosystem restoration, guidance on marine debris, and next steps on ecologically or biologically significant marine areas (EBSAs). SBSTTA Chair Bignell thanked delegates for their spirit of goodwill and passion for the CBD objectives in tackling a heavy agenda. He urged delegates to “go home and implement,” and drew the meeting to a close at 12:23pm. IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB Meeting Coverage, has provided daily web updates from the 20th Meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice and the 1st Meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Implementation. In addition, IISD Reporting Services has produced a summary and analysis of both meetings which is available in HTML and PDF format. L-R: David Cooper, CBD Deputy Executive Secretary; Braulio Dias, CBD Executive Secretary; and SBSTTA Chair Andrew Bignell (New Zealand) Christine von Weizsäcker, ECOROPA Jihyun Lee, CBD Secretariat L-R: Valentina Mauriello and Mery Ciacci, Italy SBSTTA 20 delegates applaud Andrew Bignell (New Zealand) for his able chairmanship.

The seventh session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee to Prepare a Global Legally Binding Instrument on Mercury (INC7) opened Thursday and is scheduled to conclude on Tuesday, March 15 at the Dead Sea, Jordan. Plenary convened in the morning for the opening of the meeting, which included welcome addresses by Ibrahim Thiaw, Deputy Director of the UN Environment Programme, and Taher Shakhashir, Minister of Environment, Jordan, who was speaking on behalf of King Abdullah II. Delegates reconvened in plenary in the afternoon to continue work on the substantive items on its agenda, including hearing opening statements from regions and countries. In the evening, delegates attended a reception hosted by the Government of Jordan. IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB Meeting Coverage, is providing daily web coverage, daily reports and a summary and analysis report from the 7th session of the Intergovernmental Negotiating Committee on Mercury (INC 7). The summary and analysis report is available in HTML and PDF formats. Photos by IISD/ENB | Kiara Worth For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page. Opening Ceremony Delegates gather for the opening ceremony Jacob Duer, interim secretariat of the Minamata Convention Fernando Lugris, Uruguay, INC Chair Taher Shakhashir, Minister of Environment, Jordan Ibrahim Thiaw, UNEP Deputy Executive Director Jordanian dancers perform a traditional dance to open the meeting Jordanian youth recite a pledge to protect the environment Side Events Side event discussing the Jordan Dead Sea industries, hosted by the Government of Jordan Side event 'Gearing up for implementation - what are the first steps?' hosted by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) Afternoon Plenary L-R: Masa Nagai, UNEP; Jacob Duer, intermin secretariat of the Minamata Convention; Fernando Lugris, Uruguay, INC Chair; Sheila Logan, interim secretariat of the Minamata Convention; Nina Cromnier, Sweden, Rapporteur; and Andrea Lechner, BRS Secretariat Mohammed Khashashneh, Jordan, speaking on behalf of the Arab Group Reginald Hernaus, EU Agustina Camilli, Uruguay, speaking on behalf of the Latin American and Caribbean Group (GRULAC) Mick Saito, Japan, speaking on behalf of the Asia-Pacific Region David Kapindula, Zambia, speaking on behalf of the African Group Vladimir Lenev, Russian Federation, speaking on behalf of the Central and Eastern Europe (CEE) Group Franz Perrez, Switzerland Zhao Wei Jun, China Kasimu Bayero, Nigeria Juan Miguel Cuna, the Philippines Sezaneh Seymour, US Luay Al Mukhtar, Iraq Tuti Hendrawati Mintarsih, Indonesia Around the Venue Delegates gather before the start of plenary Fernando Lugris, Uruguay, INC Chair; Ibrahim Thiaw, UNEP Deputy Executive Director; and Taher Shakhashir, Minister of Environment, Jordan Mohammed Khashashneh, Jordan, welcomes delegates to the meeting Delegates from Brazil The youngest delegate attending the meeting A delegate reads the Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) website Delegates from China review a document Delegates gather informally before the start of plenary Artifacts from Jordan on display around the venue Reception Hosted by the Government of Jordan Delegates gather for the reception hosted by the Government of Jordan Taher Shakhashir, Minister of Environment, Jordan, and Ibrahim Thiaw, UNEP Deputy Executive Director Delegates from Saudi Arabia Delegates throughout the evening