Latin American and Caribbean Group

The tenth meeting of the Open-ended Working Group (OEWG10) of the Basel Convention on the Control of Transboundary Movements of Hazardous Wastes and their Disposal opened in Nairobi, Kenya, on Monday, 30 May 2016. In the morning, parties discussed several strategic issues, including work on developing guidelines for environmentally sound management (ESM), and the follow-up to the Cartagena Declaration on the Prevention, Minimization and Recovery of Hazardous Wastes, including a draft guidance to assist parties in developing efficient strategies for achieving the prevention and minimization of the generation of hazardous and other wastes and their disposal. The OEWG established a Strategic Matters Contact Group to develop draft decisions on both. Canada introduced a proposal on the mid-term review of the Strategic Framework. On technical issues, delegates considered technical guidelines on wastes consisting of, containing or contaminated with persistent organic pollutants (POPs), focusing their discussion on how best to handle low-POPs wastes. A Technical Matters Contact Group was established to further discuss this issue. In the afternoon, delegates returned to technical issues. They discussed further work on the technical guidelines on electrical and electronic wastes (e-waste), and this referred to the Technical Matters Contact Group. The OEWG also assigned to this same Group an examination of the proposed list of waste streams for which practical guidance on inventory could be developed, and consideration of whether to update existing technical guidelines on incineration on land, on specially engineered landfill and on hazardous waste physico-chemical treatment and biological treatment. On legal matters, delegates discussed the draft glossary on terms and definitions, and the review of Annexes I, III and IV and related aspects of Annex IX to the Basel Convention. A Legal Matters Contact Group was created to discuss these issues further. The OEWG also discussed the progress report since the 12th Conference of the Parties (COP12) in the work of the Partnership for Action on Computing Equipment (PACE). The Strategic Matters Contact Group was mandated to prepare a draft decision on the guidance document and draft concept of a follow-up partnership to PACE. In the evening, the contact groups on technical matters and strategic matters met. IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB Meeting Coverage, has provided daily web updates and a summary and analysis report from the Open-ended Working Group of the Basel Convention (OEWG10). Our summary and analysis report is available in HTML and PDF L-R: Kei Ohno-Woodall, BRS Secretariat; Co-Chair Santiago Dávila Sena, Spain; and Co-Chair Lloyd Pascal, Dominica Reginald Hernaus, The Netherlands, speaking on behalf of the European Union and its Member States. Kerstin Stendahl, Deputy Executive Secretary of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions, delivered an opening statement. Anne Daniel, Canada, intervening regarding the mid-term evaluation of the strategic framework. Agustina Camilli, Uruguay, speaking on behalf of GRULAC. Participants during the first day of OEWG10

The second UN Environment Assembly of the UN Environment Programme (UNEA-2) opened on Monday at UN Environment Programme (UNEP) headquarters in Nairobi, Kenya. Outgoing UNEA President Oyun Sanjaasuren (Mongolia) opened the conference, inviting delegates to observe a minute’s silence to remember those who have lost their lives in the protection of the environment. UNEP Executive Director Achim Steiner described UNEA-2 as an expression of hope and “a clarion call” for the world, noting that with well over 2000 participants, 170 nations, and hundreds of stakeholders represented, “we truly have a UN Environment Assembly.” Delegates heard opening messages, and adopted the agenda and organization of work. The plenary elected Edgar Gutiérrez Espeleta (Costa Rica) as President of UNEA-2, and also elected Bureau members and a rapporteur. In the afternoon, the Committee of the Whole (COW) met in plenary, where they discussed the organization of drafting groups to finalize the proposed resolutions. A working group met in the evening for a first reading of resolutions. The Sustainable Innovation Expo (SIE), organized by UNEP in parallel with the meeting, also opened today. Three SIE panel discussions took place on: South-South cooperation; big data and innovation; and air quality. In the evening, delegates attended a reception hosted by the Governement of Kenya. IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB Meeting Coverage, has published a briefing note for the GMGSF 2016 and provided daily web coverage, daily reports from the UNEA-2. In addition, IISD Reporting Services has published a summary and analysis report from this meeting, which is available in HTML and PDF format. Photos by IISD/ENB | Francis Dejon For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page. OPENING PLENARY UNEA-2 plenary observed a moment of silence to remember those who have lost their lives in the protection of the environment "Welcome to UNEA" film presentation L-R: Ibrahim Thiaw, Deputy Executive Director, UNEP; Achim Steiner, Executive Director, UNEP; UNEA President Oyun Sanjaasuren; Judi Wakhungu, Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Regional Development Authorities, Kenya; Sahle-Work Zewde, Director-General, UNON; and Jorge Laguna-Celis, Secretary of the Governing Bodies of UNEP Achim Steiner, Executive Director, UNEP, delivers opening remarks to UNEA-2 delegates UNEA President Oyun Sanjaasuren Ibrahim Thiaw, Deputy Executive Director, UNEP, speaking on behalf of Ban Ki-moon, UN Secretary-General Judi Wakhungu, Cabinet Secretary for Environment and Regional Development Authorities, Kenya Sahle-Work Zewde, Director-General, UNON Edgar Gutiérrez Espeleta, Costa Rica, incoming UNEA-2 President delivers his opening remarks Jassim Abdulaziz Al-falahy, Iraq Julia Pataki, Romania Frans Makken, the Netherlands, on behalf of the EU Taefu Lemi, Samoa Bibiana Jones, Argentina, on behalf of G-77/China and GRULAC Daniel Reifsnyder, US Abdelmoneim Mohammed Mabrouk, League of Arab States Yugratna Srivastava, on behalf of the Major Groups and Stakeholders Soehardjono Sastromihardjo, Indonesia Edgar Gutiérrez Espeleta, UNEA-2 President COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (COW) View of the COW plenary COW Chair Idunn Eidheim, Norway John Matuszak, US Marcela Nicodemos, Brazil Franz Perrez, Switzerland Abdullah Khalid Tawlah, Saudi Arabia Neranda Maurice-George, Saint Lucia Hugo Enrique Cañiza, Paraguay Kerstin Stendahl, Deputy Executive Secretary of the Basel, Rotterdam and Stockholm Conventions Roy Samson Dinyi Thorofo, South Sudan Cyrie Sendashonga, IUCN Delegates from the Philippines L-R: Mohammed Khashashneh, Jordan; Adalah Atira, Palestine; and Mohamad Afana, Jordan SIDE EVENTS Sustainable Innovation Expo: South-South Cooperation panel discussions L-R: Anote Tong, Former President of Kiribati; Jorge Chediek, UN Envoy on South-South Cooperation; Mesghan Al Awar, United Arab Emirates; Zhang Jieqing, China; and George Mwenda, Geothermal Development, Kenya L-R: Doug Cress, Great Apes Survival Partnership (GRASP), Jaime Webb, UN-REDD; Anyaa Vohiri, Liberia; and Johannes Refisch, GRASP L-R: Isabelle Louis, UNEP; Elizabeth Mrema, UNEP; Hillary Alisson, UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre (WCMC); and Braulio Ferreira de Souza Dias, Executive Secretary, Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) at the launch of the State of the Biodiversity Reports Braulio Ferreira de Souza Dias, Executive Secretary, CBD PHOTOS FROM THE RECEPTION HOSTED BY THE GOVERNMENT OF KENYA UNEA-2 reception hosted by the Government of Kenya    

On Friday, 6 May 2016, delegates to the first meeting of the CBD Subsidiary Body on Implementation (SBI) finalized 13 recommendations. CBD Executive Secretary Dias highlighted recommendations on biodiversity mainstreaming, the SBI modus operandi, synergies with biodiversity-related conventions, guidelines for national reports, and resource mobilization. He also pointed to the voluntary peer-review process of implementation, and to COP 13 meeting for the first time concurrently with the Protocols’ COP/MOPs. The EU drew attention to the need to scale up efforts to achieve the Aichi targets, and to link efforts on biodiversity mainstreaming with the Sustainable Development Goals. India for Asia-Pacific considered that the SBI was off to a good start and welcomed the identification of means to overcome obstacles in achieving the Aichi targets, such as capacity building and resource mobilization. St Kitts and Nevis for GRULAC underscored the need to review progress also in the provision of support for implementation. The CBD Alliance noted the need to look into implementation in more detail in the future, involving indigenous peoples and local communities (IPLCs), women and civil society in the peer review of NBSAPs and national reports; and expressed concern about the emphasis on the business sector and natural capital in relation to biodiversity mainstreaming. The International Indigenous Forum on Biodiversity urged the full and effective participation of IPLCs, including women and youth, in the review of implementation, in work on integration of the Convention and its Protocols, and capacity building. SBI 1 Chair Jae Choe (Republic of Korea) congratulated delegates on their tireless work ethic and drew the meeting to a close at 4:47 pm. 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: Fumiko Nakao and Joji Miyamori, Japan Tia Stevens, Australia SBI plenary SBI 1 delegates huddle in the corridors Anne Theo Seinen, EU delegation Global Youth Biodiversity Network stand

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.