Ten months after the historic adoption of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical, and Technological Advice (SBSTTA) of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) will convene to facilitate the implementation of the Framework and prepare for the next meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP).

SBSTTA, established under CBD Article 25, convenes regularly to fulfill its mandate, which includes providing expert advice and recommendations related to the scientific, technical, and technological aspects of biodiversity conservation. During its 25th meeting, SBSTTA will provide advice and recommendations for consideration by CBD COP 16, which is scheduled to convene in 2024.

The primary focus of SBSTTA 25 will be on facilitating the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and monitoring its progress. The Global Biodiversity Framework, which supports the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals and builds on the Convention’s previous Strategic Plans, sets out an ambitious pathway to reach the global vision of a world living in harmony with nature by 2050.

Aspects of implementation under consideration include:

• Monitoring Framework for the Global Biodiversity Framework.
• Mechanisms for Planning, Monitoring, Reporting, and Review.
• Approaches to identifying scientific and technical needs to support the Framework's implementation and its implications for the CBD’s work programmes.
• Plant conservation.

SBSTTA 25 will also discuss the assessments conducted by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) and adopted during the Platform’s ninth and tenth sessions, in particular:

• Methodological Assessment Report on the Diverse Values and Valuation of Nature.
• Thematic Assessment Report on the Sustainable Use of Wild Species.
• Thematic Assessment Report on Invasive Alien Species and their Control.

Additionally, the meeting will consider the implications of the Sixth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) on the Convention’s work programme.

Following the conclusion of SBSTTA 25, the resumed second part of the CBD COP 15 will convene to consider items pending completion following the second part of CBD COP 15 held in Montreal, Canada, in December 2023. The tenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety and the fourth meeting of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of the Benefits Arising from their Utilization will be held concurrently. The pending items include:

• Election of officers.
• Other matters that may be raised and accepted for discussion.
• Adoption of the report of the second part of CBD COP 15.
• Closure of the CBD COP 15.

In addition, following Turkey’s withdrawal of its offer to host CBD COP 16, parties will consider alternative options, and welcome new offers to host the meeting.

SBSTTA 25 will convene from 15-19 October 2023 at the UN Office in Nairobi. This will be followed by the resumed second part of CBD COP 15 on 19-20 October 2023.

SBSTTA 25 will be preceded by a workshop on the recently completed IPBES assessments, which will take place on 13 October 2023.

The Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) writers for this meeting are Wanja Nyingi, Ph.D.; Christina Fernandez; and Tallash Kantai. The Digital Editor is Mike Muzurakis. The Editor is Pam Chasek, Ph.D.