Meetings in Nairobi recognize the crucial role that subnational governments play in addressing biodiversity loss

 

Meetings in Nairobi recognize the crucial role that subnational governments play in addressing biodiversity loss

A global strategy to slow the loss of biodiversity was advanced by parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) at the fourth Open Ended Working Group (OEWG-4) meeting, which took place in Nairobi, Kenya, from June 21 to 26. At the CBD COP 15 in Montreal, Canada, which will be presided over by China, this Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) is anticipated to be adopted.

The CBD is the only Rio Convention that incorporates an organized and thorough process for multilevel governance that offers a framework for local and subnational governments to assist Parties in achieving international and domestic biodiversity targets.

What the OEWG-4 accomplished:

Delegates worked on the wording from the OEWG-3 meetings in Geneva in March, rationalizing some of it, reaching agreement on a number of targets, and putting out various proposals for a sizable portion of the framework. The parties outlined their aspirations in relation to the framework's objectives and honed the crucial benchmarks for benefit-sharing, sustainable use, and environmental protection. They sought to create a strategy for resource mobilization and other means of implementation while emphasizing the role of nature in reducing climate change impacts and preparing for them.

The parties also outlined the steps necessary to reach an agreement regarding the distribution of profits from genetic resource digital sequencing data. The role of Indigenous peoples, local communities, women, youth, and other stakeholders was further enhanced as a result of their conversations, helping to ensure that everyone's voice would be heard and that no one would be left behind.

Four significant goals of the framework (A through D) were the focus of considerable discussion, even though talks spanned the whole framework language, which comprises four goals and 23 proposed targets:

Protecting biodiversity at all scales and halting extinctions is goal 

Goal B: Ensuring that human needs and rights are supported by biodiversity;

Goal C: Benefits from the exploitation of biodiversity and genetic resources are fairly distributed, and Indigenous and local communities' traditional knowledge and rights are maintained.

Goal D: Adequate levels of implementation tools are available, including funding, capacity development, and other action support.

"I want to express my gratitude to the Parties for their diligent effort, dedication to reaching a consensus, and open participation in these negotiations. These significant efforts have resulted in a document that, with further development, will serve as the cornerstone for realizing the Convention's 2050 goal of a life in harmony with the natural world.

I kindly request that the Parties actively engage with the text over the coming months, seek mutual understanding, and prepare the final text for approval at COP 15.

Elizabeth Maruma Mrema, the Convention on Biological Diversity's executive secretary

The Regional and Local Major Group

ICLEI, led by Ingrid Coetzee, represented the Local and Subnational Major Group in person. The Advisory Committee on Subnational Governments for Biodiversity was represented by a delegation from the Quebec Province, which included Assistant Deputy Minister Jacob, Martin Malus, Jean Lemire, and Rachel Levesque. ICLEI organized the delegation, as it had done for earlier CBD post-2020 summits.

Even though there are still significant issues that need more attention and engagement with the capital to better condense texts, the Nairobi negotiations were a success for the local and subnational major group. Among these results are:

• Increasingly more Parties (Nepal, Iran, and the Philippines), as at previous meetings, demanded the inclusion of local and subnational governments in the GBF;

• Several Parties praised the Local and Subnational Major Group for their well-executed and well-coordinated actions;

• The Local and Subnational Major Group had two opportunities to speak in the contact groups, and both of its requests for text revisions to section B.bis (on [Principles and] [Approaches] [Guidance] for the implementation of the Framework) were accepted by the Parties. Section B. Purpose, Section D. Theory of Change, and Section 1. Enabling Conditions all make mention of local and subnational governments; and

• In the opening and closing plenaries, the group was invited to make a joint statement.

Local and regional governments at the 7th Cities Summit and COP 15

OEWG-4 made significant contributions, but much work will still need to be done to advance the language for the Parties' high-level final consideration at COP 15. The OEWG-4 Meeting determined that the best way forward is to involve all regions in planning for talks involving all Parties just before the second part of COP 15. These meetings, which culminated in OEWG-5, would generate a document for Ministers and their delegations to negotiate at length during the second half of COP 15.

Following discussions between the Bureau, the Government of China as COP President, the Secretariat, and the Government of Canada as host of the Secretariat, the relocation and new date for COP 15 Part 2 were revealed during the inaugural plenary. From December 5 to December 17, 2022, COP 15 Part 2 will take place in the Secretariat's location in Montreal, Canada. The COP 15 logo and theme will still be used, and China, as the COP 15 President, will continue to preside over the Meetings. Additionally, China will host the High-Level Segment and take the lead in facilitating the negotiations.

The 7th Global Biodiversity Summit of Cities and Subnational Governments and COP 15 will mark a significant turning point toward a stronger local and subnational government involvement in the GBF after 2020. The local and subnational major group, which is urging CBD Parties to adopt a new decision on engagement with subnational governments, cities, and other local authorities to improve implementation of the post-2020 GBF, as well as its Plan of Action on Subnational Governments, Cities, and Other Local Authorities for Biodiversity, will view this as a strategic and historic moment (2021-2030). The status of formal concurrent events, including the 7th Cities Summit, has not been disclosed, but announcements will be made soon depending on discussions between the SCBD and the Canadian government.