The impacts of climate change, pollution and the loss of biodiversity are the most pressing environmental challenges for our planet.
From 7 to 19 December 2022, the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is holding the second part of its 15th Conference of the Parties (COP-15) in Montreal. This key meeting is supposed to adopt the post-2020 global biodiversity framework.
In 2022, the Economic Commission for Europe (UNECE) is coordinating the United Nations five Regional Commissions (RCs), which also comprise the Economic Commission for Africa (ECA), Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific (ESCAP), Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), and Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia (ESCWA).
One key activity organised under the leadership of UNECE is a high-level event of the RCs at the CBD COP-15. This gives the opportunity to highlight the regional contribution to achieve a global goal: to save biodiversity on Earth by implementing SDG 14 (“Conserve and sustainably use the oceans, seas and marine resources for sustainable development”) and SDG 15 (“Protect, restore and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss”).
During the event, the Executive Secretaries of the five Regional Commissions will showcase how they are working to align biodiversity targets into their portfolios and explain the governance models in place to enhance coordination and technical support on biodiversity. The event will pinpoint a joint message of collaboration and collective action, with best practices across regions, on key enablers of progress and broad stakeholder engagement to advance specific goals or targets of the post-2020 framework.
In addition, the five Executive Secretaries will share their visions how the loss of biodiversity will be halted in the regions and will propose an action-oriented announcement supporting an UN common approach on biodiversity.
Ministers from Egypt and Chile as well as governmental representatives of the Maldives and Switzerland will be invited to reflect on the role of the Regional Commissions in facilitating regional cooperation and coordination on biodiversity conservation and its sustainable management. Representatives of civil society, financial institutions and business will be invited to discuss with them how to jointly support governments in the implementation of the post-2020 Biodiversity Framework.
Agenda
Event date and time: 15 December 2022 from 1.15 to 2.45 pm @
Location: Palais des Congrès de Montréal, 1001 Place Jean Paul Riopelle, Jinsha meeting room (513B)
Online participation: please register by sending your request to: elena.santer[at]un.org
Format: in-person and hybrid (link will be provided several days before the event)
Financial support from Expertise France, through the EU funded project “Post 2020 Biodiversity Framework EU Support”
Contact (focal point): marco.keiner[at]un.org and elena.santer[at]un.org