Governments meet in Republic of Korea to assess progress in implementing global Strategic Plan for Biodiversity “Pyeongchang Road Map” expected to include further steps to protect biodiversity in support of sustainable development

Chad Hunte posted on October 07, 2014 09:53

Pyeongchang/Montreal 6 October 2014 –Under the theme, “Biodiversity for Sustainable
Development,” thousands of representatives of governments, NGOs, indigenous peoples,
scientists and the private sector gathered in Pyeongchang, Republic of Korea for the 12
th
meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity(COP 12)
Between 6 and 17 October 2014, Parties will agree on steps to accelerate the
implementation of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and its Aichi Biodiversity
Targets, which are to be achieved by the end of this, the United Nations Decade on Biodiversity.
The results of Global Biodiversity Outlook 4, the flagship assessment report of the CBD will
inform the discussions.
The collection of decisions to be taken at COP 12 is already being referred to as the
“Pyeongchang Road Map” and is expected to include aresource mobilization strategy expected
to substantially increase the resources available for biodiversity conservation and sustainable
use.
The discussions by Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity also take place in the
context of negotiations of proposed Sustainable Development Goals and the post-2015
development agenda, currently underway at the United Nations.
The ground-breaking agreement on access to and use of genetic resources, the Nagoya
Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising
from their Utilization will enter into force duringthe meeting, and governments will hold its first
Meeting of the Parties (COP-MOP 1), from 13 -17 October 2013. The Nagoya Protocol aims to
create new incentives to conserve and sustainably use biodiversity and further enhance the
contribution of biodiversity to sustainable development.
At today’s opening Braulio Ferreira de Souza Dias, United Nations Assistant-SecretaryGeneral and Executive Secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity, said “the decisions
forming the Pyeongchang Roadmap are expected to provide for further tools and guidance,
where necessary, to assist the further implementation of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity
2011-2020 and achievement of its Aichi BiodiversityTargets as well as for further capacitybuilding, enhancement of technical and scientific cooperation and other initiatives and
measures regarding resource mobilization and the financial mechanism.”
Yoon Seong-kyu, Minister of Environment of the Republic of Korea said: “Korea will propose
and pursue ‘Bio Bridge Initiative’ to promote scientific and technological cooperation as a main
method to smoothly draw and put forward the PyeongChang Roadmap. The Bio Bridge
Initiative will serve as a platform to link developing countries’ demand for science and
technology to developed countries’ excellent scientific technology, enhancing cooperation in
the international community for the achievement of the CBD targets.”
UN Under-Secretary-General and UNEP Executive Director, Achim Steiner, said, " There has
been increased financial investment and policy action to protect biodiversity, yet, studies show
that it will be difficult to reach the full set of the Aichi targets if we remain within the current
trajectory, due to accumulated and increased pressures on the natural world."
"COP 12 provides a critical opportunity to inject renewed impetus into our commitment to
the Aichi Targets - which remain within reach - andto shape the Sustainable Development Goals
by revisiting national strategies and plans. With the progress made so far, it is clear that
plausible pathways exist to build momentum, strengthen political will and take decisive
measures to stay on track. We need to do more - anddo it fast - to protect the very fabric of the
natural world."
Hem Pande, representing the Government of India which holds the COP 11 presidency, said
“This Conference is significant in the context of adopting final targets for mobilizing resources
for implementing the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 following the roadmap agreed to
in Hyderabad as well as for the mid-term review of implementation of this Plan. It is gratifying to
note that the strategic plan is being considered asan important basis of action and
implementation for the post-2015 development agenda, and proposed Sustainable
Development Goals. Delaying action on adopting final targets for resource mobilisation would
not only limit our choices for cost-effective action, but also jeopardize timely achievement of
the Aichi Targets, thereby adversely impacting sustainable development.”
Governments will take their decisions at COP 12 on the basis of the results of the global
assessment on biodiversity entitled Global Biodiversity Outlook 4 (GBO-4). Released today,
GBO4 provides an assessment report on progress towards meeting the Aichi Biodiversity
Targets, and suggests additional actions required to implement the Strategic Plan for
Biodiversity. GBO4 says that while the Aichi Biodiversity Targets are still within our reach,
substantially greater efforts are required. Success will contribute to the global sustainable
development agenda including addressing food and water security, climate change, land
degradation and others.
COP 12 will identify ways to mobilize financial andhuman resources necessary to achieve
the 2020 Aichi Biodiversity Targets. The COP will consider adopting final targets for resource
mobilization following-up on the preliminary targets agreed at COP 11, including the possible
addition of a target for related to domestic resource mobilization. These discussions will be
based on the report of the high-level panel on global resource assessment and a global
monitoring report prepared by the CBD Secretariat. The COP will also discuss the extension of
the strategy for resource mobilization beyond 2015,including the adoption of concrete and
effective actions, including biodiversity financingmechanisms and possible safeguards, and the
establishment of a robust financial reporting framework.
The two week-long meeting of the COP will also see substantial discussions on issues related
to the biodiversity of the oceans of the world. This will include:
- Results of seven regional workshops to facilitate the description of ecologically or
biologically significant marine areas (EBSAs);
- A new set of priority actions to achieve Aichi Biodiversity Target 10 for coral reefs and
closely associated ecosystems, which provides guidance to Parties in taking actions to
minimize pressures on coral reefs and associated vulnerable ecosystems;
- A new CBD Technical Series report presenting a major global synthesis of knowledge on
the impacts of ocean acidification on marine biodiversity;
- Results of an expert workshop on underwater noise, which provides guidance to Parties
in implementing measures to minimize the significant adverse impacts of anthropogenic
underwater noise on marine biodiversity;
- Capacity building, including activities conducted in the framework of the Sustainable
Ocean Initiative (SOI) which will be further highlighted at a high-level meeting to be held
during COP 12;
COP 12 will consider new global guidance to addressthe issue of invasive alien species
introduced as pets, aquarium and terrarium species,and as live bait and live food, noting that
their escapes are a major cause of spread of invasive alien species. The COP will also consider
the future work of Parties and the Secretariat and how to make progress on policy development
and national and regional implementation to addressinvasive alien species in the future.
Parties will consider decisions relating to Traditional Knowledge and customary practices, in
the context of Article 8(j) of the Convention, including on indicators relevant to traditional
knowledge and customary sustainable use; a draft global plan of action on customary
sustainable use of biological diversity, and mechanisms to promote the effective participation of
indigenous and local communities in the work of theConvention.
Other topics for which decisions are expected include climate change and biodiversity,
ecosystem conservation and restoration, synthetic biology, the Clearinghouse Mechanism
(CHM) and others.
COP 12 will also see the historical entry into force of the Nagoya Protocol on Access to
Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization
on 12 October 2014, following its ratification by 50 States, plus the European Union, and the
first meeting of the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the
Protocol (COP-MOP 1), beginning on 13 October 2014.
COP-MOP 1 will discuss a number of issues related to the entry into force of the Protocol
including: the access and benefit-sharing clearing-house (ABS-CH); model contractual clauses;
voluntary codes of conduct; awareness-raising; theneed for and modalities of a global
multilateral benefit-sharing mechanism; cooperativeprocedures and institutional mechanisms
to promote compliance and to address cases of non-compliance; guidance on resource
mobilization for the implementation of the Nagoya Protocol; and guidance to the financial
mechanism.
Linked to the theme of biodiversity for sustainabledevelopment, the meeting will consider a
decision on the ways that biodiversity can contribute to poverty eradication and sustainable
development. The decision draws upon the outcomes of the second meeting of the Expert
Group on Biodiversity for Poverty Eradication and Development, which took place in Chennai,
India, from 4 to 6 December 2013.
These discussions on biodiversity for sustainable development will reflect and be reflected in
the high level segment which will take place on 15 and 16 October 2014. Over 100 ministers
and high level representatives will hold panel discussions on integrating biodiversity into the
sustainable development agenda at national and international levels; integrating NBSAPs into
national and local development and poverty eradication strategies and planning processes;
nature based solutions for global challenges; and Biodiversity, Climate change and the creative
economy.
Special sessions on Peace and Biodiversity and the Sustainable Ocean Initiative (SOI) will also
be held, along with an innovative series of press panels where ministers will comment on their
initiatives in support of sustainable development
In addition to the negotiations, COP 12 will also include an extensive programme of parallel
events which will mobilise and engage partners and stakeholders for implementation of the CBD
such as:
- A three-day series of business engagement events including a High-Level Segment, a
business and biodiversity workshop, a meeting of the Global Partnership for Business
and Biodiversity, and several media/launch events including a meeting on biotrade, co-
convened with UNCTAD, and discussions on tourism, commodities and the Global
Partnership.
- A Biodiversity Summit for Cities and Subnational Governments, convened in parallel with
the COP, for the fourth time, from 12 to 14 October. It is expected to attract about 500
participants, including mayors and governors, from around the world. The Summit’s
focus is on cooperative governance for biodiversity, and the various panels featured over
the two days of the meeting will also include representatives of national government,
organizations and academia.
- An extensive programme of side events organised by the Secretariat and Parties, other
organizations and civil society, which deal with issues in implementation for the
Convention: http://www.cbd.int/register/side-events/list.aspx?mtg=COP-12
- A fair of best practices in Communication, Education and Public Awareness (CEPA fair),
that will discuss the Implementation of Target 1, and the United Nations Decade on
Biodiversity http://www.cbd.int/cepa/fair/2014/
- The Rio Conventions Pavilion, an outreach activity to communicate the benefits of
coordinated implementation of the UNFCCC, UNCCD andCBD, will also be held during
the meeting. www.riopavilion.org
What and When:
- Twelfth meeting of the Conference of the Parties tothe Convention on Biological
Diversity (COP 12) 6 to 17 October 2014
- First 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 Benefits Arising from their Utilization (COP-MOP1) 13 to 17 October 2014
Where: Alpensia Convention Centre, Pyeongchang, Republic of Korea
Meeting documents: http://www.cbd.int/cop2014/
Press briefs: Press briefs on pertinent issues being discussed available at:
http://www.cbd.int/cop12/media/
Press conferences and Press Briefings: CBD Secretariat will hold daily press briefings on issues
to be covered COP 12 in the Alpensia Convention Centre at 9 a.m. every day. The Schedule of
Press Conferences can be found at: http://www.cbd.int/cop12/media/
Earth Negotiations Bulletin:Event coverage is available at http://www.iisd.ca/biodiv/cop12/
Webcasting: http://www.liveto.com/cop12/floor/02.html
For additional information: please contact David Ainsworth on +82 (0)10 2149 0526 until 17
October 2014 or at david.ainsworth@cbd.int or Johan Hedlund on +1 514 287 6670 or at
johan.hedlund@cbd.int;

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Governments meet in Republic of Korea to assess progress in implementing global Strategic Plan for Biodiversity “Pyeongchang Road Map” expected to include further steps to protect biodiversity in support of sustainable development

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