The Convention on Biological Diversity's Meetings of its Open-ended Working Group on the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework, August-September, 2021

After more than a year of postponements the third meeting of the Open-Ended Working Group (OEWG-3) on the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) was convened virtually, to discuss the first draft of the GBF. This plan is intended to be the Convention’s latest strategic plan, on the heels of the expired 2011- 2020 Strategic Plan, and its 20 Aichi Biodiversity; it includes a new set of goals and targets to curb global biodiversity loss.

The two (2) weeks of discussions amongst Parties and the CBD Secretariat (though not formal negotiations) allowed the Working Group to conduct a text-based review of the first draft of the GBF, and produced a first draft report, which includes important statements from the discussions held in contact groups. The first draft report will form the basis of in-person discussions of the

WG, that are tentatively scheduled for January 2022, in Geneva, Switzerland.

Delegates met over four plenary sessions and across several contact groups to hold discussions which mainly centred on:

• Goals, Milestones and the Overall Structure of the Strategy;
• Reducing Threats for Biodiversity;
• Tools and Solutions for Implementation and Biodiversity Mainstreaming;
• Nature’s Contributions to People; and
• Digital Sequency Information on genetic resources.

The Government of Republic of Trinidad and Tobago was represented at the OEWG-3 on the Post-2020 GBF, from August 23rd to September 3rd, 2021, by the following members of the Environmental Policy and Planning Division:

• Ms. Lena Dempewolf, Biodiversity Specialist
• Ms. Candace Amoroso, Biodiversity Specialist
• Mr. Julius Smith, Environmental Biologist
• Mr. Kevin Bhajan Environmental Policy Analyst

There were over 1600 delegates registered for the WG, coming from 141 parties, one non-party, and more than 200 observer organisations.

Biodiversity Pre-Conference of the Parties (Pre-COP)

On the 30th August, a Biodiversity Pre-COP was held, to promote the high-level political commitment for the adoption of the GBF. The event, was hosted by the Government of Colombia, convened in a hybrid format featuring a physical meeting in Colombia, and online. This event gathered heads of state and government, ministers, heads of international organisations, and representatives of multilateral banks, women, youth, and indigenous Peoples and local communities (IPLCs). Participants discussed priorities and expectations for an ambitious and effective GBF. Discussions focused on sustainable consumption and production patterns, mainstreaming, and means of implementation in the context of the GBF.

During the sessions climate change, alongside biodiversity loss was pointed to as being the greatest threats to the planet. It was highlighted that there is a need for specific GBF targets, additional financial resources to fund the implementation of the GBF and debt alleviation.

The meeting also received support from three political coalitions, namely the Leaders Pledge for Nature, the High Ambition Coalition for Nature and People, and the Global Ocean Alliance (the latter two, of which Trinidad and Tobago has recently become a member), which jointly reaffirmed their role in reversing biodiversity loss by 2030.