SPECIAL VIRTUAL SESSIONS, IN PREPARATION FOR SBSTTA-24 AND SBI-3

 

The Special Virtual Sessions held in preparation of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA-24) and its third meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Implementation (SBI-3) of the Convention on Biological Diversity were held during the period 14^th – 18^th September, 2020.

 The sessions were organised to maintain the momentum ahead of the United Nations Biodiversity Summit and the fifteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP-15), and to facilitate preparations for the meetings. There were over 800 participants (representing Parties, other governments, international and non-governmental organisations, indigenous peoples and local communities, academia, and the private sector) who met to chart a path on safeguarding the world’s biodiversity.

 The Special Sessions included the:

 Launch of the fifth edition of the Global Biodiversity Outlook (GBO-5) (Special Session of SBSTTA);

• Testing of a Party-Led Review Process, Through an Open-Ended Forum (Special Session of SBI);
• Strategy for Resource Mobilisation (Special session of SBI); and
• Preparation of the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework (Special Joint Session of SBSTTA and SBI).

Arising from the Special Virtual Session, are the following conclusions:

 The GBO-5 confirms that governments and Parties must increase national ambitions in support of the new Global Biodiversity Framework, and ensure that all necessary resources are mobilised whilst strengthening the enabling environment.

 

• Member states must reform harmful incentives (including subsidies), and instead promote incentives which encourage biodiversity positive behaviours while discouraging harmful activities.

 

• A “whole of government approach” is required to foster improved coordination within and between agencies with dedicated budgets.  There needs to be the integration of biodiversity into developmental planning, sector plans and physical planning.  Underpinning this would be the recognition of the National Biodiversity Strategy and Action Plans (NBSAPs) as legitimate drivers of change (including economic) and cost/budget the projects under the NBSAP.

 

The Government of Trinidad and Tobago was represented by Candace Amoroso, Julius Smith, Kevin Bhajan and Lena Dempewolf.