The UN Convention on Biological Diversity’s (CBD) subsidiary body on science is holding an informal session on 17-19, 24-26 February to prepare for the formal meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA-24) scheduled for later this year.

Although, there will be no negotiations or decisions taken during this online meeting, the event will serve as an opportunity for Parties and observers to exchange opinions to develop a scientifically and technically sound post-2020 global biodiversity framework. The framework will be further reviewed for adoption at the fifteenth meeting of Conference of the Parties (COP-15).

Amon the informal discussions, Parties and observers will exchange views on the Post-2020 global biodiversity framework, including indicators to monitor progress in implementation.

A representative of the Governments of Campeche, Mr. Roger Rivero, was selected to deliver an intervention on behalf of the Advisory Committee on Subnational Governments, coordinated by Regions4 and the Government of Québec, as well as on behalf of ICLEI – Local Governments for Sustainability, the Group of Leading Subnational Governments towards the ABTs, the European Committee of the Regions, and on behalf of the Edinburgh Process Partners.

During his speech Mr. Rivero said: “Our constituencies of local and subnational governments are currently on the frontline of the fight against the Covid-19 pandemic, and we strongly believe that urgent action and leadership is needed. Like many Parties, we believe that we should oppose any delay in the adoption of the indicators that already reach a consensus until after COP15. […] We remain committed to engage in the post-2020 global biodiversity framework and we invite Parties to increase support, including financial resources, for local and subnational monitoring systems and the compilation of biodiversity indicators.”

The full intervention is available here (English and Spanish versions).

To learn more about our advocacy work for biodiversity, please visit the section on the Advisory Committee on Subnational Governments and Biodiversity (AC SNG).

Further information

To view the meeting please click on the CBD broadcast page
To access the informal meeting documents please visit the CBD website
To access the SBSTTA-24 documents please visit the page CBD – SBSSTA24