Bern II Consultation Workshop of Biodiversity-Related Conventions on the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework - (Online Meeting)

In decision 14/34, the Conference of the Parties (COP) of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) adopted the preparatory process for the development of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework and requested the Executive Secretary to facilitate the implementation of the process. In the same decision, the COP decided that the post-2020 global biodiversity framework should be accompanied by an inspirational and motivating 2030 mission as a steppingstone towards the 2050 Vision “Living in harmony with nature”. In its decision, the COP strongly recognized the importance of involving biodiversity-related conventions, Rio Conventions and other Conventions in the process for the development of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework.

In this regard, the COP invited all stakeholders, including other multilateral environmental agreements, to actively engage and contribute to the process of developing a robust post-2020 global biodiversity framework in order to foster strong ownership of the framework to be agreed and strong support for its immediate implementation (decision 14/34, para 6). The COP also invited stakeholders, including other multilateral environmental agreements, to facilitate dialogues on the post-2020 global biodiversity framework and to make the results of these dialogues available through the clearing-house mechanism of the Convention and other appropriate means (decision 14/34, para 7) and, when organizing meetings and consultations relevant to biodiversity and ecosystem functions and services, to consider dedicated sessions or space to facilitate discussions on the development of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework (decision 14/34, para 9).

The importance of the engagement of other multilateral environmental agreements is reflected in the overarching principles, organization of work, consultation process, documentation, and information sources for the preparatory process (decision 14/34, Annex). The overarching principles of the process (decision 14/34, Annex, para 2) include that it will be inclusive (enabling all relevant groups and stakeholders, including other multilateral environmental agreements, to provide their views for consideration) and comprehensive (making use of all available information and taking into account other relevant international frameworks, strategies and plans).

In decision 14/30, the COP requested the Executive Secretary and co-chairs of the open-ended working group on the preparation of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework to organize a workshop among the biodiversity-related conventions as a contribution to this comprehensive and participatory process.

Against that context, a Consultation Workshop of Biodiversity-related Conventions on the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework was held in Bern, 10-12 June 2019 (Bern I). Subsequently, the First Meeting of the Open-Ended Working Group on the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework (OEWG-1) was held in Nairobi, Kenya, 27 – 30 August 2019. The paragraph 8 of the Working Group’s report “welcomes the offer of the Government of Switzerland to host a workshop as a follow-up to the Consultation Workshop of the Biodiversity-related Conventions on the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework, held in Bern from 10 to 12 June 2019”.  It is therefore agreed that a follow-up workshop of biodiversity-related conventions (Bern II) will be organized to engage their secretariats and regional members of their governing bodies, to enable dedicated consultations to achieve more concrete results.

December 2019

• UNEP and the Government of Switzerland exchanged a pledged letter for the workshop.
• Save-the-Date Letter and a pre-meeting questionnaire were sent to Secretariats of BLG Conventions.

January 2020

• Save-the-Date Letter and a pre-meeting questionnaire were sent to Secretariats of other clusters (chemicals/waste, Rio Conventions).
• The website was launched.
• Invitation letters were sent to Secretariats and Chairs of bureaus/standing committees for nomination.
• A draft agenda and a programme based on the results of questionnaires, was prepared and consulted with BLG conventions and other clusters for inputs.

February 2020

• UNEP consolidated the nominations from MEA Secretariats and Parties and started the logistical arrangements.

March 2020

• Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the originally planned workshop (25 – 27 March) was postponed.
• The first online briefing was held on 26 and 27 March to inform the participants of the objectives and organization of the workshop. For this online briefing, a briefing note was circulated to participants.

May 2020

• The background document for the Bern II workshop was circulated to participants.

September 2020

• The second online briefing took place on 9 September.

January 2021

• The Bern II workshop (18 January – 2 February 2021)

The workshop will include party representation from the various conventions based on regional balance. Invitations are sent to the convention secretariats and the Chairs of the Bureau/Standing Committees of each convention to nominate party members from those bodies.

Key questions

The following are some of the key questions that will be addressed by the workshop:

• Which goals/targets are relevant for the different conventions?
• What elements/texts are missing in the zero-draft that would be important for the conventions?
• What tools are needed to enhance coordination and cooperation to commonly implement the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework and promote the use of synergies (e.g. indicators, reporting, baselines, capacity building, finance, technology transfer, communication)?
• How can the other conventions endorse and operationalize the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework?

Date: Tuesday, 2 February 2021, 07:00-09:00 EST (UTC-5) or 12:00-14:00 GMT (UTC+0)

Agenda – Final virtual session by video-conference (open)

Objective: To present a synthesis of the various inputs and allow for facilitated discussion of their finalization and the next steps.

*Please note that the agenda is provisional.

1. Presenting the summarization of written and verbal contributions by the various MEAs to date: UNEP-WCMC
2. Discussion drawing on the summary/further inputs on the 5 topics in the discussion forum and any other issues based on the inputs raised: Co-leads and Participants
3. Synthesis of contributions: Co-Leads and participants
4. Wind-up and way forward - workshop outcome and Roadmap to CBD CoP15: Co-Chairs, Co-Leads, SCBD and participants
5. Workshop closure: Co-leads, Co-Chairs of OEWG, UNEP

Date: Friday 22 January 2021 - 07:00-09:10 EST (Montréal) or 12:00-14:10 (GMT) UTC -5

Agenda -- Virtual session by video-conference

To enable discussion among participants and verbal contributions on the same key topics (Participants only)

1. Introduction: Co-Leads
2. Brief summary of interventions during the opening session and online platform to date: UNEP WCMC
3. Topic 1: Indicators and the monitoring framework: Participants
4. Topic 2: The review of implementation and reporting: Participants
5. Topic 3: Potential areas for cooperation on means of implementation: Participants
6. Topic 4: Implementing synergies at the national level: Participants
7. Topic 5: Operationalization of the global biodiversity framework by conventions and processes: Participants
8. Elements in the Co-Leads Paper, responding to questions/comments from first virtual session and way forward: Co-Leads and participants

Date: Monday 18 January 2021 07:00-09:00 EST (Montréal) or 12:00-14:00 (GMT) UTC -5.

Agenda: The opening videoconference - introductory webinar 

1. Opening remarks from the host of Bern II meeting: Government of Switzerland
2. Introduction to the aims and objective of the Bern II process and the virtual workshop set up: United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP)
3. Update on post-2020 process including means of implementation: (a) Co-Chairs of the Open-Ended Working Group on the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity; (b) Co-Chairs of the Open-Ended Working Group on the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework - The Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity
4. Introduction to the background document: UNEP-WCMC
5. Introduction to the co-leads paper and to topics that will be addressed through the online platform and during the next virtual session: Co-Leads of the Bern II Workshop
6. Opportunity for questions and discussion: Co-Leads of the Bern II Workshop