The second meeting of the Working Group on the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework (WG) kicked off on February 24th, tackling procedural agenda items and listening to general statements on the zero draft of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework (GBF).
The opening of the second meeting of the Open-Ended Working Group confirmed the renewed sense of passion in the biodiversity community, in the past six months. The list of intersessional meetings and multiple consultations was received with great appreciation. While regional groups, intergovernmental organizations, and civil society all highlighted the urgency of addressing biodiversity loss and reversing the alarming negative trends, delegates and participants spared no time delving into the specifics necessary for a successful GBF.
The lion’s share of discussions in the margins of the meeting revolved around implementation, monitoring, reporting, and review, spearheaded by a thematic consultation held in Rome prior to the meeting.
The second meeting of the Working Group on the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework (WG) resumed negotiations on the zero draft of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework (GBF) on the 25th, with delegates providing general remarks on its content. Delegates then gathered for the first contact group to negotiate the organization and language of the goals, and to gather views on the language for the GBF mission. The contact group was co-chaired by Rosemary Paterson (New Zealand) and Vinod Mathur (India).
Delegates continued their discussions on reducing threats to biodiversity, co-chaired by Wadzanayi Goredema-Mandivenyi (South Africa) and Gabriele Obermayr (Austria).
As contact groups built further momentum, delegates felt a sense of pride for what some considered good progress. Learning from the previous day’s negotiations, Contact Group 3 Co-Chair Murillo, suggested, and delegates agreed, that rather than resorting to general statements followed by tedious and painstaking line-by-line negotiations, parties take 30 minutes to provide views on each target, which would allow even faster progress.
The lengthy report from the contact group on Tools and Solutions for Implementation and Mainstreaming, showcased the extensive discussions held during the last meeting of the contact group, which lasted until midnight on Friday. As the time for closing statements rolled around, delegates continued to praise the tone and collaborative spirit of the meeting, yet highlighted the extensive amount of work yet to be done. Elizabeth Mrema, Acting Executive Secretary, CBD highlighted that “time is not on our side,” especially in light of the great number of requests made in Rome. Yet, she expressed confidence that the WG will succeed and deliver a robust and ambitious GBF in Kunming to reverse biodiversity loss, end the cycle of destruction, and ensure that future generations will not have to face a planet irreversibly damaged by human activity.
Watch our full-length movie of reactions and perspectives from OEWG2 stakeholders:
Watch our interview of Christian Schwarzer, from Global Youth Biodiversity Network, sharing his views on OEWG2 and the Zero Draft:
Marina Von Weissenberg, Senior Ministerial Advisor for the finnish Ministry of Environment:
Hamdallah Zedan, Senior Advisor to Minister of Environment, Egyptian Environmental Affairs:
Anna Krotova, Manager Standards, Global Reporting Initiative (GRI):
Aslak Holmberg, Vice President of Saami Council:
Kent Nnadozie, Secretary of International Treaty on Plant Generic Resources for Food and Agriculture, FAO:
Christian Schwarzer & Josefa Tauli, Global Youth Biodiversity Network:
Malta Qwathekana, Senior Policy Adviser, International Advisory Services, Department of Environment, Forestry and Fisheries, South Africa:
Ingrid Coetzee, Senior Programme Manager, Cities Biodiversity Center, ICLEI:
