Secretariat Convention Biological Diversity (CBD)

1. Since the adoption of the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs, has the governing body of your organization taken (or will it take) any decisions or new strategies to guide the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs? If any, please provide a brief summary below, including the overarching vision of your organization.

Vision and Strategy of the Convention on Biological Diversity

Biological diversity underpins ecosystem functioning and the provision of ecosystem services that are essential for human well-being. It provides for food security, human health, the provision of clean air and water; it contributes to local livelihoods, and economic development more generally. It is thus essential for the achieving the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It is for this reason that biodiversity and ecosystems are included throughout the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), not only in Goals 14 and 15, but in targets of many others Goals, including SDG 2 (food), 6 (water) 11 (cities), 12 (Sustainable Consumption and Production). It is also a key factor to achieve other goals, in particular SDG 1 (poverty eradication). As one of the global multilateral agreements opened for signature at the 1992 United Nations Conference on Environment and Development in Rio de Janeiro, the CBD, together with its sister Conventions, the UNFCCC and the UNCCD, has a key role to play in contributing to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda.

The 196 Parties to the CBD are currently implementing the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and its twenty Aichi Biodiversity Targets, from which many elements have been drawn and/or expanded in the 2030 Agenda, the Sustainable Development Goals, and the associated targets. The Vision and Mission of this plan make explicit reference to the benefits of biodiversity for all people, to poverty eradication and to human well-being. The Conference of the Parties (the governing body of the Convention), the Secretariat, and the Parties to the Convention are, respectively, providing guidance to implementation of, supporting the implementation of, or implementing the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020. In doing so, they are simultaneously providing guidance to implementation of, supporting the implementation of, or implementing, the numerous relevant and interrelated goals and targets of the 2030 Agenda.

There are two Protocols under the Convention: The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, with currently 171 Parties, and the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization, with 114 Parties. The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety is also supplemented by the Nagoya – Kuala Lumpur Supplementary Protocol on Liability and Redress which entered into force on 5 March 2018 and currently has 43 Parties. Their supreme governing bodies are the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to, respectively, the Cartagena and Nagoya Protocols. Implementation of the Protocols also supports implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals, in particular Goals 2 (zero hunger), 3 (health), and 15 (life on land).

A description of the interrelations between the Convention on Biological Diversity and the 2030 Agenda is provided in a technical note "Biodiversity and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development", available online at: https://www.cbd.int/development/doc/biodiversity-2030-agenda-technical-note-en.pdf.

In addition to target 2.5 and 15.6 which are directly related to the implementation of the Nagoya Protocol; access to genetic resources and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilization of these resources can be an instrument for integrating ecological, social and economic considerations, and therefore contribute to achieve a number of SDGs as further described at: http://www.abs-initiative.info/fileadmin/media/Knowledge_Center/Pulications/SDG/Policy_Paper_-_How_ABS_and_Nagoya_Protocol_contribute_to_SDGs_-_201807.pdf

Many work streams and programmes under the Convention and its Protocols are closely aligned with the 2030 Agenda (see the references in the relevant decisions of the Conference of the Parties (COP) below). Responding comprehensively to the questions below would therefore lead to a very exhaustive document. The responses below focus on the most important facets while specific examples are given for illustrative purposes only.

The Vision of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020, adopted by the Conference of the Parties in 2010, is: "Living in Harmony with Nature" where "By 2050, biodiversity is valued, conserved, restored and wisely used, maintaining ecosystem services, sustaining a healthy planet and delivering benefits essential for all people."

The current Strategic Plan for Biodiversity will expire in 2020. At the fourteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention, which took place from 17-29 November 2018 in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, Parties agreed on a comprehensive and participatory process for the preparation of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework (see decision 14/34, available athttps://www.cbd.int/doc/decisions/cop-14/cop-14-dec-34-en.docx).

At the high-level segment of the meeting, Ministers committed to supporting the development and implementation of a post-2020 global biodiversity framework, building on the Aichi Biodiversity Targets and the lessons learned from the implementation of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and aligned with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, with a level of ambition and practicality that will facilitate the transformational changes needed to achieve the 2050 Vision for Biodiversity (see: https://www.cbd.int/doc/c/2000/ec3f/0cbb700fcf8f8e170b5f4afb/cop-14-12-en.pdf).

In paragraph 15 of decision 14/34, COP-14 noted that several of the biodiversity-related targets under the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development have endpoints of 2020 and requested the Executive Secretary to bring the preparatory process for the post-2020 global biodiversity framework to the attention of the General Assembly of the United Nations.

The Convention and its secretariat also have an established work stream on biodiversity and poverty alleviation and development (see further information under question 2). In this context, it has been active throughout the entire work process on the post-2015 development agenda which led to the adoption of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals in September 2015 (see decisions X/6, XI/22 and XII/4).

The theme of the High Level Segment (HLS) during the 12th meeting of the Conference of the Parties, in 2014, was Biodiversity for Sustainable Development. The HLS adopted the Gangwon Declaration on Biodiversity for Sustainable Development, which highlighted why biodiversity is essential for sustainable development and why development pathways must ensure that the life support system underpinned by biodiversity is maintained. It also highlighted how the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and the Aichi Biodiversity Targets can contribute to the post-2015 development agenda and the principle of "leaving no one behind".

Since the adoption of the 2030 Agenda, the Conference of the Parties adopted a number of decisions to guide its Parties, partners, stakeholders and the Secretariat in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs.

13^th meeting of the Conference of the Parties, December 2016, Decision XIII/3: Strategic Actions to Enhance the Implementation of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity including with respect to mainstreaming and the integration of biodiversity within and across sectors

In 2016, COP-13 welcomed the adoption of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals and recognized the strong interdependence between the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011 - 2020 and the SDGs in which biodiversity is included in numerous goals and targets. It also recognized that the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development provides a major opportunity for the mainstreaming of biodiversity and for the achievement of the Aichi Biodiversity Targets of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020;

COP-13 recognized the opportunities that arise from an integrated and mutually supportive implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020, the 10-year strategic plan and framework to enhance implementation of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (2008-2018), and the Reviewed Strategic Framework 2010-2019 of the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations for the achievement of internationally agreed goals and targets.

COP-13 urged Parties, when implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, to mainstream biodiversity in the implementation of all relevant Sustainable Development Goals, thus promoting linkages between efforts to implement NBSAPs and SDG strategies and plans, and called upon Parties and invites other Governments to consider utilizing an integrated approach towards achieving the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals and implementation of NBSAPs.

The COP-13 also recognized that fundamental changes in consumption and production patterns to ensure sustainable production methods, as well as mutually supportive policy, legal, technical and financial measures in the agriculture, forests, fisheries and aquaculture, and tourism, among other sectors, are critical to meeting the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

Decision XIII/3 highlighted the importance of strengthening the mainstreaming of biodiversity through relevant international processes to guide the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs.

The COP recognized that mainstreaming of biodiversity across forests, agriculture, fisheries and aquaculture, and tourism, among other sectors, is essential for halting the loss of biodiversity and achieving the Aichi Biodiversity Targets and recalls the existing guidance under the Convention's work programmes, as well as the Plan of Action on Customary Sustainable Use of Biological Diversity.

The COP welcomed the Cancun Declaration on mainstreaming the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity for well-being, adopted during the high-level segment of the United Nations Biodiversity Conference, 2016, where ministers and other heads of delegation committed to integrating, in a structured and coherent manner, actions for the conservation, sustainable use, management and restoration of biological diversity and ecosystem services in sectoral and cross-sectoral policies, plans and programmes, as well as in legal and administrative measures and budgets;

The COP requested the Executive Secretary, to enhance multi-stakeholder partnerships, and initiatives, to provide support for the implementation of Goal A of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The full text of the decision can be accessed here: https://www.cbd.int/doc/decisions/cop-13/cop-13-dec-03-en.pdf

13^th meeting of the Conference of the Parties, December 2016, Decision XIII/1: Progress in Implementation

The COP encouraged Parties to review their NBSAPs periodically, and to consider increasing the level of ambition and/or scope of the national or regional targets to a level that is corresponding to the Aichi Biodiversity Targets, and to integrate the targets across different sectors, including in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals, so as to make a greater contribution to collective global efforts to achieve the global targets;

The COP encouraged Parties when establishing or reviewing their national targets under the Convention, and when implementing their NBSAPs, to take into account relevant national and international targets under other processes, as appropriate, including targets of other relevant conventions and the Sustainable Development Goals, and also to mainstream biodiversity targets into the national and sub national strategies, action plans or policies of other sectors or processes when these are being reviewed;

The COP encouraged Parties, in the process of updating their NBSAPs, to consider, the indicators for the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and the indicators for the Sustainable Development Goals;

13^th meeting of the Conference of the Parties, December 2016, Decision XIII/27: National Reports

Parties to the Convention were required to submit national reports to the Secretariat on measures taken for the implementation of the Convention and their effectiveness. The national report guidance contained in Decision XIII/27 asks countries to report on their contributions to the achievement of the Aichi Biodiversity Targets, and how and to what extent these contributions support the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals.

13^th meeting of the Conference of the Parties, December 2016, Decision XIII/4: Biodiversity and Climate Change

The COP encouraged the Executive Secretary to promote synergies with the Secretariat of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030 and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, ensuring that this includes increasing knowledge and sharing of information, guidance and tools developed under the Convention on Biological Diversity relating to the impacts of climate change on biological diversity and the role of ecosystems for climate change adaptation, mitigation and disaster risk reduction, with a view to identifying possible solutions;

The full text of the decisions is available here: https://www.cbd.int/decisions/cop/?m=cop-13

13^th meeting of the Conference of the Parties, December 2016, Decision CP-VIII/3: Capacity-building

The COP/MOP to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety urged Parties and other Governments to integrate biosafety in their national biodiversity strategies and actions plans and broader national development strategies in order to implement the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals. It further encouraged Parties to continue to enhance capacity for, inter alia, initiatives for the Sustainable Development Goals, and requested the Secretariat to undertake regional and subregional workshops and other relevant activities in order to enhance the capacity of Parties to promote such integration.

13^th meeting of the Conference of the Parties, December 2016, Decision CP-VIII/15: Third assessment and review of the effectiveness of the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety and mid-term evaluation of the Strategic Plan

The COP-MOP to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety encouraged Parties to integrate training, public awareness, education and participation into a number of different initiatives including initiatives for the Sustainable Development Goals. It also requested the Executive Secretary to undertake activities to enhance the capacity of Parties to promote the integration of biosafety considerations into national strategies to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals.

At the 14^th Conference of the Parties, convened in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, from 17 – 29 November 2018, the following decisions were made reflecting the 2030 Agenda and SDGs. The full texts of the decisions listed below are available here: https://www.cbd.int/conferences/2018/cop-14/documents.

14^th meeting of the Conference of the Parties, November 2018, Decision 14/1: Updated assessment of progress towards selected Aichi Biodiversity Targets and options to accelerate progress’

The COP-14 noted its deep concern “that, despite many positive actions by Parties and others, most of the Aichi Biodiversity Targets are not on track to be achieved by 2020, which, in the absence of further significant progress, will jeopardize the achievement of the mission and vision of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020,1 and the Sustainable Development Goals and ultimately the planet’s life support systems.”

In paragraph 18 of the same decision, the Conference of the Parties requested the Executive Secretary “to communicate through the United Nations system, including the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development and relevant multilateral environmental agreements, that failing to achieve the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 jeopardizes the attainment of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and, therefore, urgent action, including achieving resource mobilization targets, is required to achieve the Aichi Biodiversity Targets and to safeguard the planet’s life-support systems.”

Additionally, in paragraph 2(h) of the decision’s Annex, the Conference of the Parties recommended action in the form of “promoting and developing governance systems which address biodiversity issues in a more coherent manner and better internalize global biodiversity commitments, including by improving the integration of indigenous and local knowledge and plurality of values in governance processes, and by better accounting for possible synergies in the implementation of bilateral and multilateral agreements, the Sustainable Development Goals, and other international and regional initiatives at the national level.”

14^th meeting of the Conference of the Parties, November 2018, Decision 14/2: Scenarios for the 2050 Vision for Biodiversity.

In paragraph 2(c) the Conference of the Parties invited “the identification of potential synergies, trade-offs and limitations related to biodiversity that should be considered in order to identify effective policies and measures to enable the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals.”

In paragraph 8 of the decision’s Annex, a relevant conclusion of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice regarding scenarios for the 2050 Vision For Biodiversity was noted, specifically: “The 2050 Vision is consistent with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and other international goals. Progress towards the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development would help to address many drivers of biodiversity loss and also support biodiversity objectives by creating a favourable enabling environment. The integrated and indivisible nature of the Agenda implies that the achievement of all goals is necessary, and scenarios and models may inform the choice of policies and measures and their limitations, highlighting the need for policy coherence.”

14^th meeting of the Conference of the Parties, November 2018, Decision 14/3: Mainstreaming of biodiversity in the energy and mining, infrastructure, manufacturing and processing sectors

In the preamble to decision 14/3, the COP stresses “that mainstreaming biodiversity in the sectors of energy and mining, infrastructure, manufacturing and processing, is essential for halting the loss of biodiversity and for the achievement of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and the goals and objectives of different multilateral agreements and international processes, including the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Sustainable Development Goals and the Paris Agreement.”

In recognizing that mainstreaming is critical to achieving the objectives of the Convention, the Conference of the Parties in paragraph 13(s) encouraged and invited Parties “to promote the formulation of policies, work plans and concrete actions among ministries, agencies and other bodies responsible for biodiversity and the sectors of energy and mining, infrastructure, manufacturing and processing, to facilitate the mainstreaming of biological diversity in these sectors, within the framework of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and to include such policies, work plans and concrete actions in their national biodiversity strategies and action plans, as appropriate.”

Additionally, in paragraph 16(c) it invited Parties “To develop specific guidance on how to strengthen the ecosystem and biodiversity impact and dependency components of business reporting against the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its Sustainable Development Goals.” And in paragraph 5(c) of the decision’s Annex, the Conference of the Parties noted that the Executive Secretary should “continue to engage in key international processes, including the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.”

14^th meeting of the Conference of the Parties, November 2018, Decision 14/4: Health and biodiversity.

The Conference of the Parties stressed “that mainstreaming biodiversity in the health sector is essential for halting the loss of biodiversity and for the achievement of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-20201 and the goals and objectives of different multilateral agreements and international processes, including the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals,”

The COP-14 also took note that “the opportunities to contribute to the achievement of the Aichi Biodiversity Targets, in particular Target 14, and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals, through the mainstreaming of health-biodiversity linkages into relevant sectors and initiatives, including those for health, environment, agriculture, finance, nutrition and food security, food safety, planning (including urban planning), climate change mitigation and adaptation, and disaster risk reduction.” It also invited Parties and other Governments “to consider integrating One Health policies, plans or projects, and other holistic approaches in their national biodiversity strategies and action plans, and, as appropriate, national health plans, and other instruments including those under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the International Strategy for Disaster Risk Reduction, to jointly support the implementation of the Convention, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and other relevant global commitments (para. 3).”

Additionally, in paragraph 6 COP-14 encouraged Parties “to promote dialogue among ministries and agencies responsible for the sectors of health (including domestic animal and wildlife health), environment, pollution (such as marine plastic debris), pesticides, antimicrobial resistance, agriculture, nutrition and food security, food safety, planning (including urban planning), climate change adaptation and mitigation and disaster risk reduction, to foster integrated approaches, with a view to enhancing implementation of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-20201 and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, including by mainstreaming biodiversity and health linkages such as those contained in the annex to decision XIII/6 into existing and future policies, plans and strategies, as appropriate.”

In paragraph 8 of the same decision, COP-14 “Invites Parties and other Governments, and relevant organizations to further develop communication, education and public awareness tools on the importance for public health of the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity and ecosystem-based approaches, with a view to mainstreaming biodiversity and developing biodiversity-inclusive One Health policies, plans and programmes, among other holistic approaches, in line with the objectives of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.”

14^th meeting of the Conference of the Parties, November 2018, Decision 14/5: Biodiversity and climate change.

The COP encouraged Parties and other governments “to foster a coherent, integrated and co-beneficial implementation of the actions under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and its Paris Agreement,5 the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Convention on Biological Diversity, including the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and the future post-2020 global biodiversity framework, the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification, and other relevant international frameworks, such as the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction 2015-2030, where appropriate (para. 5(a)).”

In paragraph 6, the Conference of the Parties also welcomed “the assessment by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services on land degradation and restoration, and its regional assessments on biodiversity and ecosystem services, and endorses its key messages that support achieving the Sustainable Development Goals through the use of ecosystem-based approaches to climate change adaptation and mitigation, disaster risk reduction, and combating land degradation, clearly showing how the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals, the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and the Paris Agreement depend on the environment in all its diversity and complexity.”

It also encouraged Parties “to collaborate on the conservation, restoration and wise/sustainable use of wetlands so that their importance, within the context of climate change and disaster risk reduction, is recognized, and to support the process towards developing a joint declaration of multilateral environmental agreements with respect to peatland conservation, restoration and wise use, thereby safeguarding the multiple benefits of peatlands, including restored peatlands, and contributing to the Sustainable Development Goals.”

In paragraph 13 of the decision’s Annex, and in relation to ecosystem-based approaches and ecosystem-based disaster risk reduction, the Conference described that “When mainstreaming EbA and eco-DRR, it is important to align with national and subnational development frameworks and mainstream into relevant plans, policies and practice at multiple scales in order to enhance long-term sustainability and possibilities for funding. It is also important to align with international frameworks and conventions, such as the Sustainable Development Goals and the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020. It is also important to incorporate a climate and disaster risk reduction lens, when implementing environmental impact assessments and strategic environmental assessments, to prevent unintended impacts that may exacerbate risk and promote EbA and Eco-DRR measures.”

The Conference of the Parties also described that “Communicating the multiple benefits of EbA and Eco-DRR across sectors, communities of practice, and disciplines is crucial to enhancing uptake and sustainability of initiatives, in addition to opening avenues for funding. National and international policy agreements provide an opportunity to bridge the gap between different communities of practice. Interlinkages between ecosystem management, climate change and disaster risk reduction are all reflected in various targets under the Sustainable Development Goals, the Sendai Framework for Disaster Risk Reduction, the Paris Agreement on Climate Change, decisions of the Parties to the Rio conventions, and resolutions of Parties to the Ramsar Convention (Annex, para. 21)

And finally, in the decision’s Annex, paragraph 37(c) the Conference recommended to “Develop indicators at the appropriate temporal and spatial scales to monitor the quantity and quality of change” and in doing so “Use targets and indicators under the Sustainable Development Goals, Aichi Biodiversity Targets and other relevant frameworks to track progress in sustainable ecosystem management and biodiversity enhancement, which also deliver towards strengthening resilience to climate change impacts and disasters (iii).”

14^th meeting of the Conference of the Parties, November 2018, Decision 14/6: Conservation and sustainable use of pollinators.

The Conference noted “the importance of pollinators and pollination for all ecosystems, including those beyond agricultural and food production systems, particularly to the livelihoods and culture of indigenous peoples and local communities, and recognizing the important contribution of activities to promote the conservation and sustainable use of pollinators and pollination functions and services in achieving the Aichi Biodiversity Targets as well as the Sustainable Development Goals,”

In paragraph 4 of the decision’s Annex, the Conference described that “The purpose of this Plan of Action is to help Parties, other Governments, indigenous peoples and local communities, relevant organizations and initiatives to implement decision XIII/15, in alignment with the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and its Aichi Biodiversity Targets and the 2050 Vision for Biodiversity, the FAO Strategic Framework 2010-2019, and relevant successor frameworks, and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, including the Sustainable Development Goals.”

14^th meeting of the Conference of the Parties, November 2018, Decision 14/7: Sustainable wildlife management.

The Conference notes in paragraph 2 of the decision “that the voluntary guidance for a sustainable wild meat sector can contribute to improving integrated wildlife management aspects reflected in Sustainable Development Goals 2 and 15,3 for terrestrial wildlife, with a view to enhancing policy coherence across biodiversity-related conventions4 and other conservation agreements.”

Furthermore, in paragraph 3 it “Encourages Parties, other Governments and relevant organizations, including other biodiversity-related conventions and conservation agreements, where applicable, and in accordance with national circumstances and national legislation, to make use of the voluntary guidance for a sustainable wild meat sector, as well as the Plan of Action on Customary Sustainable Use of Biological Diversity and the Sustainable Development Goals, when developing, revising and implementing governance approaches on wildlife and when developing and updating national development plans and national biodiversity strategies and action plans.”

The COP “Invites Parties to provide, on a voluntary basis, best practices from their existing national programmes that promote sustainable wildlife management, while contributing to poverty reduction, food security and employment generation, in line with the Sustainable Development Goals and sustainable use of biological diversity (para. 4).”

In paragraph 16 of the decision’s annex, the COP describes that “The information contained in the present guidance thus contributes to the achievement of objectives and commitments under the Convention on Biological Diversity and other conventions, including the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), as well as the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.”

Furthermore, in paragraph 17 of the annex the decision stated that “While many of the types of actions suggested in the present guidance can be undertaken in the short term, sustainable wildlife management involves sustained activities over the medium and long term. Therefore, the actions identified in the present note should be undertaken in the context of the 2050 Vision of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.”

14^th meeting of the Conference of the Parties, November 2018, Decision 14/8: Protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures.

In the decision’s Annex I, entitled “Voluntary guidance on the integration of protected areas and other effective area-based conservation measures into wider land- and seascapes and mainstreaming across sectors to contribute, inter alia, to the sustainable development goals”, paragraph 4 describes that “Protected areas safeguard the biodiversity and ecosystems that underpin the Sustainable Development Goals.”

In Annex III of the decision, paragraph C(2) elaborates on the “Role in achieving the Aichi Biodiversity Target 11” and in part (b) describes that “Since other effective area-based conservation measures are diverse in terms of purpose, design, governance, stakeholders and management, they will often also contribute to other Aichi Biodiversity Targets, targets of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and the objectives or targets of other multilateral environmental agreements.”

14^th meeting of the Conference of the Parties, November 2018, Decision 14/9: Marine and coastal biodiversity: ecologically or biologically significant marine areas.

Paragraph 3 calls for “further collaboration and information-sharing among the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the International Maritime Organization and the International Seabed Authority, as well as regional fishery bodies, regional seas conventions and actions plans, and other relevant international organizations, regarding the use of scientific information on ecological and biological features related to ecologically or biologically significant marine areas as one of the key pieces of information that can be used, inter alia, for guidance regarding area-based management tools, with a view to contributing to the achievement of the Aichi Biodiversity Targets and relevant Sustainable Development Goals.”

14^th meeting of the Conference of the Parties, November 2018, Decision 14/14: Other matters related to Article 8(j) and related provisions

This decision “Invites Parties, when implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, to mainstream traditional knowledge, innovations and practices, including those on customary sustainable use of biodiversity, into the implementation of all relevant Sustainable Development Goals with the full and effective participation of indigenous peoples and local communities and with their prior and informed consent or free, prior and informed consent or approval and involvement, as appropriate, and consistent with national legislation and circumstances, and in accordance with international obligations.”

14^th meeting of the Conference of the Parties, November 2018, Decision 14/17: Integration of Article 8(j) and provisions related to indigenous peoples and local communities in the work of the Convention and its Protocols.

Through this decision the Conference of the Parties recognizes “the need for a more holistic, forward-looking and integrated programme of work, taking into account recent developments, including the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its goals,2 the Paris Agreement3 under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, as well as the future post-2020 biodiversity framework,”

In paragraph 2 the Conference decided “to consider the development of a fully integrated programme of work on Article 8(j) and related provisions within the post-2020 biodiversity framework, to allow for the full and effective participation of indigenous peoples and local communities in the work of the Convention, on the basis of achievements to date, taking into account the ongoing and postponed tasks of Parties, also taking into account the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and its goals,2 the Paris Agreement3 under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, and gaps identified.”

14^th meeting of the Conference of the Parties, November 2018, Decision 14/18: Gender plan of action.

In paragraph 2 the Conference “emphasizes the need to address gender considerations in the development of the post-2020 biodiversity framework and in line with the gender targets of the Sustainable Development Goals.”

14^th meeting of the Conference of the Parties, November 2018, Decision 14/23: Financial mechanism.

In paragraph 3(n) of the decision’s annex, the Conference described that “Funding needs assessment should take into account…Progress made on the implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, in particular, Goal 17 (strengthen the means of implementation).”

14^th meeting of the Conference of the Parties, November 2018, Decision 14/24: Capacity-building and technical and scientific cooperation.

Through paragraph 1(d) the Conference “Requests the Executive Secretary, subject to the availability of resources: To submit a draft long-term strategic framework for capacity-building beyond 2020 aligned with the draft post-2020 global biodiversity framework and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development for consideration by the Subsidiary Body on Implementation at its third meeting and for subsequent consideration by the Conference of the Parties at its fifteenth meeting.”

14^th meeting of the Conference of the Parties, November 2018, Decision 14/25: Knowledge management under the Convention and its Protocols.

Paragraph 4(a) of the decision “Requests the Executive Secretary, subject to the availability of resources…To continue to implement the work programme for the clearing-house mechanism in support of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-20202 and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development with the guidance of the Informal Advisory Committee to the Clearing-House Mechanism.”

14^th meeting of the Conference of the Parties, November 2018, Decision 14/27: Process for aligning national reporting, assessment and review.

The Conference of the Parties, through paragraph 3 (f) Requests the Executive Secretary “To continue to contribute to the monitoring process for the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and to explore synergies with the related reporting systems and tools for the Sustainable Development Goals, including with regard to methodological approaches.”

14^th meeting of the Conference of the Parties, November 2018, Decision 14/30: Cooperation with other conventions, international organizations and initiatives

The Conference of the Parties “Recognizes the importance of collaboration and cooperation among biodiversity-related conventions, the Rio Conventions, and other international conventions in implementing the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals (para. 3).”

Furthermore, in paragraph 4 the Conference “Encourages consideration of actions for enhanced synergies among biodiversity-related conventions, the Rio Conventions, and other conventions that also address issues related to the three objectives of the Convention, in the development of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework, in particular, as they are essential for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals.”

14^th meeting of the Conference of the Parties, November 2018, Decision 14/34: Comprehensive and participatory process for the preparation of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework.

In this decision the Conference of the Parties “Invites the General Assembly of the United Nations to convene a high-level biodiversity summit at the level of Heads of State/Heads of Government in 2020 in order to raise the political visibility of biodiversity and its contribution to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and to the development of a robust post-2020 global biodiversity framework (para. 13).”

It also “Notes that several of the biodiversity-related targets under the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development have endpoints of 2020, and requests the Executive Secretary to bring the preparatory process for the post-2020 global biodiversity framework to the attention of the General Assembly of the United Nations (para. 15).”

Additionally, in paragraph 9, it is described that “The co-chairs will seek to ensure the coherence and complementarity of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework with other existing or upcoming international processes, in particular with regard to consistency and coherence with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Paris Agreement and other related processes, frameworks and strategies. They will encourage other multilateral environmental agreements, including biodiversity-related conventions and the Rio conventions, relevant international organizations and their programmes, and other relevant processes to actively participate in the development process for the post-2020 global biodiversity framework. The process will build on ongoing work under the Convention and the two Protocols to strengthen implementation support mechanisms and the review of implementation.”

Through paragraph 12 (f) the decision notes that the initial documentation of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework process “will provide a basis for discussing:..The scientific underpinning of the scale and scope of actions necessary to make progress towards the 2050 Vision, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Development Goals, the Paris Agreement and to reverse the trend of biodiversity loss and transformational change” and will provide a “Means of enhancing coherence and cooperation among the biodiversity-related conventions, including options for enhancing synergies on national reporting among the biodiversity-related conventions, Rio conventions and the Sustainable Development Goals (para, 12(k)).”

Finally, in paragraph 13 the Conference of the Parties describes that “The key sources of information that will be used in developing documentation related to the post-2020 process and in informing the activities carried out are:…(l) Voluntary National Reviews to the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development and the 2019 Global Sustainable Development Report; (r) Analytical work prepared in accordance with recommendations XXI/1 and XXI/5 of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice and decision 14/35 of the Conference of the Parties. This includes analytical work on the following: (i) The links between biodiversity and the Sustainable Development Goals and the role of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in providing an enabling environment for addressing the drivers of biodiversity loss; (iv) Policy options and recommendations under the Convention that could leverage the transformational change required to achieve the 2050 Vision for Biodiversity and contribute to the implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.”

14^th meeting of the Conference of the Parties, November 2018, Decision 14/36: Second work programme of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services

In its decision the Conference of the Parties “Notes that the strategic framework up to 2030 and elements of the rolling work programme of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services is also expected to be relevant to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and the Paris Agreement on Climate Change2 and other biodiversity-relevant processes (para. 4).”

In its Annex paragraph 1(b), it further describes that “The scope and timing of a future global assessment, including consideration of a single assessment that integrates the regional and global components, including resource requirements for the regional components, should be considered carefully to serve the assessment needs arising from the post-2020 global biodiversity framework as well as the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development in relation to biodiversity and ecosystem services. Overlap with other activities, analyses and assessments, including possible future editions of the Global Biodiversity Outlook, should be minimized and synergies maximized.”

Additionally, paragraph 2(c) of the annex invites the platform to “Assess issues at the nexus of biodiversity, food and water, agriculture and health, nutrition and food security, forestry and fisheries, considering trade-offs among these areas and related policy options regarding sustainable production and consumption, pollution and urbanization, including implications for energy and climate, taking into account the role of biodiversity and ecosystem services in addressing the Sustainable Development Goals, with a view to enabling decisions that support the coherent policy and transformational change necessary to achieve the 2050 Vision for Biodiversity.”

2.1 SDG-specific strategies, plans or work programmes

The Secretariat is facilitating several streams of work under the Convention and under the Protocols, many of which are under formal programmes of work adopted by the Conference of the Parties or Plans of Action, that are taking steps in follow-up to the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs. Some of them explicitly address issues of poverty, as well as the rights, roles, and the full and effective participation of women, youth, and indigenous peoples and local communities.

Information on the activities of the various work streams under the two Protocols can be found here:

The Nagoya Protocol on Access and Benefit Sharing: (https://www.cbd.int/abs/): SDGs 2 and 15

The Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (http://bch.cbd.int/protocol ): SDGs 2, 3 and 15

Work streams under the Convention:

Biodiversity for development and poverty alleviation (https://www.cbd.int/development ): SDGs 1,2,3

Agricultural Biodiversity (https://www.cbd.int/agro/ ): SDG 2

Health and Biodiversity (https://www.cbd.int/health/ ): SDGs 2, 3, 6

Cities and Subnational Governments (https://www.cbd.int/subnational ): SDG 11

Gender and Biodiversity (https://www.cbd.int/gender/ ): SDGs 4, 5

Article8(j)-Traditional Knowledge, Innovations and Practices (https://www.cbd.int/traditional/ ): SDGs 2,3,5,10,14,15

Protected areas (https://www.cbd.int/protected/ ): SDGs 6, 11, 14 and 15

Biodiversity and Climate change (https://www.cbd.int/climate/intro.shtm ; https://www.cbd.int/climate/copenhagen/ ): SDG 13

Invasive Alien Species (https://www.cbd.int/island/invasive.shtml ): SDGs 14 and 15

Marine and Coastal Biodiversity (https://www.cbd.int/marine ): SDG 14

Forest Biodiversity and Ecosystem Restoration (https://www.cbd.int/forest/about.shtml ): SDG 15

Peace and Biodiversity Dialogue Initiative (https://www.cbd.int/peace/ ): SDG 16

National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (https://www.cbd.int/nbsap/ ): SDG 17

Resource Mobilization (https://www.cbd.int/financial/reporting.shtml ): SDB 17

Biodiversity and Tourism Development (https://www.cbd.int/tourism/ ; http://icr.unwto.org/content/tourism-and-sdgs ): SDGs 8, 12, and 14

In addition to these work streams, and as mentioned above, the Convention and, accordingly, its Secretariat, is providing increasing focus on the mainstreaming of biodiversity into key economic sectors. As mentioned above, COP-13 adopted decision XIII/3 addressing inter alia the mainstreaming of biodiversity in agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and tourism, while COP-14 addressed the mainstreaming of biodiversity in the sectors of energy and mining, infrastructure, manufacturing and processing, as well as health. These sectors are at the heart of the economic priorities of the SDGs. In decision 14/3, the COP decided to develop a long-term strategic approach to mainstreaming, as a key element of the post-2020 global biodiversity agenda.

2.2 Aligning the structure of the organization with the transformative features of the 2030 Agenda, including any challenges and lessons learned in doing so

A Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework

The current Strategic Plan for Biodiversity will expire in 2020 and, as explained above, COP-14 agreed on a comprehensive and participatory process for the preparation of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework (see: https://www.cbd.int/doc/decisions/cop-14/cop-14-dec-34-en.docx).

In paragraph 15 of the decision, the COP noted that several of the biodiversity-related targets under the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development have endpoints of 2020, and requested the Executive Secretary to bring the preparatory process for the post-2020 global biodiversity framework to the attention of the General Assembly of the United Nations.

The process for developing the post-2020 global biodiversity framework is meant to be transformative, to mobilize broad societal engagement to achieve accelerated and sustainable transformations to implement the three objectives of the Convention, whereby biodiversity and ecosystems are recognized as the essential infrastructure supporting life on Earth, without which human development and well-being will not be possible. It will place biodiversity, its conservation, the sustainable use of its components and the fair and equitable sharing of the benefits arising out of the utilization of genetic resources, at the heart of the sustainable development agenda, recognizing the important linkages between biological and cultural diversity (decision 14/34 Annex, para. 2(d)).

Importantly and in the context of the HLPF 2019 thematic focus, the process for developing the post-2020 global biodiversity framework will be inclusive. Specifically, the process will help enable all relevant groups and stakeholders to provide their views for consideration. This includes Parties, other Governments, indigenous peoples and local communities, United Nations organizations and programmes, other multilateral environmental agreements, subnational governments, cities and local authorities, intergovernmental organizations, non-governmental organizations, women’s groups, youth groups, the business and finance community, the scientific community, academia, faith-based organizations, representatives of sectors related to or dependent on biodiversity, citizens at large, and other stakeholders. Efforts should be made to solicit views from a wide range of perspectives, going beyond those traditionally involved in the work of the Convention and the two Protocols (ibid., Annex, para. 2(b)).”

2.3 Readjusting or updating results-based budgeting and management, including performance indicators:

n/a

2.4 Action to enhance support to the principle of "leaving no one behind" and to integrated policy approaches:

See information provided on work streams related to (i) biodiversity and poverty alleviation; (ii) Article 8(j) and related Provisions; and (iii) on biodiversity mainstreaming.

In the context of the 2030 Agenda’s ‘leave no one behind’ principle, the Convention’s Aichi Biodiversity Target 2 is that, “by 2020, at the latest, biodiversity values have been integrated into national and local development and poverty reduction strategies and planning processes and are being incorporated into national accounting, as appropriate, and reporting systems (www.cbd.int/sp/targets/ ).” Additionally, at its twelfth meeting, the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity adopted decisions encouraging Parties to:

“(para. 3)…integrate biodiversity and nature’s benefits to people, including ecosystem services and functions, into poverty eradication and development strategies, initiatives and processes at all levels, and vice versa, to integrate poverty eradication and development concerns and priorities into national biodiversity strategies and action plans and other appropriate plans, policies and programmes for the implementation of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and the achievement of the Aichi Biodiversity Targets, and to monitor, evaluate and report on these integration efforts, through appropriate indicators and tools, and include this information, inter alia, in their national report…
(para. 5)…enhance the contribution of biodiversity to sustainable development and poverty reduction through the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the utilization of genetic resources and associated traditional knowledge, the conservation of biological diversity and the sustainable use of its components.”

(Please refer to: www.cbd.int/doc/decisions/cop-12/cop-12-dec-05-en.pdf)

Last year the Secretariat elaborated on the relationship of biodiversity and the ‘leave no one behind’ principle in its formal input to ECOSOC for the 2018 High-level Political Forum. The Secretariat’s 2019 input to the HLPF will also elaborate on these relationships, including also in the context of SDG 10 on reduced inequalities. The 2018 and 2019 inputs can be accessed from the HLPF website at: https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/inputs/.

Furthermore, in 2019 the Secretariat is planning to prepare a supplemental biodiversity-specific guidance to the UN Sustainable Development Group’s forthcoming ‘Operational Guide on Leaving No One Behind’. The intent of this guidance document on biodiversity will be to provide pragmatic illustrations of the cross-cutting role that biodiversity plays in leaving no one behind through poverty reduction and also as a fundamental human right, as articulated by the UN Human Rights Council at its 34^th Session through its Report of the Special Rapporteur on the issue of human rights obligations relating to the enjoyment of a safe, clean, healthy and sustainable environment (see: http://ap.ohchr.org/documents/dpage_e.aspx?si=A/HRC/34/49).

2.5 Others:

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3.1 Mainstreaming the SDGs in development plans and policies or through national sustainable development plans/strategies:

In the context of joint country programming, a draft Biodiversity-specific supplemental ‘Biodiversity-specific Guidance for Common Country Assessments (CCA)’ is being prepared to support effective and efficient analysis of biodiversity’s foundational role in supporting a Member State’s achievement of all 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs). The United Nations Sustainable Development Group (UNSDG) and its Development Operations and Coordination Office (DOCO) describe CCA as an opportunity for UN agencies to come together with key national and international stakeholders to discuss national development challenges and common approaches in the beginning of the United Nations Development Assistance Framework (UNDAF) cycle. Given its foundational role in sustainable development, biodiversity is included as one of the cross-cutting elements for defining country context in a CCA undertaken in support of an UNDAF.

Additionally, the Secretariat and its partners provide analytical, technical assistance and/or capacity building to countries in implementing various work streams under the Convention and thus support the provision of normative guidance by the Conference of the Parties. In so doing, they also provide this support for implementing the relevant elements of the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs. The extent and specifics of the support provided vary depending on each work programme, country needs, strategic priorities, availability of funds, among other things. The Short-term Action Plan (2017-2020) to Enhance and Support Capacity-Building for the Implementation of the Convention and its Protocols, which was adopted by the Parties in December 2016, includes more than 100 concrete activities relating to various Aichi Biodiversity Targets and will likely contribute to supporting SDGs 14, 15 and others:

https://www.cbd.int/doc/decisions/cop-13/cop-13-dec-23-en.pdf

Examples of capacity-building activities organized or facilitated by SCBD, which have or may contribute to the points above including to different SDGs, are provided in reports prepared for various CBD meetings. For instance:

- a report on national capacity-building activities on protected areas: https://www.cbd.int/doc/meetings/cop/cop-13/information/cop-13-inf-19-en.pdf ;

- a report on the progress and results of capacity-building activities promoted and facilitated by SCBD: https://www.cbd.int/doc/meetings/sbi/sbi-01/information/sbi-01-inf-29-en.pdf ;

- a report on the financial reporting and resource mobilization capacity-building programme: https://www.cbd.int/doc/meetings/sbi/sbi-01/information/sbi-01-inf-17-en.pdf ;

- a report on capacity-building and participation of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities in the work of the Convention; https://www.cbd.int/doc/meetings/sbi/sbi-01/information/sbi-01-inf-01-en.pdf ;

- the Sustainable Ocean Initiative and the Forest Ecosystem Restoration Initiative capacity-building activities: https://www.cbd.int/soi/events; https://www.feri-biodiversity.org/

- A report on progress on implementation of the strategic framework on capacity-building and development to support the implementation of the Nagoya Protocol https://www.cbd.int/doc/c/afcf/e758/607d3576342330cdc5eec723/np-mop-03-…

Recent activities facilitated by Secretariat is also provided in the Biodiversity Capacity Development Update e-newsletters: https://www.cbd.int/doc/newsletters/default.shtml

3.2 Mainstreaming the SDGs in sectoral strategies, including specific SDG/target strategies:

Article 6 of the Convention, on General Measures for Conservation and Sustainable Use, states that each Contracting Party shall, in accordance with its particular conditions and capabilities: (a) Develop national strategies, plans or programmes for the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity or adapt for this purpose existing strategies, plans or programmes which shall reflect, inter alia, the measures set out in this Convention relevant to the Contracting Party concerned; and (b) Integrate, as far as possible and as appropriate, the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity into relevant sectoral or cross-sectoral plans, programmes and policies.

These National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans, or NBSAPs, inherently provide a mechanism for mainstreaming SDGs 14 and 15 into sectoral strategies. Since COP-10, 164 Parties have submitted NBSAPs.

NBSAPs also provide guidance on mainstreaming biodiversity concerns (and therefore also many of the SDGs) into national development and/or poverty reduction plans and into plans and activities of the major economic sectors such as agriculture, fisheries, forestry, tourism etc.

The Secretariat and partners have made significant efforts around the question of mainstreaming biodiversity (and thus some of the SDGs) into sectoral and cross sectoral strategies and action plans. As mentioned above, COP-13, in 2016 focused on mainstreaming in agriculture, forests, fisheries and tourism while COP-14, in December 2018 focussed on mainstreaming in energy and mining, infrastructure, manufacturing and processing, as well as health.

In decision 14/3, COP-14 recognized and in paragraph 13(s) encouraged and invited Parties “To promote the formulation of policies, work plans and concrete actions among ministries, agencies and other bodies responsible for biodiversity and the sectors of energy and mining, infrastructure, manufacturing and processing, to facilitate the mainstreaming of biological diversity in these sectors, within the framework of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, and to include such policies, work plans and concrete actions in their national biodiversity strategies and action plans, as appropriate.”

These sectors are at the heart of the economic priorities of the SDGs, and the analytical and conceptual work required to adequately prepare the deliberations on this item at the meetings of the Conference of the Parties constituted an important work area of the Secretariat over the years since the 2030 Agenda was adopted by Member States.

These decisions also acknowledge the importance of biodiversity for well being, health, sanitation, food security and hunger reduction, poverty eradication, prevention of natural disasters, resilient, sustainable and inclusive cities and human settlements and climate change adaptation and mitigation, and integrates concerns for employment, decent work, poverty eradication and social inequality.

3.3 Data and statistical capacity building:

See the capacity building work on financial reporting, referenced in the previous question.

3.4 Science, technology and innovation for the SDGs:

The Secretariat, with support from the Republic of Korea, is implementing a programme, known as the Bio-Bridge Initiative, focused on catalyzing and facilitating technical and scientific cooperation and technology transfer among Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity and its Protocols on Biosafety (Cartagena Protocol) and on Access and Benefit-sharing (Nagoya Protocol). The Initiative facilitates technical and scientific cooperation among Parties by linking Parties that have specific technical and scientific needs with Parties or institutions that are able to provide the necessary technical support and resources to meet those needs through mutual partnerships and creating a space for countries and institutions to share knowledge, good practices and lessons learned with each other. This is facilitated through the help desk service, the Bio-Bridge web platform and regional round tables. This will contribute to the implementation of biodiversity-related SDGs and their targets. See here: https://www.cbd.int/biobridge/platform

3.5 Multi-stakeholder partnerships:

Multi-stakeholder partnerships enhance the capacity of the Secretariat to provide normative, analytical, technical assistance or capacity building to Parties on a range of issue areas that support implementation of national biodiversity strategies and action plans, the Strategic Plan on Biodiversity 2011-2020 and its Aichi Biodiversity Targets, and therefore the SDGs. The Secretariat coordinates or participates in the following multi-stakeholder partnerships: the Sustainable Ocean Initiative, the Food and Land Use Coalition, the Forest Ecosystem Restoration Initiative, the Global Islands Partnership, the Global Partnership on Forest Landscape Restoration, the Global Partnership on Local and Subnational Action for Biodiversity, the Global Partnership for Business and Biodiversity, the Nature and Culture Coalition, and the Consortium of Scientific Partners on Biodiversity. (Interagency cooperation mechanisms are addressed under question 5).

For example, the Global Islands Partnership, GLISPA, created in 2018 to support implementation of the Programme of Work on Island Biodiversity, evolved into a multi-stakeholder platform focused mostly on the needs of SIDS, island Parties and Parties with islands, offering a technical and scientific cooperation platform for sustainable development and the SDGs. For more information see http://glispa.org/

A further elaboration of multi-stakeholder partnerships is elaborated under Question 6.

3.6 Sub-national plans/strategies and implementation for the SDGs:

As mentioned under question 2, the Secretariat and its partners provide normative, analytical, technical assistance or capacity building to Parties under various work streams. One of the work streams is on cities and subnational authorities.

Since 2008, the Convention has become active in promoting the development of subnational biodiversity and ecosystem service strategies and action plans. As these levels of government are even more sensitive to basic needs of citizens, and aware that the importance of the biodiversity agenda is linked to its contribution to sustainable development, this has made mainstreaming even more relevant. In 2010, along with the Strategic Plan 2011-2020, Parties adopted a Plan of Action for the engagement of sub-national governments, cities and other local authorities:

https://www.cbd.int/decision/cop/default.shtml?id=12288

Subsequent decisions on this topic were taken at every Conference afterwards, including XIII/3, and the Secretariat and Parties coordinated their input into the New Urban Agenda arising out of the Habitat III process closed in Quito, Ecuador, in 2016.

In parallel with COP-14 in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt in November 2018, the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity jointly with the Cities Biodiversity Centre of ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability, the Network of Regional Governments for Sustainable Development (nrg4SD) and the South Sinai Governorate of Egypt, convened the sixth Global Biodiversity Summit of Local and Subnational Governments. The Summit was attended by over 380 delegaates, from 46 countries, including 55 cities and local governments and 15 regions. It concluded with an official communiqué for local and subnational action for nature and people. It is available for download at: https://www.cbd.int/doc/c/c745/007e/3ac98825a03a8073bf0d547d/cop-14-inf-48-en.pdf.

It is expected that this line of work will also be considered in the post-2020 global biodiversity framework.

3.7 Leveraging interlinkages across SDG goals and targets:

In 2017, SCBD in collaboration with FAO, UNDP, UNEP, and the World Bank published a technical note on Biodiversity and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The purpose of this technical note is to help decision-makers such as government representatives and development professionals to understand more easily the contributions of biodiversity to achieving the SDGs. It presents a mapping of the linkages between the SDGs, and the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and its 20 Aichi Biodiversity Targets. It is available for download here

https://www.cbd.int/development/doc/biodiversity-2030-agenda-technical-note-en.pdf.

3.8 Others:

n/a

4.1 Supporting the intergovernmental body of your organization in contributing to the thematic review of the HLPF:

The Secretariat of the CBD provided substantive input into the President of ECOSOC’s invitation for formal input to the HLPF 2018 theme, both through its own contribution and through perspectives submitted to the UN Environment Assembly. The Secretariat also provided input in 2018 to UN DESA’s report of the Secretary-General on the 2018 ECOSOC main theme 'From global to local: supporting sustainable and resilient societies in urban and rural communities'; and the Integration Segment of ECOSOC addressing the theme of ‘Innovative communities: leveraging technology and innovation to build sustainable and resilient societies’.

4.2 Contributing to policy/background briefs for the HLPF:

A series of biodiversity policy and background brief were produced for the HLPF in 2018. These products are summarized below.

Notification to National Focal Points:

A notification was issued to CBD National Focal Points on 12 January 2018 as a reminder to Parties of the importance of biodiversity to the achievement of the 2030 Agenda and SDGs, and of the opportunity for reporting on progress on biodiversity in the context of the Voluntary National Reviews presented by member states at the HLPF. Available at: https://www.cbd.int/doc/notifications/2018/ntf-2018-005-sustainable-en.pdf

Brochure on ‘Biodiversity and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development’:

A two-page brochure entitled ‘Biodiversity and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development’ was prepared for distribution at the HLPF. The brochure served as an executive summary of the CBD’s Technical Note and Policy Brief of the same name produced in 2017 and published jointly by the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological diversity (CBD), the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, the World Bank, the United Nations Environment Programme, and the United Nations Development Programme. Available in long form at: https://www.cbd.int/development/doc/biodiversity-2030-agenda-policy-brief-en.pdf

4-page Brochure on ‘The Very Nature of Economic Sectors’:

A four-page brochure was produced for distribution at the CBD’s HLPF side event on Sector Mainstreaming organized in collaboration with the Government of Egypt. This brochure entitled ‘The Very Nature of Economic Sectors’, highlighted the important role of COP 14 in Egypt in discussing the mainstreaming of biodiversity in the sectors of energy and mining, manufacturing and processing, infrastructure and health.

Guest Article for the IISD Knowledge Hub:

The CBD Executive Secretary submitted a guest article to the SDG Knowledge Hub published by the International Institute for Sustainable Development. The article, entitled ‘Where Are We in Achieving SDG 15?’ is available here: http://sdg.iisd.org/commentary/guest-articles/where-are-we-in-achieving-sdg-15/

4.3 Helping organize SDG-specific events in the preparatory process:

In 2018, the Secretariat of the CBD collaborated with UN DESA to organize the Expert Group Meeting on SDG 15 convened on 14-15 May. Specifically, the Secretariat contributed to the meeting’s concept note and moderated Session 3 on Biodiversity as well as secured panelists for the session including Sir Bob Watson, chair of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, Dr. Cristián Samper, President and CEO of the Wildlife Conservation Society, and Mr. Mark Zimsky, Regional Coordinator for Latin America of the Global Environment Facility. Documentation of this meeting is available at: https://sustainabledevelopment.un.org/?page=view&nr=2717&type=13&menu=1634.

The Secretariat also contributed to thematic reviews undertaken by the regional UN Economic and Social Commissions including: facilitating a series of round table discussions at the Regional Sustainable Development Forums hosted by the UN Economic Commission for Europe in Geneva and the UN Economic and Social Commission for West Asia in Egypt and Lebanon; participating in the UN Economic Commission for Africa’s regional forum in Senegal; setting up an information booth at the regional sustainable development forum of the UN Economic and Social Commission for Asia and the Pacific.

In June 2017, the SCBD organized various events during the high-level United Nations Conference to Support the Implementation of Sustainable Development Goal 14 - the Oceans Conference - which provided input to the 2017 HLPF and provided various input in collaboration with Parties and relevant organizations.

4.4 Organizing side evens or speaking at the HLPF:

In 2018, the SCBD collaborated in the delivery of multiple HLPF side events and special events. These are summarized below.

Please refer to the questionnaire completed in 2018 with regard to SCBD activities during the 2017 HLPF, including the Oceans’ Conference.

CBD ‘Sector Mainstreaming’ Side Event:

The CBD and the Government of Egypt co-organized a side event on COP-14 and sector mainstreaming. The event was hosted by the Permanent Mission of Mexico to the United Nations. The CBD Executive Secretary moderated a panel discussion with the Egypt Minister of Environment and COP-14 President, along with representatives from the government of Mexico as COP-13 president and representatives from business (Rio Tinto from the mining and energy sector) and NGOs (The Nature Conservancy). Welcome remarks were provided by two Vice-ministers from the Government of Mexico (of Multilateral Affairs and Human Rights, and Promotion of Environmental Regulations).

IUCN ‘Healthy Ecosystems for Sustainable Development’ Side Event:

The CBD Executive Secretary delivered the keynote speech at this side event co-organized by IUCN, WCS, the Government of France and the CBD Secretariat. The focus of the event was “Healthy Ecosystems for Sustainable Development: Engaging governments and civil society towards the 2020 biodiversity milestones”. A report of the event can be viewed at http://sdg.iisd.org/news/hlpf-side-event-addresses-aligning-aichi-biodiversity-targets-with-2030-agenda/.

UNDP ‘Nature for Life’ Side Event:

The CBD Executive Secretary was a panelist in this side event moderated by UNDP Administrator, Achim Steiner. The side event, entitled “Nature for Life: Accelerating SDG Progress by Investing in People and Planet” served as an opportunity to discuss the links between natural resource governance, sustainable and resilient societies, and efforts to achieve the SDGs, as well as facilitate learning and knowledge exchange to enhance resource mobilization for long-term sustainability.

Other panelists participating in the moderated discussion were: U. Enkhtuvshin, Deputy Prime Minister, Mongolia; Mame Thierno Dieng, Minister of Environment and SD, Senegal; Monique Barbut, Executive Secretary, UNCCD; Victoria Tauli-Corpuz, Special Rapporteur on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples; Sahar Nasr, Minister of Investment and International Cooperation, Egypt; Peter Middlebrook, CEO, Geopolicity; and Ibrahim Thiaw, SG Special Advisor for the Sahel. The live webcast for this event is available at http://webtv.un.org/watch/nature-for-life-accelerating-sdg-progress-by-investing-in-people-and-planet/5810898916001.

CBD High-level Dinner Reception – Innovations and Solutions for Safeguarding Life on Earth

A high-level dinner reception was hosted by the Secretariat of the CBD in collaboration with UNDP, and UN Environment. The high-level reception received statements from H.E. Mr. Thomas Remengesau Jr., President of Palau, co-Chair of the Global Island Partnership (GLISPA); Ms. Yasmine Fouad, Minister of Environmental Affairs Egypt; H.E. Ms. Michelle Bachalet, former president of Chile; H.E. Mr. Dacian Cioloș, Former Prime Minister of Romania; Mr. Achim Steiner, UNDP Administrator; Mr. Erik Solheim, Executive Director, UN Environment, Ms. Patricia Espinosa, Executive Secretary, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change; Mr. René Castro, Assistant Director General, Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations; and CBD Executive Secretary, Dr. Cristiana Paşca Palmer. The event was facilitated by Dr. Leyla Acaroglu, UN Environment Champion of the Earth Laureate.Biodiversity Liaison Group Reception:

An evening reception was organized at the HLPF for the Biodiversity Liaison Group (BLG). The Liaison Group of Biodiversity-related Conventions meets regularly to explore opportunities for synergistic activities and increased coordination, and to exchange information. The mandate for establishing the Liaison Group of Biodiversity-related Conventions was set out by the Parties to the CBD, in decision VII/26 (paragraphs 1 and 2).

SDG Business Forum:

The CBD was invited by the UN Global Compact to moderate two panel sessions at the SDG Business Forum, one attended to by the Executive Secretary and the other by the Deputy Executive Secretary. The first panel discussed how the private sector is engaging in policy dialogue for the SDGs and what the impact has been, and also explored how policy can enable more collaboration and incentivize the private sector to engage in the SDGs. The second panel discussed the added value of private sector in policy dialogue, and specifically how policy dialogue platforms catalyze and incentivize sustainable private sector solutions and investments to create meaningful impact on the SDGs. Further reporting on this event is available at: http://sdg.iisd.org/news/sdg-business-forum-showcases-business-support-for-sdgs/.

Local and Regional Governments’ Forum:

The Convention Secretariat participated as a panelist in the session on ‘Synergies and coherent implementation of multiple international agreements at the local level’. This Special Event of the HLPF was organized by UNDESA, UN-Habitat, and the Global Task Force of Local and Regional Governments, in collaboration with Local 2030. Reporting of the event can be viewed at: http://sdg.iisd.org/news/first-local-and-regional-governments-forum-discusses-conditions-for-localizing-sdgs/.

In 2017, the SCBD organized an HLPF Side event entitled "Accelerating Progress on Agenda 2030: Biodiversity and Healthy Ecosystems at the Heart of Sustainable Development", co-organized with UNDP, UN Environment.

4.5 Supporting VNR process:

The Secretariat of the Convention has supported the Voluntary National Review process by informing the Parties to the Convention of the themes of the upcoming HPLF and encouraging them to provide biodiversity relevant inputs to their national representatives though their national processes. A notification was sent on January 21, 2019, reminding Parties of the decisions from our governing body that link biodiversity and the 2030 Agenda, informing them of the themes of this year's HLPF and inviting them to highlight the specific role of biodiversity and ecosystems for sustainable development and poverty eradication in their countries, in their voluntary national reviews and more generally in their participation in the HPLF.

In 2018, the Secretariat issued Biodiversity-specific Guidance for VNRs to assist Parties to the Convention with how to reflect in their VNRS the important cross-cutting role that biodiversity plays in achieving the SDGs. Research was conducted on the 2017 and 2018 VNRs presented at the HLPF to inform the contents of the guidance document. The biodiversity-specific guidance is organized according to the eight sections outlined in the United Nations Secretary General’s ‘Voluntary Common Reporting Guidelines for VNRs at the HLPF’ and encourages Parties to the Convention to draw on existing reporting outputs (national, regional, and international) in the preparation of the VNRs, including emphasis on the commonalities in reporting between VNRs and the Sixth National Reports. A draft version of the Biodiversity-specific Guidance for Preparing VNRs was presented as an Information Note during the Second Meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Implementation in July 2018. Following a comment period a final version was issued at the 14^th meeting of the Conference of the Parties in Egypt in November 2018.

The Biodiversity-specific Guidance for VNRs can be accessed here: https://www.cbd.int/doc/c/23a5/bb2d/356e3d8e6df1c1a993b406b3/cop-14-inf-26-en.pdf.

5. How has your organization cooperated with other UN system organizations to achieve coherence and synergies in the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs? In this regard, has your organization launched or intend to launch any joint programmes or projects in collaboration with other UN entities? Are there any results or lessons you would like to highlight that might help improve the design and impact of such efforts? Has your organization participated in any of the following coordination systemwide mechanisms or any other relevant platform - CEB, UNDG, EC-ESA Plus, RCMs, UN-Energy, UN-Water, UN-Ocean, IAEG, IATT? Please specify which and indicate any suggestions you may have about improving collaborations within and across these mechanisms/platforms:

The CBD Executive Secretary participates in UNDG and EC-ESA Plus (see below), and maintains collaboration with the U.N. Climate Envoy, the UN Water Envoy, and the community for Ocean Action. Moreover, the Convention and its Secretariat cooperates with numerous UN system organizations and conventions, including but not limited to: UNCCD, UN Environment, UNDP, UNFCCC, FAO, UNESCO, the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, UNFF, other biodiversity-related conventions, etc.

Subnational Governments, Cities and other Local Authorities: Since 2008, Parties to the Convention recognized the critical role of vertical mainstreaming (harmonization of biodiversity and ecosystem service policies and activities across different levels of governance, including cities and subnational governments). Two years later, with the support of the Secretariat, Parties adopted a Plan of Action for 2011-2020 (decision X/22) which established a Global Partnership for Local and Subnational Action for Biodiversity (GP). The Partnership was built up through two Advisory Committees (for Cities, supported by ICLEI-Local Governments for Sustainability, and for Subnational Governments, supported by the Network of Regional Governments for Sustainable Development, nrg4SD) and a scientific body, the Urban Biodiversity and Design Network, URBIO.

Informing and mobilizing network members (municipal and State governments) about the CBD agenda and strengthening their cooperation with CBD Focal Points in national governments has been a constant effort of the Secretariat. The GP regularly provides input on subnational and local implementation issues at the high-level segment of the Conference of the Parties, often through the host municipality or province Summit, and all three networks collaborate in providing input on decision text and in the organization of the parallel Cities and Subnational Governments Summit held since COP 9 as well as numerous side events, publications and capacity building activities.

ICLEI and nrg4SD lead a series of inter-sessional preparatory meetings and hold teleconferences, whereas URBIO holds biannual meetings, all feeding into the Summits (the 6th happened in Egypt in 2018, the 7th will take place parallel to the CBD’s COP 15 in Beijing, China, in October 2020). The partners also regularly issue publications on best practices and capacity building on decentralized cooperation, and on local and subnational activities to support the achievements of the Strategic Plan and the Aichi Biodiversity Targets.

EMG: The CBD Secretariat is a member of the United Nations Environment Management Group consisting of specialised agencies, programmes and organs of the United Nations, including secretariats of the Multilateral Environmental Agreements.

EC ESA: CBD is an active member of the EC ESA Principals Group and finds this a useful system wide coordination platform particularly for those entities which do not enjoy membership of CEB or UNDG.

IAEG: The CBD contributes actively to the work of the IAEG both as custodian agency for two indicators (15.6.1, 15.9.1) and in an advisory capacity on a range of other indicators under Goals 6, 14 and 15. The CBD has also included 40 SDG indicators relevant to the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity into its monitoring framework; see here:

https://www.cbd.int/doc/decisions/cop-13/cop-13-dec-28-en.pdf

UN World Tourism Organization: The CBD has cooperated actively with the UN World Tourism Organization, in identifying the links between sustainable tourism development, biodiversity and the SDGs (see http://icr.unwto.org/content/tourism-and-sdgs ), in producing supporting documentation for Parties to facilitate a stronger contribution of Ministers of Tourism to the CBD's COP 13 process of mainstreaming, resulting in the Cancun Declaration on Mainstreaming as well as in a common choice of theme for the 22 May as International Day of Biodiversity during 2017 as the UN's International Year of Sustainable Tourism for Development.

SIDS and LDCs: Similarly, the CBD cooperated from 2012 to 2014 with UNDESA's SIDS Unit and the UN's Office of the High Representative for the Least Developed Countries, Landlocked Developing Countries and Small Island Developing States (UN-OHRLLS) to ensure that the SDGs and the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 were reflected in the outcome document of the Third International Conference on Small Island Developing States held in 2014, the SAMOA Accelerated Modalities of Action Pathway.

BLG: The CBD Secretariat is a member and acts as the secretariat of the Liaison Group of biodiversity-related Conventions. The group is composed of the heads of the secretariats of the Convention on Conservation of Migratory Species, the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands, the World Heritage Convention, the International Plant Protection Convention and the International Whaling Commission.

JLG: The CBD Secretariat is a member of the Joint Liaison Group (JLG) of the Rio Conventions: Convention on Biological Diversity, United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification and United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change.

The Secretariat coordinates or participate in the following interagency mechanisms: the Inter-agency Liaison Group on Invasive Alien Species, the Collaborative Partnership on Wildlife Management, the Collaborative Partnership on Forests, the Sustainable Ocean Initiative, the Liaison Group on the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation, the Interagency Liaison Group on Biodiversity and Health.

International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture: The Secretariat has a long-standing relationship with the Secretariat of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, including a Memorandum of Cooperation and a joint initiative for the harmonious implementation of the International Treaty and the Convention on Biological Diversity and its Nagoya Protocol.

6. How has your organization engaged with stakeholder groups, both in supporting implementation at the country, regional and global levels, and within your own organization? If yes, please provide main highlights, including any lessons learned:

1/ Business engagement: A Global Partnership for Business and Biodiversity was established under the CBD in 2010, and now has 21 national or regional member initiatives. The Global Partnership provides a platform for the sharing of information and best practices amongst the various member initiatives as well as their constituent organizations. Work is ongoing to expand the number of national or regional partnerships and their member base. We maintain and seek to further strengthen collaborative relations with global and sectorial business associations and initiatives, such as the WBCSD, the Global Compact, The World Economic Forum, the International Chamber of Commerce, the Natural Capital Coalition, Act4Nature, and others.

SCBD, in collaboration with the Government of Egypt, co-organized a Global Forum on Business and Biodiversity Forum in parallel to the High Level Segment of CBD COP-14, in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt from 14-15 November 2018. The event provided an important opportunity for business leaders to engage with governments, non-governmental organizations, leaders from civil society and other businesses on critical issues surrounding biodiversity and ecosystem services conservation. It brought together over 330 participants including participants and speakers from: Ajinomoto, Enel, ENI, GEF, HeidelbergCement, ICC, IPBES, IUCN, Kering, Natura, Shell, Sygenta, Total, UNDP, UN Environment, Unilever, Vale, WBCSD, World Bank, WWF and Yves Rocher.

The Forum affirmed the need for greater action and integration of biodiversity into business models and operations, recognized the need for collective action through partnerships, and acknowledged the role that business can play in achieving the strategic plan as well as contributing to the post 2020 agenda.

https://www.cbd.int/business/

2/ Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities:

The Convention recognizes the close dependency of indigenous peoples and local communities on biological diversity and their unique role in conserving life on Earth. This recognition is enshrined in the preamble of the Convention and in its provisions. It is for this reason that in Article 8(j) of the Convention on Biological Diversity, Parties have undertaken to respect, preserve and maintain the knowledge, innovations and practices of indigenous and local communities relevant for the conservation of biological diversity and to promote their wider application with the approval of knowledge holders and to encourage equitable sharing of benefits arising out of the use of biological diversity.

The programme of work on Article 8(j) and related provisions is the main instrument that Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity have given themselves to achieve the commitments in Article 8(j) and related provisions. One of the Aichi Biodiversity Targets (no 18) is also dedicated to this issue. The programme of work has produced significant results, such as:

- Guidelines for the conduct of cultural, environmental and social impact assessments (the Akwe: Kon voluntary guidelines for the conduct of cultural, environmental and social impact assessments regarding developments proposed to take place on, or which are likely to impact on, sacred sites and on lands and waters traditionally occupied or used by indigenous and local communities): https://www.cbd.int/decision/cop/default.shtml?id=7753

- The Tkarihwaié:ri Code of Ethical Conduct to Ensure Respect for the Cultural and Intellectual Heritage of Indigenous and Local Communities: https://www.cbd.int/decision/cop/default.shtml?id=12308 ;

- The global Plan of Action on the Customary Sustainable Use of Biological Diversity: https://www.cbd.int/decision/cop/default.shtml?id=13375

- The Mo'otz kuxtal voluntary guidelines for the development of mechanisms, legislation or other appropriate initiatives to ensure the "prior and informed consent", "free, prior and informed consent" or "approval and involvement", depending on national circumstances, of indigenous peoples and local communities for accessing their knowledge, innovations and practices, for fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of their knowledge, innovations and practices relevant for the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity, and for reporting and preventing unlawful appropriation of traditional knowledge: https://www.cbd.int/doc/decisions/cop-13/cop-13-dec-18-en.pdf

The importance attached to indigenous peoples and local communities by the Convention is demonstrative of their importance, including the role of their traditional knowledge and customary sustainable use in attaining the goals of the Convention and more broadly for the Sustainable Development Goals.

More information is available here: https://www.cbd.int/traditional/

3/Women:

The Convention in its preamble recognizes the importance of women's and gender issues in the achievement of biodiversity objectives. The Convention was the first multi-lateral environmental agreement to have a gender plan of action, adopted in 2008. The plan has since been updated to align with the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020. The 2015-2020 Gender Plan of Action includes possible actions for Parties as well as a framework for actions by the Secretariat to mainstream gender considerations in work to implement the convention. The objectives of the Plan correspond well with the approach of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the Sustainable Goals, within which gender equality and women's empowerment are addressed as critical cross-cutting components.

See here: https://www.cbd.int/gender/

Efforts by the Secretariat to implement the Gender Plan of Action include:

- Supporting developing countries to integrate gender considerations in their national biodiversity strategies and action plans (NBSAPs) in collaboration with IUCN's Global Gender Office, and with generous financial support from the Government of Japan. This work also involved an analysis of gender integration in NBSAPs received by Parties since the establishment of the Convention (from 1993 to mid-2016) and gender integration into the most recent national reports received from Parties (5th national reports on the implementation of the Convention).

- Preparing informational and capacity building tools, including a pocket guide to the Gender Plan of Action providing a summary and examples of efforts by Parties to implement the Plan; a technical fact sheet on Sustainable Wildlife Management and Gender, produced on behalf of the Collaborative Partnership on Sustainable Wildlife Management; a factsheet on gender perspectives on biodiversity; and others – work which has benefited from the support of the Government of Canada, among others.

- Undertaking a participatory process to develop training tools on gender and biodiversity that target the South East Asia and Pacific regions, carried out with generous financial support from the Government of Sweden. These tools are intended to strengthen capacity of national government institutions to address gender considerations in respect to biodiversity policy and programming.

- Strengthening advocacy and exchange on gender and biodiversity and related environmental issues, including through convening events on these issues at meetings under the Convention, and under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change's (UNFCCC) 21st meeting of the Conference of the Parties, as well as engagement supporting training and related efforts by partners.

- Pursuing efforts to harmonize approaches to capacity building and the achievement of shared gender objectives with the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Rio Conventions (UNFCCC and UN Convention to Combat Climate Change), including through provision by the Secretariat of expert input into the development of gender plans of action under the UNFCCC and UNCCD.

Lessons learned from these processes include: the importance of building awareness, engagement and capacity on gender and biodiversity issues, in order to grow momentum and interest enough to realize progress. Working towards the achievement of gender equality in respect to biodiversity conservation and sustainable use, as in other processes, is a long term endeavor, which necessitates ongoing targeted investment and support from a range of partners. There are clear opportunities to link with and build on the gender-biodiversity/environment linkages in the SDGs with objectives and actions under the Convention on Biological Diversity, as well as related work with the Rio Conventions.

4/Youth:

The Secretariat supports youth's efforts in implementing the Convention on Biological Diversity and the Strategic Plan on Biodiversity 2011-2020 and its Aichi Biodiversity Targets including by (i) facilitating registration and accreditation of youth groups at the meetings of the Convention and providing support for youth to carry out activities in the margins of the meetings; (iii) developing guidance and tools on youth and biodiversity; (iii) participating in the United Nations Inter-Agency Network on Youth Development; (iv) supporting resource mobilization for youth projects.

By supporting youth engagement in the implementation of the Convention and Strategic Plan on Biodiversity 2011-2020, the Secretariat contributes to strengthening the role of youth in the Sustainable Development Goals. In turn, youth contributes to better integrating biodiversity in SDG-related processes and implementation.

Over the last seven years, the Secretariat, with financial and other support provided by the Japan Biodiversity Fund and several CBD Parties, contributed to "Youth Voices" a project implemented by the Global Youth Biodiversity Network (GYBN), aimed at developing the capacities of youth to engage at the political level and in the implementation of the Convention and Aichi Biodiversity Targets and therefore the SDGs. GYBN is an inclusive and representative network of hundreds of youth organizations working on biodiversity. Through the project, GYBN reached out and trained hundreds of youth to participate in decision-making processes under the Convention, through "Regional Youth Capacity-Building Workshops."

The network has a strong social media presence and will further develop online outreach and capacity-building tools and materials on youth and biodiversity. In particular, the publication "CBD in a Nutshell" developed by GYBN has become a flagship publication under the Convention. A second edition of the guidelines will be released in 2018.

In January 2018, GYBN in partnership with the UN Major Group for Children and Youth (UN MGCY) moderated a thematic breakout session on SDG15 of the ECOSOC Youth Forum, and organized a side-event on interlinkages between the SDGs and other sustainable development frameworks. The outcomes of the 2018 ECOSOC Youth Forum will serve as inputs to the High-level Political Forum on Sustainable Development (HLPF 2018).

7. Has your organization organized any conferences, forums or events designed to facilitate exchange of experience, peer and mutual learning? If yes, please provide a brief summary below and include lessons learned and gaps identified based on the outcomes of these events. Please also include any events you plan to organize in the coming years.

The SCBD's core business is the organization of conferences, meetings, or events designed to facilitate exchange of experience, peer and mutual learning. We organize numerous such events on a number of the topics covered by our mandate and the Strategic Plan on Biological Diversity 2011-2020. While some of these meetings pertain to the intergovernmental negotiations by which guidance from the governing body is issued on a biannual basis, many meetings are more technical in nature and are specifically for the exchange of experience and peer and mutual learning.

In the coming biennium, various regional and thematic consultation meetings, as well as at least two meetings of a dedicated Ad-hoc Open-Ended Working Group will be organized as part of the process for the development of the global post-2020 biodiversity framework.

The Secretariat also organizes, in collaboration with partners enumerated above, a significant amount of capacity building events on various topics, which provide a platform for the sharing of experiences, good parties, and lessons learned. Please see here for more information: https://www.cbd.int/cb .

For a list of upcoming meetings and events, please consult https://www.cbd.int/meetings/

8. Is there any other information you would like to share, including annual reports of your organization and any impact assessment or evaluation reports? If yes, please use the space below and attach the document(s). Please also use this space to provide any other information, comments or remarks you deem necessary:

The Secretariat publishes the Global Biodiversity Outlook (GBO) every 4 years based on Parties national reports, scientific literature and other resources. The GBO provides a summary of the status of biological diversity and an analysis of the steps being taken by the global community to ensure that biodiversity is conserved and used sustainably, and that benefits arising from the use of genetic resources are shared equitably. Four editions of the report have been prepared and preparations for the fifth edition are currently underway. For more information: https://www.cbd.int/gbo/

In addition, at the Fourteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties held in November 2018 in Sharm El-Sheikh, Egypt, key findings were summarized from the four regional assessments of biodiversity and ecosystem services undertaken by the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES). This report is available at: https://www.cbd.int/doc/c/c25e/2274/3c7ea710e0442730174c4216/cop-14-inf-24-en.pdf.

Parties to the Convention and its Protocols report on a regular basis on progress made at national levels in implementing their commitments, including progress in implementing the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and its Aichi Targets. These National Reports are available here:

https://www.cbd.int/reports/

http://bch.cbd.int/database/reports/

https://absch.cbd.int/countries

9. In your view, what should a strategic plan for the UN system in support of the 2030 Agenda and SDGs look like? What key elements should it include and major challenges address in such a road map?

Such a Strategic Plan of the UN system in support of the 2030 Agenda and SDGs could build on, and strengthen, the existing MAPS approach (Mainstreaming, Acceleration and Policy Support), which is already advanced by the 32 member agencies of the UN Sustainable Development Group.

https://undg.org/about/undg-global/undg/

http://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/blog/2018/how-will-we-navigate-towards-2030--well-be-using-maps-.html

- Under a Mainstreaming strategic objective, the Convention and its Secretariat could help providing SDG-specific guidance and support to UN Country Teams and Member States. In its contribution, the Secretariat could build on its existing analysis and guidance on the fundamental role of biodiversity in supporting the achievement of the 2030 Agenda, including in particular its essential role in providing ecosystems services that are critical for livelihoods and for human wellbeing (see links provided above), as well as on its pertinent work on biodiversity mainstreaming, both cross-sectorial and in economic sectors (see references provided above). This could contribute to the overarching aim to implement the 2030 Agenda and the Sustainable Development Goals in an integrated manner, thus reflecting the indivisible nature of the framework.

- Under an Acceleration strategic objective, the Convention and its Secretariat could provide targeted advice and specific tools supporting the three areas already advanced by the acceleration component of the UN MAPS approach, including: (i) integrated analysis and assessment of SDG interconnections; (ii) 'leave no one behind' analysis tools; and (iii) risk-informed development planning tools. Moreover, the joint conceptual work on transformational change and transitions, suggested under question 10 below, could also feed into achieving this objective.

o The CBD Secretariat uses already integrated environmental assessment approaches and methodologies for its flagship Global Biodiversity Outlook, among other useful tools, and could share its experiences and lessons learned.

o The Convention and the Secretariat undertook considerable analytical work on the linkages between biodiversity and poverty alleviation (see for instance https://www.cbd.int/doc/publications/cbd-ts-55-en.pdf ), which could be put to good use in highlighting, in the 'leave no one behind' analysis tools, the role of ecosystems and underpinning biodiversity in maintaining livelihoods of the rural poor and indigenous and local communities.

o Similarly, biodiversity is recognized as critical for ecosystem resilience, with pertinent scientific research evolving dynamically, and the Convention could contribute expertise and channel the pertinent experience of its Parties in the development of risk-informed development planning tools.

- Under a Policy Support strategic objective, the Convention and its Secretariat could provide SDG-specific support:

o on data and indicators, including guidance for reporting under the HLPF's Voluntary National Reviews (VNRs) and country-specific SDG reporting. The Secretariat is already communicating with Parties to the Convention on supporting the biodiversity aspects of voluntary reporting to the HLPF and on the merits of considering the broader indicator framework developed under the Convention for tracking progress against the Aichi Biodiversity Targets in reporting progress against the SDGs.

o On relevant policy tools measures, such as environmental impact assessments, strategic impact assessments, or incentive measures, where the Convention and its Secretariat has also a considerable repository of expertise and guidance already developed.

More generally, key elements of the strategic plan for the UN system in support of the 2030 Agenda and SDGs could include:

- a review of the current functions and existing capacities of the UN development system in achieving the 2030 Agenda and SDGs;

- building on insights in addressing gaps and overlaps in support of the SDGs, repositioning development at the highest levels of the organization, to support and enable results at the country level;

- capacity building and support to countries for implementing the SDGs and relevant multilateral environmental agreements in a coherent manner

- elements to improve governance, including strengthened oversight by Member States and increased transparency on system-wide results.

Some major challenges to address could be the capacity gaps to support policy integration, data management, partnerships and financing, but also the challenges associated with enhancing coordination and collaboration.

10. Please indicate one or two endeavor or initiatives you suggest that the UN system organizations could undertake together to support the implementation of the SDGs between now and 2030:

As explained above, implementation of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 has direct bearing on the implementation of the 2030 Agenda. However, the current Strategic Plan for Biodiversity expires in 2020 and a process is currently rolled out under the Convention to develop a post-2020 global biodiversity framework, which would be adopted by CBD COP-15 in China, in 2020. This provides a strategic opportunity to align even more closely the global biodiversity policy agenda with the 2030 agenda, including, but not limited to, those targets under the SDGs which, as they originated from the current Strategic Plan for biodiversity, also have a 2020 timeline. In decision 14/34, COP-14 noted that several of the biodiversity-related targets under the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development have endpoints of 2020, and requested the Executive Secretary to bring the preparatory process for the post-2020 global biodiversity framework to the attention of the General Assembly of the United Nations.

Achieving this alignment will require collaboration and will facilitate implementing the Strategic Plan of the UN system in support of the 2030 Agenda and SDGs in a coherent and synergistic manner.

An important initiative that the UN system could potentially undertake together is to further elaborate and operationalize the concepts of 'Transformation' and 'Transitions'. Transformation is in the title to the 2030 Agenda itself - 'Transforming Our World' and is also in the title of a seminar series the Secretariat of the CBD has been organizing, on Transformational Change for the Biodiversity Agenda (CBD/COP/14/INF/27). These topics are fundamentally important to the work of the Convention and its Secretariat, due to the urgent imperative of achieving transformational change for attaining the objectives of the Convention and in formulating a post-2020 global biodiversity framework. Approaches like Nature Based Solutions (NBS), for instance the opportunities nature can provide for climate change adaptation and mitigation, can serve a key conceptual interfaces between biodiversity objectives and the broader sustainable development agenda, Practical steps such as potential synergies with UNDP’s proposed ‘Country Support Platforms’ to support the 2030 Agenda could be explored further.

(CBD/COP/14/INF/27) is available at: https://www.cbd.int/doc/c/b115/1bc6/7f1cc5da12595eba2a23277c/cop-14-inf-27-en.pdf

Another initiative that the UN system organizations could undertake together to support the implementation of the SDGs between now and 2030 could be to perhaps put more emphasis on support at the sub national and local levels. The multi-agency working group established by the UN Secretariat with the assistance of UN Habitat, for the implementation of the New Urban Agenda, could provide an important opportunity and entry point for this area of work.

11. Has your organization established any multi-stakeholder partnerships for the implementation of the 2030 Agenda and the SDGs? If yes, please describe how their performances are being monitored and reviewed? Where do these partnerships get funding and other resources, including human resources?

In addition to the multi-stakeholder partnerships described under Question 6, the Secretariat of the CBD would like to further emphasize the comprehensive and participatory process that is now underway for the preparation of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework outlined under Question 2.2.

Through decision 14/34, the Fourteenth Conference of the Parties “urges Parties and invites other Governments, indigenous peoples and local communities, United Nations organizations and programmes, other multilateral environmental agreements, subnational governments, cities and other local authorities, intergovernmental organizations, non-governmental organizations, women’s groups, youth groups, the business and finance community, the scientific community, academia, faith-based organizations, representatives of sectors related to or dependent on biodiversity, citizens at large, and other stakeholders, 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.”

Furthermore, the decision “also urges Parties and invites other Governments, indigenous peoples and local communities, United Nations organizations and programmes, other multilateral environmental agreements, subnational governments, cities and other local authorities, intergovernmental organizations, nongovernmental organizations, women’s groups, youth groups, the business and finance community, the scientific community, academia, faith-based organizations, representatives of sectors related to or dependent on biodiversity, citizens at large, and other stakeholders, 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.”

Paragraph 3 of the decision’s annex describes that the negotiations to develop the post-2020 global biodiversity framework, prior to the fifteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, will be undertaken by a dedicated open-ended intersessional working group under the leadership of two co-chairs and overseen by the Bureau of the Conference of the Parties. The formal process to negotiate the post-2020 global biodiversity framework culminates in the adoption of a post-2020 global biodiversity framework by the Conference of the Parties and its endorsement by the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Protocols at their meetings in 2020.

The co-chairs will seek to ensure the coherence and complementarity of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework with other existing or upcoming international processes, in particular with regard to consistency and coherence with the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the Paris Agreement and other related processes, frameworks and strategies. They will encourage other multilateral environmental agreements, including biodiversity-related conventions and the Rio conventions, relevant international organizations and their programmes, and other relevant processes to actively participate in the development process for the post-2020 global biodiversity framework. The process will build on ongoing work under the Convention and the two Protocols to strengthen implementation support mechanisms and the review of implementation.

Paragraph 17 describes the resource and logistics requirements of the multi-stakeholder consultation process, noting that “the process for developing the post-2020 global biodiversity framework will be supported by the Secretariat. As a result, it is likely that the Secretariat will need to refocus some of its capacity to support the post-2020 process. The financial means will be made available to the Secretariat in accordance with decision 14/37 relating to the budget for the integrated programme of work of the Secretariat. Through decision 14/34 the Conference further “urges Parties, according to their capabilities, and encourages other Governments and all relevant organizations and stakeholders in a position to do so to provide timely financial contributions and other support to the process for developing the post-2020 global biodiversity framework, including by offering to host global, regional, sectoral, or thematic consultations on this issue (14/34, Annex, para. 10).”

ECESA Plus Member

CBD

Year of submission: 2019