ENB @ COP 9 19-30 May 2008; Bonn, Germany

Earth Negotiations Bulletin - ENB

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Fri 30 & Summary

Ninth Meeting of the Conference
of the Parties

19-30 May 2008| Bonn, Germany

Highlights for Friday, 30 May 2008

In the morning and afternoon, delegates convened in working group sessions, to address outstanding issues. Working Group I (WG I) addressed agricultural biodiversity, biofuels, protected areas, and biodiversity and climate change. WG II considered operations of the Convention, and financial resources and mechanism. The closing plenary convened at 3:30 pm to adopt the decisions and the report of the meeting.

The achievements of CBD COP 9 include: adoption of the "Bonn roadmap" for the negotiation of the international regime on access and benefit-sharing (ABS); adoption of scientific criteria and guidance for marine areas in need of protection; adoption of the Convention's first resource mobilization strategy; a decision on biodiversity and climate change, including language cautioning against ocean fertilization; and agreement on biofuels.

Above photo: COP 9 President Sigmar Gabriel gaveled the meeting to a close at 9:00 pm.

CLOSING PLENARY

View of the closing plenary.

Ichiro Kamoshita, Minister of Environment of Japan, reported from the meeting of the G8 Environment Ministers, held in Kobe, Japan. He said the meeting discussed further activities on achieving the 2010 biodiversity target and adopted the Kobe Call for Action for biodiversity. Along with Masaaki Kanda, Governor of the Aichi prefecture, and Takehisa Matsubara, Mayor of the city of Nagoya, he invited delegates to Nagoya, Japan, in 2010.

Ichiro Kamoshita, Minister of Environment of Japan

Masaaki Kanda, Governor of the Aichi prefecture

Takehisa Matsubara, Mayor of the city of Nagoya

Plenary then heard reports from the Chairs of WG I and II, the Co-Chairs of the Informal Consultative group on ABS, and the Chair of the budget group.

WG I Chair Maria Mbengashe (South Africa) reported on satisfactory results achieved, and highlighted remaining brackets in a number of draft decisions, including on biodiversity and climate change, protected areas, and incentive measures.

WG II Chair Chaweewan Hutacharern (Thailand) reported on WG II deliberations. She said a "landmark decision" was adopted on Article 8(j) and related provisions; and a resource mobilization strategy was agreed upon for the first time in CBD history. She noted outstanding issues with regard to a draft decision on operations of the Convention, and proposed that parties consult informally.

Bureau member Karma Nyedrup (Bhutan), reported on the status of the credentials at COP 9.

The Co-Chairs of the informal consultative group on ABS. Fernando Casas (Colombia) (right) and Timothy Hodges (Canada) (left) reported on progress achieved. Co-Chair Casas said the draft decision contains the Bonn roadmap for negotiations from Bonn to Nagoya and the key steps to be taken. Commending the group's "hard work and high spirit," he said progress was also made in addressing substantive issues with regard to the international ABS regime.

Budget group Chair Ositadinma Anaedu (Nigeria) reported on budget deliberations at COP 9.

Highlighting the close links between the CBD and the Treaty, Shakeel Bhatti, Secretary of the International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, offered to host the seventh meeting of the ABS Working Group at the FAO premises in Rome.

MALAYSIA offered to host a meeting of the ABS Working Group.

Above photo: Chong Poon Chai (Malaysia)

SPAIN pledged EUR 90,000, and SWEDEN pledged EUR 180,000 for a Working Group meeting and EUR 60,000 for the meeting of the expert group on traditional knowledge.

Antigua and Barbuda, on behalf of G-77/CHINA, called for enhanced cooperation to fight biodiversity loss, and stressed the need for a legally binding ABS regime to ensure that developing countries receive benefits arising from the use of their genetic resources.

Above photo: Conrad Hunte (Antigua and Barbuda)

The EU expressed their appreciation to the government and people of Germany, the Secretariat, as well as the Earth Negotiations Bulletin.

Above photo: Gordana Beltram (Slovenia)

The IIFB requested: CBD implementation in accordance with the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples; completion of sui generis systems for the protection of traditional knowledge by 2010; and recognition of indigenous rights to traditional knowledge and genetic resources. She rejected GM crops, biofuels, ocean fertilization and climate change adaptation models because they destroy indigenous territories.

Above photo: Floribis Gonzales (IIFB)

ECUADOR expressed its wish to host COP 11, and plenary endorsed its candidacy.

Above photo: Antonio Matamoros (Ecuador)

WORKING GROUP I

AGRICULTURAL BIODIVERSITY: Delegates heard a report from CANADA on the process and result of last night consultations. He stressed the time and effort involved to achieve an unbracketed text, now split into separate decisions on review of the work programme, and biofuels and biodiversity. SWITZERLAND requested brackets on references to "consistent to international obligations" throughout the decision on the work programme. QATAR, supported by SAUDI ARABIA and LIBYA, proposed changes to text relating to positive and negative impacts of the production and use of biofuels, and promotion of their use. The EU, CANADA, BRAZIL and others cautioned against any changes to the negotiated package. Informal groups were convened to address each issue but could not reach consensus. WG I then adopted the CRP without brackets, recognizing that delegates could raise objections in plenary.

Above photos: Delegates in a huddle to resolve bracketed text in the CRP on agricultural biodiversity.

WORKING GROUP II

OPERATIONS OF THE CONVENTION: Delegates continued debating the process and criteria for identifying emerging issues. In search for a compromise, Mexico presented a proposal requesting SBSTTA to review and discuss the proposals and, as appropriate, identify the emerging issue and present options so that the COP can consider whether and how to address the issue further. Following informal consultations, the EU suggested that SBSTTA identify emerging issues and "present the scientific and technical analysis with options for action" for COP consideration. Brazil offered to delete the brackets regarding the reference to new evidence of unexpected and significant impacts on biodiversity as a criterion for identification of emerging issues, if the Mexican proposal on process is accepted. No consensus was achieved, and WG II adopted the CRP with remaining brackets.

ENB COP 9 SNAPSHOTS:

ENB CBD COP 9 TEAM


Above photo L-R: Olivia Pasini, Nicole Schabus, Stefan Jungcurt, Pui Khemaros, Marie-Annick Moreau, Claudio Chiarolla, Asheline Appleton, Franz Dejon and Elsa Tsioumani

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