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12th Session of the Conference of the Parties
to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD COP 12)

12-23 October 2015 | Ankara, Turkey

Summary Highlights of the Meeting

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ENB Daily Coverage—About | 12 Oct | 13 Oct | 14 Oct | 15 Oct | 16 Oct | 19 Oct | 20 Oct | 21 Oct | 22 Oct | 23 Oct | Summary


Monique Barbut, UNCCD Executive Secretary, with Rol Reiland, EU

UNCCD

Friday, 23 October 2015

UNCCD COP 12 delegates worked in contact groups throughout Friday, 23 October, to complete their negotiations. The final meetings of the CRIC and COW will convene to review the draft decisions from these contact groups, with a view to recommending them for adoption during a COP Plenary session.

As of 6:30 pm, the CRIC contact group had completed its work but the final CRIC session had not yet been scheduled.

From 8:05 pm to 8:20 pm, the COW considered and adopted six decisions. The COW was then suspended, pending distribution of the draft programme and budget decision.

The CRIC was called to order at 8:56 pm, and adopted six decisions. The new CRIC Bureau was also elected. The meeting suspended at 9:11 pm, while delegates awaited new documents.

The COW convened at 9:42 pm to adopt the programme and budget for the biennium 2016-2017. The decision was adopted without comment, and the COW closed at 9:44 pm.

The CRIC opened at 9:53 pm. Following the adoption of the report of CRIC 14, the CRIC closed at 10:11 pm.

The COP plenary opened for the final time at 10:29 pm.

The COP closed at 11:54 pm.

Visit the full ENB+ coverage for Friday, 23 October 2015

IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB Meeting Coverage, has provided daily web coverage and daily reports from the 12th Session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification. In addition, IISD Reporting Services, has published a summary and analysis of UNCCD COP 12, which is available in HTML and PDF. Available in ENB Mobile at http://enb.iisd.mobi/desert-cop12/


Conference of the Parties (COP)

Sedat Kadioglu, Deputy Undersecretary, Ministry for Forestry and Water Affairs, Turkey, on behalf of COP 12
President, reconvened the COP for the final time at 10:29 pm.


L-R: Rajeb Boulharouf, UNCCD Secretariat; Monique Barbut, UNCCD Executive Secretary; Sedat Kadioglu, Deputy Undersecretary, Ministry for Forestry and Water Affairs, Turkey, on behalf of COP 12 President; Jullyette Ukabiala, COP 12 Secretary; and Raymond Baptiste, acting Chair of the CRIC (Grenada)


Monique Barbut, UNCCD Executive Secretary, delivering her closing remarks


Sedat Kadioglu, Deputy Undersecretary, Ministry for Forestry and Water Affairs, Turkey,
on behalf of COP 12 President, gaveled the meeting to a close at 11:54 pm.

Committee for the Review of the Implementation of the Convention (CRIC)

Raymond Baptiste, acting Chair of the CRIC (Grenada)


Yurie Kolmaz, CRIC Rapporteur (Ukraine) and Anja Thust, UNCCD Secretariat

Raymond Baptiste, acting Chair of the CRIC (Grenada) and Jori Joergensen, Secretary of the CRIC

Delegates reviewing the CRIC draft decicions


L-R: Rayseer Ismail and Salah Tambel, Sudan, reviewing CRIC draft decisions

Committee of the Whole (COW)

Thomas Tichelmann, Chair of the COW (Ireland)


L-R: Massimo Candelori, UNCCD Secretariat; Thomas Tichelmann, Chair of the COW (Ireland); and Jori Joergensen, Secretary
of the COW


Alfredo Blum, Uruguay

Abdulaziz Alhowaish, Saudi Arabia

Jean Ilunga Muneng, Democratic Republic of the Congo

Thomas Tichelmann, Chair of the COW (Ireland), adjourned the COW at 9:44 pm


Thursday, 22 October 2015

On Thursday, 22 October, UNCCD COP 12 delegates convened in a morning meeting of the COW to consider and adopt decisions on: leveraging of synergies among the Rio Conventions and promoting partnerships with other international agencies and bodies (ICCD/COP(12)/L.1); addressing particular regional and national conditions (ICCD/COP(12)/L.2); integration of the SDGs and targets into the implementation of the UNCCD and the IWG report on LDN (ICCD/COP(12)/L.4).

The COP Plenary met immediately following the COW session, and adopted the three COW decisions as well as three revised CST decisions, on: the outcomes of the UNCCD 3rd Scientific Conference (ICCD/COP(12)/CST/L.1/Rev.1); the improvement of knowledge dissemination, including traditional knowledge, best practices and success stories (ICCD/COP(12)/CST/L3./Rev.1); and the work programme of the Science-Policy Interface (ICCD/COP(12)/CST/L.4/Rev.1).

Contact groups and informal groups continued negotiating additional draft decisions throughout the day and into the evening.

Visit the full ENB+ coverage for Thursday, 22 October 2015

Thomas Tichelmann, Chair of the COW (Ireland), in discussion with delegates from the US


Ambroise Zanga, Central African Republic

María Teresa Kralikas, Argentina

Yurie Kolmaz, Ukraine

Asher Nkegbe, Ghana

Mohammed Jawad Al Khatab, Iraq

Luca Marmo, EU

L-R: Genoveva Campos Gil, Venezuela, discussing draft decisions with Dominga
Polanco, Dominican Republic

L-R: George Orina, Kenya, and Felipe Costa, Brazil, consulting bilaterally over
budget matters

Members of the budget contact group consulting in an informal breakout group

Wednesday, 21 October 2015

On Wednesday, 21 October, COP 12 delegates participated in dialogues on land rights, the incentives for investment in SLM, and framing of legislation to protect and rehabilitate land. These dialogues were the final substantive sessions of the two-day High-Level Segment.

CSOs and delegates discussed land rights and the need for actions to ensure tenure security and recognition of customary land rights. On incentives for SLM investment, representatives from the private sector discussed constraints and opportunities for private sector engagement. On framing legislation to protect and rehabilitate land, parliamentarians discussed the role of legislation in addressing DLDD issues.

Contact groups also continued to convene, with discussions addressing, inter alia, the Secretariat’s staffing structure, the future of the Convention’s subsidiary bodies, and the formulation, revision and implementation of action programmes in view of the post-2015 development agenda.

Visit the full ENB+ coverage for Wednesday, 21 October 2015

L-R: Pohamba Shifeta, Minister of Environment and Tourism, Namibia; Monique Barbut, UNCCD Executive
Secretary; Mahama Ayariga, Minister, Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Ghana; Lűtfi Akça,
Undersecretary, Ministry of Forestry and Water Affairs, Turkey; and Gabriel Quijandria Acosta,
Vice-Minister, Strategic Development of Natural Resources, Peru

Barbara Thomson, Deputy Minister of the Environment, South Africa

Moderator Paddy Woodworth, Journalist

Benedetto Della Vedova, Vice-Minister, Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Italy

Moderator Peter Bakker, WBCSD

Maria Lourdes Acosta-Alba, Congresswoman, The Philippines

Haroun Kabadi, President, UNCCD Forum of Parliamentarians, and President, National Assembly, Chad

A video presentation on SLM approaches helping to prevent forced migration in Africa and the Middle East

Luc Gnacadja, former UNCCD Executive Secretary with Skumsa Mancotywa, South Africa

Tuesday, 20 October 2015

On Tuesday, 20 October, delegates at UNCCD COP 12 gathered for the High-Level Segment. The President of Turkey, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, gave a welcome address, following which the President of COP 12 and other dignitaries addressed delegates. Three parallel roundtables took place during the afternoon, addressing the following themes: From global to local: translating land degradation neutrality into action; Drought adaptation: mainstreaming drought management policy in national agendas and mitigating the effects of drought; and Land-based adaptation to climate change: resilience through sustainable land management. A Business Forum and a Roundtable of Parliamentarians also took place. Contact groups continued in the afternoon and into the evening to draft the COP 12 decisions.

Visit the full ENB+ coverage for Tuesday, 20 October 2015

Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the President of the Republic of Turkey, shaking hands with Gunnar Sveinsson,
Minister of Foreign Affairs, Iceland

Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the President of the Republic of Turkey, with UNCCD VIPs

Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, the President of the Republic of Turkey, opened the High-Level Segment

L-R: Rajeb Boulharouf, UNCCD Secretariat; Monique Barbut, UNCCD Executive Secretary; Veysel Eroğlu, COP 12 President; Jullyette Ukabiala, COP 12 Secretary; and Gyan Chandra Acharya, Under-Secretary-General, UN-OHRLLS

L-R: Kimo Goree, Vice-President, IISD, in discussion with Muleso Jones Kharika and Skumsa Mancotywa, South Africa

Turkish performers wearing intricate headdresses

Monday, 19 October 2015

UNCCD COP 12 participants convened in a morning COW session, to consider the communication strategy, synergies among the Rio Conventions, accreditation of CSOs, and decision-making procedures, among other issues. On the question of regional coordination, delegates were informed of Turkey’s initiative to establish a regional coordinating unit (RCU) in Turkey for Annex IV countries, also to be coordinated with Annex V countries, as well as the call by the 15th Session of the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment to re-establish the African RCU in a suitable host institution in Africa. Contact groups convened throughout the day, to develop draft decisions on COP 12 agenda items.

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UNCCD 12 participants from civil society consulting with Juan Luis Mérega, Chair of the CSO Panel

Jean-Marc Sinnassamy, Global Environment Facility (GEF)

Teena Browning, Australia

Pedro Berliner, Israel


Moussa Hassane, Niger

Agus Muktamar, Indonesia

Jorge Luis Garcia, Mexico

L-R: Hamda Aloui, Tunisia, in discussion with Nabil Benkhatra and Maxime Thibon, Sahara and Sahel Observatory (OSS)

Delegates from Kenya consulting

Friday, 16 October 2015

UNCCD COP 12 participants convened in contact groups throughout the final day of the first week, to discuss draft decisions related to the COP, CRIC and CST agendas.

The CST contact group concluded its work, following which CST 12 convened for its final session. The CST’s six draft decisions, which the CST adopted without comment, addressed: Outcomes of the UNCCD 3rd Scientific Conference (L.1); Improving the efficiency of the CST (L.2); Improvement of knowledge dissemination, including traditional knowledge, best practices and success stories (L.3); Work programme of the Science-Policy Interface (L.4); Roster of independent experts (L.5); and Programme of work for CST 13 (L.6).

During the discussion of the six decisions in Plenary, however, delegates proposed a number of amendments and the discussion will continue on three decisions on Monday.

Visit the full ENB+ coverage for Friday, 16 October 2015

Uriel Safriel, Chair of the CST (Israel), convened the final session of CST

Matthias Magunda, CST Rapporteur (Uganda)

Uriel Safriel, Chair of the CST (Israel)

Mohsen Abdolhoseini, Iran

Walter Engelberg, Germany, speaking on behalf of the EU

Felipe Costa, Brazil

UNCCD COP 12 Gender Day volunteers at the Rio Conventions Pavilion

Thursday, 15 October 2015

UNCCD COP 12 participants convened in the CST during the morning and afternoon. CST participants discussed IPBES’ ongoing global land degradation and restoration assessment, the SKBP, the roster of experts, and other topics. An afternoon plenary dialogue with CSOs focused on the theme, “Demystifying LDN with CSO Contributions.” Contact groups also met to discuss draft decisions related to the COP, CRIC and CST agendas, with a view to completing the CST and CRIC’s work on Friday, 16 October.

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Participants from Civil Society Organizations (CSO) at the close of the CSO Open Dialogue

Hien Ngo, Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services Secretariat (IPBES)

Adem Bilgin, IPBES Bureau

Alganesh Tesema, Ethiopia

Akiko Nakano, Japan

Sally Bunning, Food and Agriculture Organization of the UN (FAO)

Samuel Contreras, the Philippines


Nina Vik, Norway

Markus Giger, Switzerland

Octavio Pérez Pardo, Colegio de Ingeniería Agronómica de Santiago del Estero (CIASE), Argentina

Emmanuel Seck, ENDA, Senegal

An ethnic Turk weaving thread from the hair of the Kilkecisi goat

Wednesday, 14 October 2015

UNCCD COP 12 participants convened in the CST during the morning and afternoon. CST participants discussed IPBES’ ongoing global land degradation and restoration assessment, the SKBP, the roster of experts, and other topics. An afternoon plenary dialogue with CSOs focused on the theme, “Demystifying LDN with CSO Contributions.” Contact groups also met to discuss draft decisions related to the COP, CRIC and CST agendas, with a view to completing the CST and CRIC’s work on Friday, 16 October.

Visit the full ENB+ coverage for Wednesday, 14 October 2015

Thomas Tichelmann, Chair of the COW (Ireland), briefly convened the COW in the morning.

Uriel Safriel, Chair of the CST (Israel)

Mariam Akhtar-Schuster, Co-Chair of the UNCCD Science-Policy Interface (SPI)

Delegates from Turkey

L-R: Anja Thust, UNCCD Secretariat, and Patrick Wegerdt, Vice-Chair of the CRIC (EU)

Simone Quatrini, Global Mechanism (GM)

Chizuru Aoki, Global Environment Facility (GEF)

L-R: Belsis Llorente Díaz, Cuba, in informal consultation with Bongani Masuku, Swaziland

Tuesday, 13 October 2015

On the second day of the two-week meeting, UNCCD COP 12 participants conducted initial discussions on agenda items for the Committee of the Whole (COW), Committee for the Review of the Implementation of the Convention (CRIC) and Committee on Science and Technology (CST). Contact groups were established by each body to elaborate draft decisions for consideration by the COP.

Visit the full ENB+ coverage for Tuesday, 13 October 2015


Monique Barbut, UNCCD Executive Secretary, visiting a replica of an ethnic Turk village at UNCCD COP 12

L-R: Markus Repnik, Managing Director, GM; Massimo Candelori, UNCCD Secretariat; Thomas Tichelmann, Chair of the COW (Ireland); Jullyette Ukabiala, Secretary of the COW; and Melchiade Bukuru, UNCCD Secretariat

L-R: Stephen Muwaya and Amb. David Etuket, Uganda

Sun Guoshun, China


Barbara De Rosa-Joynt, US

Bongani Masuku, Swaziland

Ahmet Senyaz, Turkey

Rawea Alazawy, Iraq

Andrei Kuzmich, Belarus

L-R: Anja Thust, UNCCD Secretariat; Richard Mwendandu, Vice-Chair of the CRIC (Kenya); Jullyette Ukabiala, Secretary of the CRIC

CST session with Raafat Meisak Attalla, Kuwait, making an intervention

Turkish government officials joined by UNCCD Secretariat staff for breakfast at the ethnic Turk village.

Monique Barbut, UNCCD Executive Secretary, with delegates from Africa posing with ethnic Turk people.

Monday, 12 October 2015

The twelfth session of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD COP 12) opened in Ankara, Turkey, on Monday afternoon, 12 October 2015. Following meetings of regional groups during the morning, the opening plenary offered delegates the opportunity to exchange opening statements regarding the COP 12 agenda items and their expectations for the session. Pohamba Shifeta, Minister of Environment and Tourism, Namibia, and President of COP 11, opened COP 12 and expressed solidarity with those affected by the recent attacks in Ankara and led delegates in observing a moment of silence. Noting that sustainable rangeland management is a key priority for his country, he said the recent adoption of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) will help to raise the profile of desertification, land degradation and drought (DLDD) issues on the political agenda, and called for sufficient resources to meet the Convention’s targets to achieve Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN).

Delegates then elected Veysel Eroğlu, Minister of Forestry and Water Affairs, Turkey, as COP 12 President. Eroğlu highlighted the “Road to Ankara” initiative to engage the business community, and noted his country’s willingness to share its expertise with other countries in order to meet LDN goals. Monique Barbut, Executive Secretary, UNCCD, said the Convention is an “organization in motion” and noted the increased recognition of land issues at the global level, highlighting the inclusion of the LDN target in the SDGs and the acknowledgement of the role of land in climate change negotiations. Nicolas Hulot, Special Advisor to President of France, stated that success at the Paris Climate Change Conference relies on three factors: humility, solidarity and truth. Delegates proceeded to offer opening statements, adopt the COP 12 agenda and elect the COP 12 officers. At the end of the day, COP 12 participants enjoyed a buffet reception hosted by the Government of Turkey.

Visit the full ENB+ coverage for Monday, 12 October 2015

UNCCD COP 12 participants observed a moment of silence for the victims of the terrorist bombings in
Ankara, Turkey

Pohamba Shifeta, Minister of Environment and Tourism, Namibia handing over the COP presidency to Veysel Eroğlu, Minister of Forestry and Water Affairs, Turkey, as COP 12 President

Pohamba Shifeta, Minister of Environment and Tourism, Namibia, and COP 11 President

Veysel Eroğlu, Minister of Forestry and Water Affairs, Turkey, and COP 12 President

Monique Barbut, UNCCD Executive Secretary

Melih Gökçek, Mayor of Ankara

Markus Repnik, Managing Director, Global Mechanism of the UNCCD (GM)

Nicolas Hulot, Special Advisor to the President of France

Delegates from Niger

Delegates from the Philippines

Delegates from Jordan

Delegates from Kuwait

L-R: ENB team at the UNCCD COP 12 with Laura Russo, Lynn Wagner, Franz Dejon, Tallash Kantai,
Jennifer Lenheart, Wangu Mwangi, Annelies van Gaalen, and Tristan Tyrrell





ENB Daily Coverage—About | 12 Oct | 13 Oct | 14 Oct | 15 Oct | 16 Oct | 19 Oct | 20 Oct | 21 Oct | 22 Oct | 23 Oct | Summary
Specific funding for coverage of UNCCD COP 12 has been provided by the
European Commission, the UNCCD Secretariat and the Ministry of Forest and Water Management of Turkey
EC UNCCD Ministry of Forest and Water Management of Turkey

IISD Reporting Services is grateful to the many donors of the Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) and recognizes the following as core contributors to the ENB: the European Union, the Finnish Ministry for Foreign Affairs, the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (BMUB), the International Development Research Centre (IDRC), the Japanese Ministry of Environment (through the Institute for Global Environmental Strategies - IGES), the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, SWAN International, Government of Switzerland (the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment (FOEN), the Swiss Agency for Development Cooperation (SDC), and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). Funding for translation of the Bulletin into French is provided by the Government of France, the Wallonia, Québec, and the International Organization of La Francophonie/Institute for Sustainable Development of La Francophonie (IOF/IFDD).