African Group

Highlights for Thursday, 3 October 2019 Delegates from the US in discussions before the morning sessions Delegates convened for the third day of the Third Meeting of the Intersessional Process for Considering the Strategic Approach to International Chemicals Management (SAICM) and the Sound Management of Chemicals and Waste Beyond 2020 (IP3) on Thursday, 3 October 2019, in Bangkok, Thailand. In the morning, plenary briefly reconvened to hear the Co-Chairs of the four thematic groups report limited progress in reducing bracketed text indicating disagreements in the text of recommendations being developed for the fifth session of the International Conference on Chemicals Management (ICCM5). IP Co-Chair David Morin (Canada) reminded participants of the goal of achieving a complete zero draft at the end of IP3 to allow sufficient time to review the text and prepare for final negotiations at IP4 in March 2020.Delegates then resumed their consideration of draft texts in the thematic groups. In the morning, the Thematic Group on Targets, Milestones, and Indicators reviewed five strategic objectives proposed by the third meeting of the Open-ended Working Group (OEWG3) to be recommended to ICCM5. The Group discussed potential targets against: Strategic Objective D on maximizing benefits and minimizing risks through safer alternatives, innovative and sustainable solutions and forward thinking; Strategic Objective A on the need for measures to be identified, implemented and enforced to prevent, or minimize harm from chemicals and waste; and Strategic Objective E on sound management of chemicals and waste as an essential element in achieving sustainable development. The Thematic Group on Enhanced Governance and Institutional Mechanisms met in the morning and evening, focusing primarily on text regarding the functions of the High-Level Segment of the ICCM, including new proposals on: linkages with other sectors such as biodiversity, climate change, and human rights; promoting international cooperation to overcome challenges faced by developing countries; and mobilization of financial and technical resources and transfer of technology. In the afternoon, the Thematic Group on Mechanisms to Support Implementation began a second reading of text relating to the process of identifying issues of concern for inclusion in a post-2020 framework. In the evening, the group held an initial exchange of views on how to deal with existing emerging policy issues, reviewed a summary by the Co-Chairs of discussions relating to the science-policy interface, and reviewed new targets proposed under the mandate of this Group.The Thematic Group on Financial Considerations discussed at length proposals on: mainstreaming chemicals and waste management into national budgets and development aid priorities as well as into development bank aid programs; developing guidance and recommendations for investors to minimize economic risks associated with unsound chemicals and waste management; and a proposal by the Latin American/African Groups for a new International Fund dedicated to sound management of chemicals and waste. As the day wore on, many delegations, and at times the thematic group co-chairs themselves, expressed frustration that the pace of deliberations was not picking up. One group worked through lunchtime and two added evening sessions in the hopes of breaking the logjam. “We’re running out of time if we want to avoid sending a messy text to IP4” fretted one seasoned participant. IISD Reporting Services, through its Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB) meeting coverage, provided daily web coverage and a summary and analysis report from IP3. The summary and analysis report is now available in HTML and PDF. Photos by IISD/ENB | Sean Wu For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page Plenary Co-Chairs of the Intersessional Process David Morin, Canada; Judith Torres, Uruguay; and SAICM Secretariat Brenda Koekkoek Delegates during the plenary Co-Chair Karissa Kovner, US, reporting back on the thematic discussion on Governance and Institutional Arrangements Co-Chair Jonah Ormond, Antigua and Barbuda, reporting back on the thematic discussion on Financial Considerations The dais during the plenary Co-Chair Noluzuko Gwayi, South Africa, reporting back on the thematic discussion on Mechanisms to Support Implementation Co-Chair Silvija Kalnins, Latvia, reporting back on the thematic discussion on Targets, Milestones and Indicators Baogen Gu, Food and Agricultural Organization of the UN (FAO) Thematic Discussion on Financial Considerations View of the room during the thematic discussion Keri Holland, US Olubunmi Olusanya, Nigeria Rory O'Neill, International Trade Union Confederation Gregor Filyk, Canada Thematic Discussion on Targets, Milestones and Indicators View of the room during the thematic discussion Delegates from China discussing informally Lia Jasmin Esquillo, International POPs Elimination Network (IPEN) Delegates from International Council of Chemical Association (ICCA) Thematic Discussion on Mechanisms to Support Implementation The dais during the thematic group Olga Speranskaya, IPEN Johanna Hausmann, Women Engage for a Common Future Thematic Discussion on Governance and Institutional Arrangements The dais during the thematic group Gene Smilansky, US Sverre Thomas Jahre, Norway Co-Chair Muhammed Khashashneh, Jordan Delegates from EU discussing possible revisions to the text. Around the Venue Agriculture Sector Meeting hosted by FAO Delegates from ICCA posing for a group photo

Highlights for Tuesday, 3 September 2019  A COP 14 exhibit highlighting the importance of conserving water The Committee of the Whole (COW) convened in the morning to consider reports on finance and budget, links between the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and implementation of the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), and preparations for the mid-term review of the UNCCD Strategic Framework 2018-2030. Delegates agreed to establish two contact groups, on finance and other matters, to begin a review of decision texts. The two UNCCD subsidiary bodies also convened their opening sessions. Meeting in the morning, the Committee on Science and Technology (CST) discussed items resulting from the work programme of the UNCCD Science-Policy Interface (SPI), including proposals for refining guidance for implementation of Land Degradation Neutrality (LDN). The afternoon session considered coordination activities of the SPI work programme 2018–2019. Following the opening statements and adoption of the agenda, the Committee for the Review of the Implementation of the Convention (CRIC) established a contact group on matters relating to the Committee. Initial reactions to the reports highlighted some areas of convergence as well as potential sticking points. In the COW, numerous delegations presented their views on the 2030 Agenda. On LDN for example, while many lauded the momentum generated on the ground through the Target-Setting Programme (a representative of the African Group pointed out that 50 of the 54 countries in the region have established their targets), some also expressed concern about narrowing the scope of the Convention to just the LDN target and recalled the UNCCD’s broader mandate to address desertification, land degradation and drought issues. Several delegates also welcomed the planned mid-term review of the UNCCD Strategic Framework 2018-2030 and expressed hope that the COP would further clarify modalities for enabling countries to accelerate achievements. Other important COP 14 outcomes on the “wishlist” of delegates included reaching agreement on drought indicators, receiving targeted technical assistance and capacity building on sustainable land management, and finding agreement on disincentivizing unsustainable land practices.For more details on the day’s negotiations and to hear what delegates said in the corridors, see our daily Earth Negotiations Bulletin (ENB). IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB meeting coverage, is providing daily web coverage and daily reports from UNCCD COP 14. In addition, IISD Reporting Services will publish a summary and analyrs report from this session on Monday, 16 September 2019. Photos by IISD/ENB | Ángeles Estrada For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page COW Dais during the COW meeting Saida Rivero, Venezuela Trevor Benn, Guyana Ana Maria Rivero, Colombia Barbara De Rosa-Joynt, US Nicolas Gauna, Argentina Lucy Ng'ang'a, Kenya Valentin Ciubotaru, BIOS, Moldova CST Barron Orr, UNCCD Lead Scientist, UNCCD Executive Secretary Ibrahim Thiaw; and CST 14 Chair Carl Kojo Fiati Christian Edelmann, UN Board of Auditors Barron Orr, UNCCD Lead Scientist Participants during CST Participants listening to the interventions Pablo Vegas Aurelio, Argentina CST 14 Chair Carl Kojo Fiati, and Carmen Margina, UNCCD Secretariat Barron Orr, UNCCD Lead Scientist, and UNCCD Executive Secretary Ibrahim Thiaw Delegates are reminded of the COP 13 decision they took on the SPI work programme for the biennium 2018–2019, before considering the outcome of this work. Karma Dema Dorji, Bhutan Jean Luc Chotte, Institut de Recherche pour le Développement (IRD), France; Marioldy Sanchez, Asociación para la Investigación y Desarrollo Integral (AIDER); Mariam Akhtar-Schuster, SPI; Barron Orr, UNCCD Lead Scientist; CST 14 Chair Carl Kojo Fiati, and Carmen Margina, UNCCD Secretariat CRIC UNCCD Deputy Executive Secretary; Pradeep Monga; UNCCD Executive Secretary Ibrahim Thiaw; CRIC Chair Samuel Contreras, Philippines; Sharma Sangeeta, Secretary; and Johns Muleso Kharika, UNCCD Anja Thust, UNCCD Secretariat; and UNCCD Deputy Executive Secretary, Pradeep Monga CRIC Chair Samuel Contreras, Philippines Around the Venue

Highlights for Friday, 30 August 2019 Working Group Co-Chairs Francis Ogwal, Uganda, and Basile van Havre, Canada, gavel the meeting to a close at 7:43 pm. The first meeting of the Working Group on Post-2020 resumed for its final day of deliberations on Friday. Delegates completed discussions on the conclusions of the meeting based on a Co-Chairs’ draft that included annexes on the outcomes of the meeting, and a preliminary list of intersessional meetings relevant for the development of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework (GBF).During lunch, participants attended an information session on global strategic plans and linkages with other international instruments and processes. Neville Ash, Director, UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC), presented an overview of strategic plans and indicators across multilateral environmental agreements, and highlighted options for synergies and alignment with the GBF. Participants also heard from: Ludgarde Coppens, UNEP, on 26 indicators of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and efforts to build data-related methodology and capacity at national and regional levels; Elizabeth Mrema, on behalf of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), on its Strategic Vision 2021-2030 that promotes transformative change and sustainable use; Olivier Rukundo, International Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture (ITPGRFA), on cooperation with the Convention in supporting states in access and benefit-sharing; and Frederic Perron-Welch, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, on biotrade, including incentive measures, private sector engagement, and sustainable use. During the closing session, Christiana Paşca Palmer, CBD Executive Secretary, remarked on the good energy in the room and great amount of work done, noting the need to respond to the calls for action from the public on biodiversity issues. Providing regional statements: The African Group urged that the GBF ensure regional and thematic balance; Asia and Pacific said the 2050 Vision “living in harmony with nature” has played an important role in galvanizing action and should remain prominent; The EU welcomed the broad understanding of the need for transformative change, and using Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Result-Oriented, and Time-limited (SMART) targets; The Group of Latin America and the Caribbean (GRULAC) emphasized using science to identify causes and solutions and to seek co-benefits; and Central and Eastern Europe stressed the need for active participation of all parties and stakeholders to ensure well-formulated goals and targets. The meeting was gaveled to a close at 7:43 pm.The final day of the meeting saw delegates continuing to get their heads around their four days of labor based on draft conclusions of the meeting. The meeting, some agreed, has been a week of patience, as delegates put their negotiator’s hats down in favor of what some referred to as “a listening exercise.” One element that many agreed remains uncertain is whether to have an over-arching apex target. In spite of an almost equal number of proponents and opponents for this, most agreed that it would require a stroke of genius to come up with one target that is adequately inspiring, global, and encapsulates the complexity of the 2050 Vision of “living in harmony with nature.” Before parting, one delegate remarked, “Although it all seems rather topsy-turvy right now, once we are done packaging the zero draft, it will all come together pretty nicely.” IISD Reporting Services, through its ENB Meeting Coverage, provided daily web coverage from the 1st Meeting of the Open-ended Working Group on the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework. In addition, IISD Reporting Services has published a summary and analysis report which is now available in HTML and PDF. Photos by IISD/ENB | Diego Noguera For photo reprint permissions, please follow instructions at our Attribution Regulations for Meeting Photo Usage Page Delegates during the morning discussions on the potential elements and scope of the framework Dilovarsho Dustov, Tajikistan Norbert Bärlocher, Switzerland Georgina Catacora-Vargas, Bolivia Hesiquio Benítez Díaz, Mexico L-R: Stig Johansson and Stefan Leiner, EU; Alexander Shestakov, CBD Secretariat; and Gabriele Obermayr, Austria Carolina Díaz, Colombia Joaquín Salzberg, Argentina Wadzanayi Patience Mandivenyi, South Africa Gaute Voigt-Hanssen, Norway Luciana Melchert, Brazil A group of Friends of the Chair meets during plenary David Cooper, CBD Secretariat Tia Stevens, Australia Musonda Mumba, UNEP María Alejandra Guerra, Chile CBD Executive Secretary Cristiana Pașca Palmer Delegates during Friday’s proceedings L-R: Musonda Mumba, UNEP; Alfred Oteng-Yeboah, Ghana; Alex Owusu-Biney, UNEP; Doris Richter and Eric Okoree, Ghana Ludgarde Coppens (left), UNEP, addresses participants during the lunch event on Global Strategic Plans in other National Instruments and Processes L-R: Working Group Co-Chairs Basile van Havre, Canada; Francis Ogwal, Uganda; CBD Executive Secretary Cristiana Pașca Palmer; Jyoti Mathur-Filipp, David Cooper, and Catalina Santamaría, CBD Secretariat L-R: Janice Weatherley-Singh and Alfred DeGemmis, Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS), and Noëlle Kümpel, BirdLife International L-R: Kimberly Chan, Canada; Brooke Hynes, Jaime Grubb, Georgina Newton, and Tia Stevens, Australia Ivan Feys, Belgium, and Neville Ash, Director, UNEP-WCMC L-R: Jamila Janna, Wildlands Conservation Trust; Yuriko Shimada, Japan Youth Biodiversity Network; and Alphonce Muia, Catholic Youth Network for Environmental Sustainability in Africa Amandine John-Herpin and Barbara Petersen, Germany Working Group Co-Chair Basile van Havre, Canada, and Abdulghani A.M. Al-Bokwali, Yemen UNEP visitors at the meeting A view of UNEP Headquarters