Global Biodiversity Framework and biosafety

The Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity decided on (decision 14/34) a comprehensive and participatory process for the preparation of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework, which is expected to be adopted in 2020.

The negotiations to develop the post-2020 global biodiversity framework will be undertaken by a dedicated open-ended intersessional working group under the leadership of its two co-chairs, Mr. Francis Ogwal (Uganda) and Mr. Basile van Havre (Canada) and overseen by the Bureau of the Conference of the Parties.

The Executive Secretary published (notification 2019-026), an indicative chronology of key activities and milestones leading to the consideration of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework by COP-15, CP-MOP-10 and NP-MOP-4.

More information on the process for the development of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework is available here.

In decision CP-9/7, the meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol (COP-MOP) took note of the proposed preparatory process for the post-2020 global biodiversity framework and stressed the importance of including biosafety in the framework, inviting Parties to participate in the process for its development.

In the same decision, COP-MOP requested the Secretariat to facilitate the participation of an adequate number of biosafety experts, including those with expertise in the Nagoya – Kuala Lumpur Supplementary Protocol on Liability and Redress, in the development of the relevant elements of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework, including in relevant consultation workshops.

Finally, it also requested the Liaison Group on the Cartagena Protocol to contribute to the development of the relevant elements of the biosafety component in the post-2020 global biodiversity framework, in consultation with the co-chairs of the Open-ended Working Group.

Main steps in the development of biosafety elements within the post-2020 global biodiversity framework

• Dedicated sessions to discuss biosafety matters during global and regional consultation workshop(s) referred to in decision 14/34.
• Submissions by Parties, other Governments, indigenous peoples and local communities and relevant organizations that provide views on the relevant elements of the biosafety component of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework. See notification 2019-027, (28 February 2019) and the submissions received.
• Global consultation workshop on the post-2020 global biodiversity framework, biosafety and the Cartagena Protocol, 25 August 2019, Nairobi, Kenya, held prior to the First meeting of the Open-Ended Working Group on the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework. See report of the consultation.
• Thirteenth meeting of the Liaison Group on the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, held from 22 to 25 October 2019, to prepare a draft of the biosafety component in the post-2020 global biodiversity framework with regard to issues related to the Cartagena Protocol. Report of the meeting is available here.
• Suggested text for the biosafety component transmitted by the co-chairs of the Liaison Group in a letter to the co-chairs of the Open-ended Working Group on the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework for consideration in the preparation of the zero draft of the Global Biodiversity Framework presented to the second meeting of the Open-ended Working Group