Open letter to Environment Ministers on the Convention on Biological Diversity
Civil society and business orgs urge governments and UN to forge ahead with date and location for urgent global biodiversity meeting
17 June 2022
Dear Environment Ministers,
We, the undersigned, are writing with urgency to ask you to formalise the date and location for the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP15) negotiations before the Open-Ended Working Group 4 in Nairobi commencing June 21st.
Having no official date to finalise this agreement at CoP15 is stalling progress, momentum andinterest in this critical global agreement. We are extremely concerned that countries are failingto address the biodiversity crisis which is accelerating; threatening the future survival, prosperityand well-being of human societies. Further delays in announcing dates and holding the CoPitself risks further loss of momentum and political will, reduces the window for action, and couldundermine an ambitious outcome – with potentially dire consequences for Earth supportsystems.
We acknowledge the global challenge created by Covid-19 and the danger to health posed bythe continuing pandemic and understand the reasons for the postponement to date. It isparamount that CoP15 takes place in 2022 to ensure the credibility of the Convention and toallow countries to begin urgent implementation of the post-2020 framework. Meeting ambitioustargets in 8 years is already a challenge, and the risk of failure will increase dramatically if thereis a further postponement of CoP15.
We stress the need for the Bureau and Presidency to show leadership and commitment byannouncing 2022 CoP15 dates before this next round of CBD negotiations in Nairobi. Without afirm deadline, negotiators will have little incentive to reach compromises, and the Nairobi talksare unlikely to make progress.
As ministers of Environment for these representative countries of the Bureau, regions, and highambition coalitions, we urge you to show support for the CoP15 to be held in 2022 and to workto ensure a resolution is urgently found on a location that allows for continued leadership of theChinese presidency, fair and equitable participation, and takes into account public health andsafety.
We also urge you to support the delivery of a successful CoP, with transparent and open accessfor all Parties, observers and other stakeholders. To facilitate this, there must be full andunrestricted digital access, and pragmatic management of Covid to allow for active participationon site, as we have witnessed at UNFCCC CoP26, CBD OEWG3. It is vital that the CoP allowsfor equitable participation from all interested parties, Indigenous Peoples and local communities,and civil society organisations.
We stand ready to support in any way we can.
Yours sincerely,