Submitted by Alice Cronshaw on Wed, 22/06/2022 - 15:44
22 June 2022 - CISL has signed an open letter calling environment ministers within governments and the UN to forge ahead with date and location for urgent global biodiversity meeting.
CISL joins Business for Nature, The B Team, Campaign for Nature, Capitals Coalition, Crowther Lab, Nature4Climate, The Nature Conservancy, The PEW Charitable Trusts, RSPB, and We Mean Business in signing a letter to environment ministers warning that no official date for the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP15) is stalling progress, momentum and interest in the critical global agreement on biodiversity.
This conference has been delayed for over two years, and the letter argues each delay risks loss of momentum and political will, reduces the window for action, and could undermine an ambitious outcome. It also urges for transparent and open access through full and unrestricted digital access, as well as allowing for equitable participation from all interested parties, Indigenous Peoples and local communities, and civil society organisations.
The appetite from progressive businesses wanting to contribute to the COP15 nature negotiations is high, to retain this engagement certainty and clarity on the timetable and logistics before the next round of negotiations in Nairobi taking place 21-26 June is a necessity.
The letter is as follows:
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 and interest in this critical global agreement. We are extremely concerned that countries are failing to address the biodiversity crisis which is accelerating; threatening the future survival, prosperity and well-being of human societies. Further delays in announcing dates and holding the COP itself risks further loss of momentum and political will, reduces the window for action, and could undermine an ambitious outcome – with potentially dire consequences for Earth support systems.
We acknowledge the global challenge created by Covid-19 and the danger to health posed by the continuing pandemic and understand the reasons for the postponement to date. It is paramount that COP15 takes place in 2022 to ensure the credibility of the Convention and to allow countries to begin urgent implementation of the post-2020 framework. Meeting ambitious targets in 8 years is already a challenge, and the risk of failure will increase dramatically if there is a further postponement of COP15.
We stress the need for the Bureau and Presidency to show leadership and commitment by announcing 2022 COP15 dates before this next round of CBD negotiations in Nairobi. Without a firm deadline, negotiators will have little incentive to reach compromises, and the Nairobi talks are unlikely to make progress.
As ministers of Environment for these representative countries of the Bureau, regions, and high ambition coalitions, we urge you to show support for the COP15 to be held in 2022 and to work to ensure a resolution is urgently found on a location that allows for continued leadership of the Chinese presidency, fair and equitable participation, and takes into account public health and safety.
We also urge you to support the delivery of a successful COP, with transparent and open access for all Parties, observers and other stakeholders. To facilitate this, there must be full and unrestricted digital access, and pragmatic management of Covid to allow for active participation on site, as we have witnessed at UNFCCC COP26, CBD OEWG3. It is vital that the COP allows for 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,
You can also read the letter on Business for Nature's website here.
