Twenty-eighth meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA-28) - AM session

Good morning, colleagues. I would like to order the meeting now. Welcome back. I hope you had a good night's rest and are ready to continue our work. This morning we will take up our final substantive agenda item, item 4, on EBS. Before we begin, however, a few logistical clarifications. First, a reminder that the entrance to the venue is open daily from 7:30 AM until 8:00 PM. Delegates may exit at the same place until 10:00 PM.

Thank you.

After 10 PM, the vehicle exit must be used. Delegates are requested to leave the premises within 30 minutes after the conclusion of the last meeting of the day. Next, for late evening dining, the River Café is open until 9:30 PM.

Thank you.

Please follow the signage from the ground floor lobby area. Now we will begin with report back from a co-chair of each of the 3 contact groups that met yesterday. We will begin with the contact group on item 8, marine and coastal biodiversity. Ms. Patsy of Chile, you have the floor. Give the microphone to Chile.

Thank you, Chair. The Contact Group on Marine and Coastal Biodiversity, which I had the pleasure to co-chair with Ms. Holly Kelly-Whale, met yesterday from 3 to 6 6:30 PM. Based on the text provided in the early submission of statements and the first reading of the document in plenary, and following our mandate, we prioritized addressing textual proposals and resolving divergent views on the 2 annexes during our first session of work. We were able to discuss the entirety of the 2 annexes, although brackets remain on some paragraphs. as well as on Annex 2 as a whole. To address this, we ask specific delegations to convene in small informal groups to identify potential solutions to resolve these brackets. Due to time constraints, we are unable to discuss the body of the recommendations for which there are numerous text proposals. Consequently, an additional contact group session would be needed to discuss these outcomes of these small groups and to work through the body of the recommendations. Overall, we made good progress and I wish to express my sincere gratitude to all delegations for their hard work, constructiveness, and spirit of compromise. Your flexibility has been noted and it's truly appreciated. Thank you so much, Chair.

Thank you, Ms. Patty and your co-chair, Ms. O'Leary Kelly of the United Kingdom, and to all the members of the Contact Group. Next, we'll hear a report back from the co-chairs of the Contact Group on Item 5, Synthetic Biology. Ms. Valeria of Italy, you have the floor. Give the micro.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. to Italia.

Thank you, Chair. The Contact Group on Synthetic Biology met for the first time from 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. last night, and the group worked on the basis of the known paper that my co-chair, Marta from Namibia, and I prepared with the assistance of the Secretariat. At the outset of our deliberation, we recognized an opportunity to build a common ground Accordingly, we invite the parties to consider the adoption of the thematic action plan as a package on the understanding that nothing is agreed until everything is agreed. Despite the positive atmosphere in the room and the parties demonstrating goodwill and a strong commitment to find compromise, and I really thank our delegates for that, progress was slow. we were only able to complete our consideration on Section 1 to Section 4 of the thematic action plan. We have 3 pairs of brackets as the parties were unable to reach common ground on certain foundational elements relating to broader regular audits and scanning, as well on how to reflect issues pertaining to national circumstances and priorities. My co-chair and I believe that given sufficient time, we will have been able to fully discharge our mandate and complete our consideration on the thematic action plan. For this reason, we need an additional time to conclude our consideration of the thematic action plan before commencing our deliberation on the draft recommendation to the COP. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Marta, and Marta of Namibia, and Ms. Valerie of Italy and all the members of the contact group. Finally, we will hear a report back from Ms. Leticia of South Africa, co-chair of the contact group on item 7, sustainable wildlife management. Leticia, you have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. The Contact Group on Item 6 regarding sustainable wildlife management met last night from 9 to 11. The group was well attended and delegates actively engaged in the discussions. I'm happy to report, Chair, that the group operated under a good spirit of compromise. Thank you. The group started the discussions on the annex containing the global guidance, and we managed to make some good progress. In total, 46 interventions were made. We discussed issues related to scope and some of the principles contained in the global guidance. My co-chair and I would like to thank the delegates for their kind support and for the spirit of compromise that they were showing last night. We are hopeful, Chair, that with more time, we can address the task that you have given us, which also includes addressing the draft recommendation to COP.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Thank you, Ms. Leticia, and your co-chair, Ms. Carolina of Canada, and all the members of the Contact Group. Dear colleagues, after hearing report from co-chairs, let me move to the next item, item 4. Matters related to the work program of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services. Colleagues, we will now proceed with our final substantive item, item 4, matters related to the work program of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services. I will now invite the Secretariat to introduce the item. Secretariat, you have the floor.

Thank you, Thank you, Chair. In Decision 1611, the Conference of the Parties requested Substa to consider the recent outputs of the IPBES. In response to this request, the Secretariat has prepared document CBD/Substa/28/4, Matters Related to the Work Program of the Intergovernmental Science Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services. Thank you, Chair. The document provides an overview of the recently adopted deliverables of the platform, of the collaboration between the platform and the Convention, a review of findings of the summary for policymakers of the Business and Biodiversity Assessment and its implications for the work undertaken under the Convention, and a draft recommendation for the consideration of the subsidiary body.

Thank you, Chair.

Thank you, Secretariat. Information Document 10 lists the 24 submissions received from parties and the 10 statements from observers on Item 4 by the deadline. The list of parties and observers indicated in the information document is also being displayed on the screen. This list only includes observers that have registered on site. Given that the modalities— I will give the floor to Panama. Panama, you have the floor.

Thank you, Chair. I have a point of order. Panama observes that 2 contact groups are scheduled for 11:00 AM. This was something that was communicated and expressed as a concern from small delegations which only have one delegate per country. Thus, we need to state that due to limited participation of countries like Panama, we have— we reserve the right to reopen the documents in plenary. Thank you, Chair.

Thank you, Panama. Now I give the floor Argentina, you have the floor.

Thank you, Chair. Just to support the statement made by Panama, we are concerned by the creation of parallel contact groups, particularly given that delegations from developing countries only have the financing for one delegate per meeting, and that really makes it very difficult for us to participate.

Thank you.

Thank you, Argentina. Now I give the floor to Brazil. Brazil, you have the floor.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

Brazil also supports and fully endorses what Argentina and Panama said. Thank you very much.

Thank you, Brazil. Thank you for all interventions. Let's continue. Given that the modalities were intending to save time, The parties and observers listed may wish to refrain from delivering an oral statement except when necessary to make clarifications. Parties and observers that did not submit written statements during the informal process may wish to request the floor and submit their written statement as per established procedures. Colleagues, are there any objections from any parties or observers listed in the information document to your statement being formally entered on record as statement officially submitted for this agenda item in this meeting? Please raise your hands if you have any I see no objection. Thank you, colleagues. Your statements will be formally entered on record and considered as officially submitted under this agenda item. Regarding the statements submitted by observers, I will go through the list presented on the screen one by one. You are reminded that this list only includes observers that have registered on site. As I read the list, I will ask the observer organization to raise their hand so that we can confirm that you are in the room. I will then ask parties to press the microphone button if they support the statement made by that observer. Kindly press the microphone button and keep the green light on until we have finished so.

Thank you.

that we may properly record your name. Now I will start with the first observer. I can recognize Alliance of Biodiversity International and CIAD. Are you here?

Yes.

Not yet. As they are not present, their statement cannot be considered. I move to the next. Are you here? Okay, thank you. Any parties to support? I see Morocco, Panama, Marshall Islands. The rest, please, Secretariat, take note.

Thank you.

Okay. Now move to the next, Global Youth Biodiversity Network. Are you present? Okay, thank you. Any parties to support? I recognize Egypt, DRC, United Kingdom. The rest, please, Secretariat. Okay, thank you. The next International Indigenous Forum on Biodiversity Are you present? Okay, thank you. Any support? DRC, Australia, Brazil. The rest, Secretariat, please. Thank you. The next on my screen.

Just to recall, when parties support the statements made by the observers, you're asked to wait before. Turning off your mics to enable the Secretariat to take down the name of your country so that then we can have a complete list. So please do not remove your request for the floor before the Secretariat has taken notes.

Thank you.

The next will be the Commissioner for Human Rights. Are you present here?

Yes.

Yes. Any support? I recognize Panama, Germany. Let's move to the next. The next, Rockefeller Philanthropy, are you here? Okay, thank you. Any support? I see Finland, Egypt, France. The rest, please, Secretariat. Thank you. On my screen, the next is Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. Are you present? Yes, thank you. Any support? Ghana, ESEA, Egypt. The rest, Secretariat, please. Thank you. The next on my screen, United Nations Development Programme, are you here? Okay, thank you. Any support? I can recognize Congo, Gabon, Equatorial Guinea. The rest, please, Secretariat. Distinguished delegates, there was just an error which came up for.

The International Indigenous Forum on Biodiversity. We won't ask them if they're still present in the room. We have been assured that they are. But we just want to note down again the countries supporting them. So are there countries supporting International Indigenous Forum on Biodiversity? If there are, please, a request for the floor.

Thank you.

I can see here Germany, Australia, and DRC, and Secretariat will take note of the, the rest. Secretariat, please.

Thank you.

Thank you very much. And the last on my screen—

Thank you.

I think that I completed all the lists. Now we can move. Thank you, colleagues. Dear delegates, before I open the floor for intervention, I would like to remind you that at our meeting in Panama last year, we developed Recommendation 27/2, which includes a draft decision for the consideration of the Conference of the Parties on the Ibis Nexus assessment and transformative change assessment. When the compilation of draft decision for the Conference of the Parties is prepared, the Secretariat will merge the recommendation in 27/2 with the draft recommendation developed at this meeting. With that, let us now start our consideration of this I now open the floor for your views on item 4, beginning with parties speaking on behalf of a regional group. Please request the floor now only if you are speaking on behalf of regional group, only if you speak on behalf of the regional group.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman. Thank you, colleagues. Just to remind that interventions are limited to 4 minutes for parties speaking on behalf of regions. 2 minutes for individual parties, 3 minutes for indigenous people and local communities and major stakeholder groups, and 1 minute for non-parties to the convention and other observers, time permitting. Microphones will turn off automatically when the speaking limit has been reached. I may close the list of speakers as needed, but will give fair warning before I do so. Please read out your key points, especially those that you would like to have reflected in the draft recommendation, and be sure to upload your written comment no later than 1 hour after the close of this session. if you have not already done so. I will take the first intervention from Brazil, followed by Marshall Islands, and then Malawi.

Thank you, Mr.

Chair.

I have the honor to speak on behalf of the countries of the Latin American and Caribbean Group. GRULAC thanks IPBES for the preparation of the methodological assessment report on the impact and dependence of businesses on biodiversity and nature's contribution to people. We express our appreciation to the co-chairs, coordinating leading authors, lead authors, fellows, review editors, contributing authors, external reviewers, the technical support unit, the IPBES Secretariat, and all government Indigenous peoples and local communities, businesses, financial actors, civil society, academia, and other contributors involved in the preparation of the Summary for Policymakers. GRULAC welcomes the Summary for Policymakers and takes note with appreciation of the assessment as an important scientific and methodological contribution to better understanding and addressing businesses' impacts and dependencies on biodiversity. Its findings are relevant not only to Target 15, but also to other interconnected targets of the Kunming-Montréal Global Biodiversity Framework, including Targets 14, 16, 18, and 19, as well as those related to productive sectors, sustainable use, and means of implementation. The draft recommendation should reflect this broader scope. Enabling environments for sustainable business practices should not be reduced to Target 18 or to the reform of incentives. They also require coherent policy, legal and regulatory frameworks, sustainable production and consumption, accountability, appropriate financial flows, access to data and methodologies, capacity building, scientific and technical cooperation, and access to and transfer of technology, while respecting national circumstances and priorities. GRULAC stresses— sorry. GRULAC stresses that different sectors, business sizes, and decision-making contexts require different methods. Any methodological guidance should balance scientific robustness with affordability, accessibility, and practical applicability. Grulock further emphasizes the importance of strategically strengthening the implementation of Objective 2 of the IPBES Rolling Work Program up to 2030 by enhancing technical assistance and operational support to bridge the gap between scientific assessment and policy application. Enabling countries, particularly developing countries, to translate scientific findings into accountable national policies and concrete implementation outcomes in accordance with national circumstances and priorities. GRULUC also welcomes the progress made in the 3 ongoing IPBES assessments on monitoring biodiversity and nature's contribution to people, spatial planning and ecological connectivity, and the 2nd Global Assessment of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services. These assessments will provide important scientific inputs for the implementation, monitoring, and review of the Kunming-Montréal Global Biodiversity Framework, including in the update and review of the Programme of Work on Protected Areas. Finally, the use of the traditional knowledge, innovations, and practices of indigenous peoples and local communities must respect their rights and knowledge systems and occur with their free, prior, and informed consent in accordance with the relevant provisions of the Convention and national legislation. GRULAC supports continued cooperation between the Convention and IPES and looks forward to working with you.

Thank you, Brazil. Now I give the floor to Malawi, followed by Marshall Islands. Malawi, you have the floor.

Thank you, Chair. Malawi is reading this statement on behalf of the African Group. Mr. Chair, Africa expresses its appreciation to the Secretariat for the preparation of the document CBD/Substa/28/3, which provides a comprehensive overview of recent deliverables under the EBES. Africa thanks EBES Secretariat and experts for the tremendous progress in the ongoing methodological assessment of integrated biodiversity-inclusive spatial planning and ecological connectivity, methodological assessment on monitoring biodiversity and nature's contributions to people, the 2nd Global Assessment, and the recently adopted assessment at the 12th IPBES Plenary Session, the Business and Biodiversity Assessment. We recognize the considerable effort invested in producing both the full assessment report and the summary for policymakers for business and biodiversity. Africa recognizes the critical role of IPBES in providing sound policy-relevant scientific and ILK inputs to guide the implementation of the KMGBF and the achievement of the 2050 vision of living in harmony with nature. Mr. Chair, business and biodiversity represent a critical nexus for sustainable development across the continent and is strongly aligned with several targets of the KMGBF, providing evidence from available scientific and local knowledge regarding business and their dependencies and impacts on biodiversity. The assessment directly supports implementation of the KMGBF by advancing Target 15 on business assessment and disclosure of biodiversity impacts and dependencies, Target 14 on integrating biodiversity into policy and planning, Target 16 on sustainable production and consumption, and Target 19 on mobilizing finance for biodiversity. More broadly, it supports the implementation of the KMGBF's conservation, restoration, and sustainable use objectives by strengthening the role of businesses in achieving the Framework's 2050 vision of living in harmony with nature. Africa therefore welcomes this assessment with appreciation. Mr. Chair, significant segments of African economies and livelihoods depend directly on biodiversity for food security, water provision, shelter, energy, employment, and broader socioeconomic well-being. Africa therefore takes note of the key messages, actions, and recommendations emerging from the Business and Biodiversity Assessment and their potential to transform the relationship between business and nature. We are committed to implement actions that seek to create enabling environments that promote responsible business conduct and nature-positive inclusive value chains. At the same time, we note the concern that many of the examples and policy pathways highlighted are drawn largely from contexts that do not sufficiently reflect the scale, structure, and realities of African businesses. Particularly micro, small, informal, and community-based enterprises, which dominate economic activity across much of the continent. Africa underscores that the impact of IF-based assessment will ultimately depend on their accessibility, usability, and application at the national and regional levels. We therefore call for strengthened support for capacity building, technology transfer, and knowledge sharing, particularly for developing countries to facilitate the effective uptake and implementation of IPBES findings. We also encourage increased participation of African experts, including IPLCs, women, youth, and practitioners from diverse scientific disciplines and knowledge systems in the development of future IPBES assessments to ensure that they are inclusive, regionally relevant, and responsive to African priorities. Africa takes—

Thank you, Malawi. Now I give the floor to Marshall Islands. Marshall Islands, you have the floor.

Thank you, Chair. The Republic of the Marshall Islands speaks for the 14 Pacific Small Island Development States. We welcome the work of IPES and in particular its landmark Nexus and Transformative Change Assessments approved in late 2024 and its more recent assessment on business and biodiversity. For most of the world, the nexus between biodiversity, water, food, health, and climate is a framing. For the Pacific, it is daily life. When a reef bleaches, our fisheries and food security suffer together. When a drought hits a small island, freshwater and biodiversity fail together. When the sea rises, we face the prospect of relocating whole communities, carrying their biodiversity, their culture, and their livelihoods with them. The Nexus Assessment's central finding, that these crises are interlinked and cannot be solved in silos, describes our reality precisely. We ask the Convention uptake— the Convention's uptake of this science do a few things. First, advance a formal biodiversity and climate track. For Small Island Developing States, biodiversity and climate change are one emergency, not two. The best available science is clear. Even meeting the Paris Agreement's 1.5-degree Celsius goal is projected to result in the loss of 70 to 90% of the world's warm-water coral reefs, while a warming of 2 degrees would result in losses exceeding 99%. At the same time, the world is entering a rapidly strengthening El Niño that forecasts suggest could become the strongest on record. Compounding the impacts of human-caused climate change and bringing additional marine heat stress to coral reefs around the globe. A dedicated joined-up science policy process on biodiversity and climate is a long-standing Pacific priority, and this body should support it. Second, make the science ours as well. Island ecosystems and Pacific data and experts remain underrepresented in in global assessments. We ask for stronger participation of island scientists and knowledge holders, and for the genuine inclusion of indigenous and local knowledge systems gathered and used with free, prior, and informed consent. Our peoples have observed these ecosystems for millennia. That knowledge belongs in the evidence base. Third, please help us apply it. Assessments only matter if they change decisions on the ground. We ask for support to translate IPBES findings into national action in small island developing states, into our spatial plans and MB-SAPs, our fisheries management, our adaptation planning through capacity building and the cooperation centers. We also note that the assessment of climate impacts— adaptation has limits, and for reef-dependent island communities, these limits arrive early. We look forward to the 2nd Global Assessment of Biodiversity and we ask that its design take account of the specific circumstances and knowledge systems of Small Island Developing States. Chair, science is not neutral in its consequences. Those ecosystems— whose ecosystems are studied, whose knowledge is counted, and whose futures are modeled— these are choices. We ask parties to make choices that see the Pacific clearly, because our islands are where the biodiversity-climate nexus is being decided first.

Komu tata.

Merci aux îles.

I thank the Marshall Islands. As there are no more requests from the floor from the regional groups, we We'll therefore move on to individual parties and observers. I'd just like to recall that yesterday we had a cooperative spirit in terms of our work. For individual parties that have already submitted their advance statements, It's not necessary to take the floor again unless you believe there are specific points which you really want to highlight now. If that is not the case, I would urge you, in order to save time, to not take the floor again, enabling us to move forwards. The floor is now open to colleagues.

Thank you.

I will now open the floor to the countries that wish to take the floor, but this only to go into more depth on certain issues, but also for observers. Parties have 2 minutes as agreed. The floor is now open. We will therefore begin with DRC. Followed by Ghana and then Zimbabwe. DRC, you have the floor.

Thank you, Chair, for giving us the floor. The DRC supports the statements made by Malawi on behalf of the African Group. We thank the Secretariat for drafting this note and express its recognition to IPBES for the quality of its work. The DRC supports, however, any formulation aiming to fully ensure the strengthening of collaboration between the secretariats of the CBD and IPBES, which highlights the importance of scientific data collected by IPBES, which makes the most of data collected by IPBES IPBES, and supports the implementation of existing commitments under the Convention, and which ensures the active and significant participation at all levels of stakeholders, indigenous peoples, local communities, the women, youth, and which ensures an institutional framework aiming to ensure the implementation of everything proposed, and which takes into account traditional knowledge, innovations, practices and sustainable uses and human rights, as well as environmental or the right to a healthy environment, as well as formulations encouraging parties and business to take actions, encouraging practices to favor biodiversity and to strengthen capacities, technology transfer, and technical and scientific cooperation.

Thank you.

Thank you, DRC. Now I give the floor to Ghana, followed by Zimbabwe and then Egypt. Ghana, you have the floor.

Thank you, Chair. Ghana supports the statements made by Malawi on behalf of Africa. Chair, Ghana welcomes the IBES Business and Biodiversity Assessments, which provide an important scientific foundation for understanding and addressing the complex interlinkages between socioeconomic activities and biodiversity. For Ghana, this assessment report is valuable and timely, as we are currently working with the National Development Planning Commission to mainstream biodiversity into the planning, assessment, and budgetary processes. We are also collaborating with financial institutions institutions to ensure investment portfolios undergo rigorous environmental assessments before any loans are approved. We welcome the continual strengthening and collaboration between IBEZ and the Convention and encourage further expansion of this collaborative approach across other biodiversity-related conventions and multilateral environment agreements to ensure— to enhance coherence, avoid duplication of efforts, and maximize the uptake of scientific knowledge in policy development and implementation. Finally, to ensure widespread practical application by policymakers of the assessment reports, we request the platform to produce various fact sheets or an abridged version of the summary for policymakers. Thank you, Chair.

Thank you, Ghana. Dear colleagues, I will soon close the list of speakers. Now I give the floor to Zimbabwe, followed by Egypt and then India. Zimbabwe, you have the floor.

Thank you so much, Chair, for giving me the floor and would like to express our alignment with the statement made by Malawi on behalf of the Africa region. Chair, Zimbabwe welcomes with appreciation the IBS methodological assessment report on business and biodiversity, and wishes to thank all involved in the assessment and the preparation of the subsequent report. Zimbabwe stands ready to support balanced textual formulations that acknowledge the scientific value of assessment while also recognizing the important contributions of indigenous peoples and local communities through their knowledge, methods, and practices. At the same time, such formulations should encourage business to play their fair role advancing biodiverse conservation in an inclusive manner that respects human rights and undertaken in a way that respects national priorities and circumstances and should remain within the confines and mandate of the Convention. However, Zimbabwe is of the view that further work is required on the draft recommendation, particularly to ensure close alignment with the language contained in the summary for policymakers of the assessment. Zimbabwe has already submitted its its proposed textual amendments and reaffirms its readiness to engage constructively in the discussions with a view to reaching a balanced recommendation. Thank you, Chair.

Thank you, Zimbabwe. Now I give the floor to Egypt, followed by India, and then Indonesia. Egypt, you have the floor.

Thank you, Chair. Egypt aligns itself with the statement delivered on behalf of the African Group.

Thank you.

Egypt highly values the essential role of the IPBES in strengthening the science-policy interface and providing independent, credible, and policy-relevant scientific assessment that supports the implementation of the Convention and the coming Montreal Biodiversity Framework. We therefore welcome the continued cooperation between IPBES and the Convention, including the growing collaboration with the Secretariat and the scientific process support supporting the global review of the collective progress in the implementation of the framework. With regard to the recently completed Business and Biodiversity Assessment, Egypt recognizes its important scientific contribution in enhancing the understanding of the relationship between biodiversity, business, and financial sector, particularly in supporting the implementation of Target 15 of the Global Biodiversity Framework, and the assessment also provides useful scientific information relevant to several other targets of the Framework. At the same time, we underline that IPBES assessments are scientific and technical products intended to inform national decision-making. Their findings should be applied in accordance with national priorities, capacity, and circumstances, while fully respecting the sovereign right of the Parties to determine their own policies, legislative, and regulatory approach for implementing the Convention and the Framework. We also encourage parties to actively participate in the ongoing review and dialogue related to the monitoring assessment and the special planning of ecological connectivity assessment and the 2nd Global Assessment. Finally, Egypt supports further strengthening collaboration between the Convention and IPBES. We will submit our proposed amendment to the draft decision in writing. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Egypt. The colleagues, the list of speakers is now closed. The next on my screen, I will give the floor to India, followed by Indonesia and then South Africa. India, you have the floor.

Thank you, Chair. India welcomes the continued collaboration between CBD and DBIS and appreciates the business and assessment as a valuable scientific resource for supporting implementation of KMBGF. India recognized the importance of role of business in biodiversity conservation and sustainable use. Creating an enabling environment should be based on balanced consideration of the economic, social, environment dimensions of sustainable development supported by appropriate policy finance, technology, capacity building, and knowledge systems, while recognizing poverty reduction and nature-dependent livelihoods. India stressed the need to strengthen the participation of experts from developing countries in IPBES assessment. Additional finance resources should be mobilized to enhance the representation of experts from Global South in assessments, peer review processes, and capacity building activities. At national level, India has established a comprehensive framework through Biodiversity Act, Access and Benefit Sharing Mechanism, and National Biodiversity Target 15 to promote biodiversity mainstream by businesses. Enabling conditions for biodiversity-positive business practices should remain equitable and inclusive, particularly for small and medium enterprises, while respecting national priorities, development needs and food security. India reiterates the implementation of Target 15 and 18 should reflect national circumstances and be supported by adequate finance, technology transfer, and capacity building under Target 19. Any guidance arising from the assessment should therefore remain voluntary, flexible, and non-prescriptive. Finally, India welcomes continued cooperation between CBD and ABBIS including through scientific cooperation, knowledge exchange, and capacity building, with stronger participation of experts from the Global South.

Thank you, India. When I closed the list earlier on my screen, I had the, the, the floor parties Indonesia, South Africa, Argentina, Russia Federation, Syria Arab Republic, Kenya. And observers, I have IPLCs, Youth, and IBEIS. Now I give the floor to Indonesia, followed by South Africa, and then Argentina.

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.

Thank you, Chair. Indonesia welcomes the continued cooperation between the Convention and IPBES and recognizes the importance of translating scientific assessment into practical policy-relevant guidance that can be implemented across diverse national circumstances. Regarding Section 6, Paragraph 35, Indonesia supports greater attention to the relationship between biodiversity, business, and food system. We see merit in recognizing the connectivity between protected areas surrounding agricultural landscape, given its contribution to pollination, natural pest control, climate resilience, and food security. However, the text should remain clear and practical, avoiding overly technical or narrowly interpreted terminology such as intact biodiversity. Indonesia also welcomes the proposal for the Executive Secretary to assess business impact and dependencies on biodiversity and to develop guidance addressing methodological and implementation gaps. Such guidance should be practical, proportionate, and responsive to the capacities and needs of developing countries. In this regard, Indonesia supports assigning this work onto an existing expert process. On data, the draft should address not only data collection but also effective information sharing arrangement and accessible sharing mechanism. Disclosure under Target 15 of the KMGBF should be strengthened and when appropriate, linked with the clearinghouse mechanism to improve transparency and identify implementation gaps. Indonesia further supports in fighting IBES, including through its forthcoming assessment on spatial planning and connectivity, to consider the connectivity between protected areas and agricultural landscape and its contribution to ecosystem services such as pollination and natural pest control. Finally, Indonesia supports encouraging food and agriculture agriculture actors to undertake regular chemical residue assessment across supply chains, particularly near protected areas, provided such measures remain consistent with national regulation, national capacities, and relevant international chemical conventions, with preserving—

Thank you, Indonesia. Now I give the floor to South Africa, followed by Argentina. And then Russia Federation. South Africa, you have the floor.

Thank you, Chair.

South Africa aligns itself with the statement made by Malawi on behalf of the Africa Group. South Africa welcomes the summary for policymakers on the Business and Biodiversity Assessment, its chapters including its executive summaries as approved by IPBES 12. We also note the importance of this assessment in the implementation of the coming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. In particular Target 15, as well as the support of implementing Target 14, 16, and 19. One of the key highlights for South Africa, which may be critical in the efforts of ensuring the uptake of the assessment at the national level, will be the identification and prioritization of various actions required to create an enabling environment by different actors, as listed in Table 1 of the Summary for Policymakers. However, more support is still needed needed for developing countries to effectively consider options based on their national circumstances. South Africa also notes the acknowledged gaps in the measurement of business impacts and dependencies identified in the assessment. Addressing these gaps will strengthen the measurement of business impacts and dependencies on biodiversity, improve accountability, and support more informed and effective decision-making. Mr. Chair, South Africa acknowledged the progress made thus far in the preparation of the special planning and ecological connectivity assessment, monitoring assessment, and the 2nd global assessment on biodiversity and ecosystem services. We remain committed to contributing to these processes and to promoting the uptake of the application of the IPBES assessments finding in support of evidence-based policy and decision-making at national level, as well as to complement the work of the Convention. Thank you, Chair.

Thank you, South Africa. Now I give the floor to Argentina, followed by Russia Federation, and then Syria Arab Republic. Argentina, you have the floor.

Thank you, Chair. Argentina supports the statement made by Brazil on behalf of the Group of Latin America and the Caribbean, and in order to make best use of time, we will send our comments and suggestions to the text in writing.

Thank you.

Thank you, Argentina. Now I give the floor to Russia Federation, followed by Syria, Arab Republic, and then

Thank you, Mr.

Chair. The Russian Federation highly appreciates the assessment report on the interdependence between business and biodiversity, the Business and Biodiversity Assessment, and we thank the entire team of authors for the large amount of work that they have done. The document contains a broad set of recommendations which could be useful to representatives of business communities and states for the successful implementation of the KMGBF with a whole-of-society approach and a strengthened constructive contribution from business. It's important to note that implementing these recommendations should be done in accordance with national legislation and national priorities of states. We cannot fail to draw attention to the different level of regional representation in the authorship team of the assessment in this regard in the draft. decision on this point. The Russian Federation cannot agree with the use of the word welcomes, and we are in favor of replacing it with takes note. Our proposals on the text of the draft decision will be sent to the Secretariat in writing. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Russia Federation. Now I give the floor to Syrian Arab Republic, followed by Kenya. Syria, you have the floor.

Thank you, Chair. It is a great honor for me to be able to welcome this report from IPBES. We would like to express our thanks to the Secretariat for preparing the document, and we support the content of this report. In terms of creating an enabling environment to strengthen the sustainability of economic activity. This is an important step towards achieving the coming Montreal goals, including Targets 14 and 15. Mr. Chair, when it comes to Syria, the business sector is the keystone of our economy. Which is currently in a phase of restoration and recovery. That's why we stress the need to operationalize the objectives and recommendations to help businesses be more committed in a way that is more favorable and more positive without increasing their burdens. We would very much like to strengthen international scientific cooperation in a sustainable manner, as well as an exchange of information and technical and financial support in order to fill in geographic gaps and scientific gaps. This will allow us to create strategies and closely study the changes changes in biodiversity. So we invite you to participate with even greater collaboration to create a fairer business environment.

Thank you.

Thank you, Syrian Arab Republic. Now I give the floor to Kenya.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Kenya aligns with the statement delivered by Malawi on behalf of the African Group. Kenya welcomes the continued collaboration between CBD and IPBES. We recognize that IPBES is the leading scientific body providing credible assessment and support to the Convention, the KMGBF, and our NB-SAPs. We support the draft recommendation and propose strengthening paragraph 2A to encourage parties to integrate the assessment into national business strategies, procurement policies, natural capital accounting, and development plans to advance Target 15. Under paragraph 2B, Kenya recommends incentives for private sector investments in restoration and nature-positive enterprises, especially for MSME, and capacity building should extend beyond measuring business impacts and dependencies to include biodiversity accounting, ecosystem services valuation, risk assessment, and corporate disclosure. While we welcome the assessment, we note that developing countries face constraints of limited data, weak monitoring, taxonomic gaps, and inadequate financing. We therefore urge that under paragraph 2C and 2D, we recognize the gaps and promote technology transfer, scientific cooperation, and sustainable financing. We also underscore the importance of integrating indigenous and local knowledge alongside scientific evidence in the assessments and decision-making. We support the IPBES midterm review and urge future collaborations to focus on practical implementation guidance and policy tools. Finally, Chair, Kenya recommends that the Executive Secretary supports parties in translating the assessments into national policies and capacity building through their clearinghouse mechanism and technical cooperation mechanism with strengthened investments in biodiversity science and monitoring. Thank you, Chair.

Thank you, Kenya. Dear colleagues, I have remaining on the list speakers the following: IPLCs, Youth, IBESS. I will start with IBESS, followed by IPLCs, and then Youth. IBESS, you have 1 minute, IPLCs 3 minutes, and Youth 3 minutes. IPBES, you have the floor.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. I give this statement on behalf of Dr. David Obura, Chair of IPBES. IPBES thanks all delegates who participated in the workshop on the Business and Biodiversity Assessment and other IPBES work on Saturday. We are very pleased that SAPSTA also considers this most recent assessment regarding its implications for the work of the Convention. Some of the relevant key findings of the assessments are, it demonstrates that businesses are an essential part of the solution to biodiversity loss across operations, value chains, and financial portfolios, identifying over 100 concrete actions, many implementable immediately. It further explains key enabling roles for government in supporting business action and transformation. Notably, actions identified in the assessment are linked to targets across the KMGBF, providing critical support for—

Please provide more 2 minutes to IBEZ because it is their business. 2 minutes more, please.

Thank you. Just to be brief, other elements of the work that will support the work of the CBD include the monitoring assessment, spatial planning and connectivity assessment, and second global assessment. The first external review of the chapters of the global assessment is currently underway until 7th of August. Our rolling work program continues as usual, and for decisions at EPAS 13, we are reviewing potential new elements, including the requests from the CBD COP for assessments on biodiversity diversity in cities, climate change, pollution, and poverty. We wish all delegates a successful meeting for the remainder of the week. Thank you very much.

Thank you, Ibis. Now I give the floor to Aipil Sis.

Follow.

Thank you very much, Mr. Chair. A statement on behalf of the International Indigenous Forum on Biodiversity.

IAFB.

The IAFB welcomes the methodology—

Please, one second, please. Panama, you have the floor.

Thank you, Chair. We would like to refer to the guidance on the conducting of the meeting. When the plenary was informed that contact groups would not be held simultaneously with plenary meetings. That's why we would like to ask that the 2 contact groups scheduled for 11:00 AM not begin until this plenary session has concluded so that small delegations can participate effectively.

Thank you.

I will give the floor to Secretariat. Secretariat, you have the floor.

Thank you, delegate from Panama. We have informed our colleagues not to start until the plenary is over. So we will check if they have started, but we have given them instructions to wait until the plenary is over and that the contact group will start when the plenary is over. Thank you.

Thank you, Secretariat. Now I turn to IPLCs. IPLCs, you have the floor.

Thank you very much, Mr.

Chair.

A statement on behalf of the International Indigenous Biodiversity, IAFB. The IAFB welcomes the methodological assessment of the impact and dependence of business on biodiversity and nature's contributions to people of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services. The IAFB supports the encouragement to parties to use the findings of the assessment to To advance implementation of the Convention and the coming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, particularly Target 15, the IAF emphasizes that this must be done in ways that uphold the rights, roles, and contributions of indigenous peoples and local communities. The IAF welcomes the explicit reference to incorporating traditional knowledge of indigenous. Peoples and local communities into capacity-building frameworks. This is essential for ensuring that business-related biodiversity measurement does not rely solely on Western scientific metrics but integrates indigenous and traditional knowledge systems with our free, prior, and informed consent. Thank you very much.

Thank you, IPLCs. Now I give the floor to youth. Youth, you have the floor.

Thank you, Chair. I'm speaking on behalf of the Global Youth Biodiversity Network, GBBN, which serves as the international coordinating platform for youth participation in the Convention on Biological Diversity. We have submitted specific text proposals for this agenda item online, and we thank the parties who have expressed their support for these proposals. We are taking the floor to briefly outline our general key priorities as youth for this agenda item. GBIN welcomes the IPBES Business and Biodiversity Assessment, BBA. Our proposal draws on those key and background messages that emphasize that current levels of business action remain insufficient to achieve transformative change and that addressing the underlying causes of biodiversity loss is essential. To this end, the decision should further emphasize businesses' responsibility and immediate action to address their impacts and dependencies on biodiversity. It should also call for stronger regulation, mandatory disclosure, and impact assessment, while encouraging financial and economical factors to reward sustainable practices and discourage harmful In addition, the decision should better reflect equity, justice, and rights of rights holders recognized in Target 22, including by ensuring respect for free, prior, and informed consent and ensuring their meaningful participation in business-related decision-making. Thank you, Chair.

Thank you, youth. Thank you, colleagues. We have completed the first reading of Agenda Item 4, EBS. Thank you, delegates, for your useful comments and suggestions. We now reach the conclusion of our discussion on Item 4. We have had a very rich discussion. On many issues, we note major areas of convergence. However, we also have a range of views that require further discussion. After hearing your intervention— interventions, I propose to establish a contact group. The contact group will be co-chaired by Mr. Dickson of Zimbabwe and Mr. Jain of Seychelles, both of— Seychelles, Seychelles, both of whom are members of the SAPSABureau. I will proceed to prepare a non-paper with the assistance of the Secretariat in line with established practice The non-papers are not intending to be a compilation of all proposals. Instead, they will contain my proposal for consensus text aimed at facilitating a more efficient negotiation. I give the floor to the Secretariat.

Thank you, Chair. As indicated on the schedule, we will have parallel contact groups on synthetic biology and sustainable wildlife management immediately following the closing of this session and lasting until 2 PM. From 3 PM to 6 PM, we will have parallel contact groups on Item 7, PAUPA, and Item 8, Marine and Coastal Biodiversity. And from 6 to 7:30, we will have a Friends of Chair meeting on Item B on the monitoring framework, followed by a contact group from 8 to 11 PM on Item 3A, the Global Thank you, Chair.

Thank you, Secretariat. With that, colleagues, I will close this session. Pay close attention to the schedule for the place that contact group will meet and the date and time of the next meeting of our plenary. The meeting is adjourned. Sorry, sorry, please, I will give the floor to Egypt. Egypt, you have the floor.

Thank you very much, Mr.

Chair.

As all of us, we know that many of the participants here, they have what we call Swiss cards that the money was stopped in February until now. And we communicated with the CBD Secretariat and until now nothing happened. So would it be possible that Secretariat can get in touch with UNEP to finalize this situation as many of us, we already lost a lot of money. We use them to book for hotel, for other purposes as well before we arrive for any event. I would appreciate if it is possible.

Thank you very much.

Thank you, Egypt.

Yes, thank you, Egypt, for raising this point. I can confirm that we are in Constant contact with UNEP about that. There is a process, an ongoing process of verification of data to find the accounts to which the money would be transferred. This is an ongoing process, but we can endeavor to give a more precise update in one of the coming plenaries. But we know it's a priority concern for many and for us, so there's a team working in Montreal and a team working in Nairobi to accelerate the Thank you.

Thank you, Executive Secretariat. Once again, the meeting is adjourned.