Working Group II (1st meeting), UN Convention on Biodiversity – COP 17

particular, let us avoid creating parallel discussions on issues that have already been addressed under other agenda items. Instead, I will therefore urge all colleagues to remain mindful of these connections as we proceed with our work. In particular, let us avoid creating parallel discussions on issues that have already been addressed on the other agenda items. Instead, we should build on the work undertaken across the agenda, seek complementarities and ensure that our deliberations are mutually reinforcing. This approach will help us use our time effectively, maintain coherence in our discussions and contribute meaningfully to the successful advancement of the work of COP/MOP 12. With 2030 approaching, we need to make the best use of the time we have. Let us work constructively through the remaining differences and deliver the strongest possible outcomes from Working Group 2. I count with your cooperation, colleagues. Thank you. As the President emphasized this morning, COP17 and the meetings of the Parties to the Protocols will be taking place concurrently. Working Group 2 serves the Conference of the Parties and the Meeting of the Parties of the Cartagena Protocol. This Working Group will address COP17 agenda items 16, 17A to E, and 18A to F, as well as items 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16, and 17 under the Cartagena Protocol. All other items on the agenda of COP17 and COP-MOP 12 are not considered by the plenary, will be covered by Working Group 1. Upon concluding its work, Working Group 2 will deliver a set of draft decisions to the COP and the Cartagena Protocol COP-MOP. I kindly ask you to avoid requesting the floor to make general statements, including statements congratulate me. No, please no. Or those that repeat points previously raised and discussed at the meeting of one of the subsidiary bodies. especially on those issues for which a comprehensive draft decision has already been prepared by these bodies. As set out in the scenario note, contained in document COP 17/1/Add.2, given the limited time available, I will not invite general statements for most of the draft decisions that have been prepared by subsidiary bodies. Instead, we will use our time to address new or unresolved issues in draft decisions. This includes bracketed text and issues that have not been addressed by the parties at the intergovernmental level. As presented in the scenario notes, I propose that for items that have been prepared by the subsidiary bodies and contain only few unresolved issues, I will prepare conference room papers with the support of the Secretariat These conference room papers will be prepared on the basis of the draft decisions adopted by subsidiary bodies and contained in the compilation of draft decisions, document COP 17/2. On some items, I may consult informally with parties, where I believe this may facilitate our work. Actually, I already run some consultations to move this forward. We're working together as a team. For items that many are complex unresolved issues, I propose to establish a contact group immediately with a view to preparing a consensus text that can be transmitted to the working group as a conference room paper. For most items, the contact groups are expected to work on the basis of the draft decisions contained in the compilation of draft decisions. These draft decisions will be presented as non-papers for consideration by the contact groups. For COP items 18A and 18F, which were previously considered by SubStam and which there has been intersessional work and early submissions of statements, due time will be allocated in the working group session for a first reading only for those documents. Where a contact group is proposed for these items, a non-paper will be prepared based on the draft decisions contained in the compilation of that decision, as well as elements proposed in response to the views of parties expressed during the first reading of the agenda items. For those items that have not been addressed by a subsidiary body, your time will be allocated in the working group session for a first reading. with the early submission of state statements process. This applies in particular to a number of items under the Cartagena Protocol. Delegates, it will be very important to keep a close watch on the monitors and on the schedule in order to be present in the meeting room at relevant times as we may move swiftly from one item to the next. We may take up items that are scheduled for the next session if we make good progress. Before we start considering our first item on the agenda, I would like to ask the Secretary to provide some logistical information. So, Secretary, you have the floor.

Thank you, Chair. And good afternoon, distinguished delegates. It is a pleasure to see you all again. First of all, please note that this meeting is being held in person only. There is no online participation available. Plenary sessions will be live streamed on UN Web TV in all six official UN languages. Links to specific sessions will be available under the schedule tab on the conference website, which will be updated daily. Let me now begin with information on how to use the microphones. To request the floor, press the button in front of you once. The green light will turn on and we will be notified of your request. Please note that pressing the button twice will cancel your request to speak. When the Chair gives you the floor, the technician will activate your microphone. The light will turn red and you can start speaking. Due to the high number of intergovernmental organizations, United Nations agencies, and other observers in attendance, some organizations have dedicated seats, designated by nameplates, while others are seated in a general area, indicated as such. Representatives of all observer organizations will thus be sharing a microwave, excuse me. Representatives of all organizations will thus be sharing a microphone with other organizations of the same constituency or grouping, identified to the podium by a number indicated on your microphone. Once your microphone is on, Please identify your organization before commencing your statement. Delegates are requested to keep within the assigned time when taking the floor and to speak at dictation speed to facilitate the work of the interpreters. In view of the heavy agenda for this meeting, the Chair will be limiting interventions to four minutes for parties speaking on behalf of regions, two minutes for individual parties, three minutes for Indigenous Peoples and local communities and major stakeholder groups, and one minute for non-parties to the Convention and other observers, as time allows. Following interventions by Indigenous Peoples and local communities and major stakeholder groups, parties will be invited to express support by a show of hands. A clock is provided for you on the screen to help you manage your time, but please do not speed up your reading. If need be, the Chair may have a delegate's microphone turned off when the time limit for the intervention has been reached. Regarding statements, in cases where agenda items are open for first readings, delegates are requested to upload their written statements using the statement button on the respective meeting pages. using the procedure displayed on the screen. You must enter your priority pass or badge code. In the event of technical difficulties with uploading a statement, kindly send an e-mail to cbd-statements@un.org with a copy to secretariat@cbd.int for assistance. Dear delegates, As explained in the scenario note, as well as in notification 2026/072, dated 18 September 2026, modalities for the early submission of statements are being implemented for substantive agenda items that require a full first reading. For Working Group 2, those items are COP18

Thank you, Secretariat. Delegates, before we dive into the substance, I would like to remind you that this session will end at 6:40, so we can make use of the full three hours of interpretation time. This is very precious, it's essential for our communications, so let's get use of our resources in an effective way. So we will begin our consideration of agenda item 16 of COP 17 agenda on synthetic biology. This item was discussed by SubSA at its 28th meeting, which considered the scientific and technical elements as well as the Thematic Action Plan and adopt recommendation 28.3 from SubSA. The item was also considered by the Subsidiary Body on Implementation and its seventh meeting, which considered implementation elements related to the Thematic Action Plan and the adoption of recommendation SBI/7/7. The two resulting recommendations have been combined into one draft decision, which is present in the compilation of draft decisions in document COP 17/2. However, I know that KLM and.

Je sais qu'il y a encore des points polémiques sur lesquels nous ne sommes pas mis d'accord.

D'où le grand nombre de crochets?

Nous avons également un plan d'action et nous n'avons pas terminé les discussions autour de ce plan d'action pendant les discussions.

Qui ont eu lieu dans le cadre du SEPS.

Je pense donc.

To find more convergence on the best way to move forward. Considering the divergent views, I suggest that we establish a contact group to further discuss the following: the thematic action plan contained in Annex 1, specifically the remaining brackets, namely paragraphs 11, 14e and 14o, the objective of the outcome area 1, outputs 1.4, 1.5, 2.2 and 2.3, and actions 1.3a and 3.1a, and sections 3.1b to 3.4 of the Thematic Action Plan, which were not addressed by Sub-Sta. Consider whether a future process on the most recent technological developments in a synthetic biology is required and what could entail. The remaining brackets in the combined draft decision. Given the extensive work and collaborative spirit at both meetings of Subs and SBI, the contact group will focus their efforts on addressing the bracketed text in the combined draft decisions and not reopen text that was cleaned during previous negotiations. I count with your continued cooperation and willingness to work efficiently to the remaining text and advance a clear text back to the working group for consideration. I would like to invite Mr. Ojenka Nosu of Nigeria and Ms. Valeria Giovanelli of Italy to serve as co-chairs for this contact group. Please consult monitors on the online schedule regarding the timing and location of the contact group meetings. Okay? I see no objections, so thank you very much. The first contact group is established. You were about to clap, right? As this is the first contact group to be established by this working group, allow me to present the principles that will guide all the meetings of contact groups. Contact group sessions will generally last up to three hours. 00 to 1:00 p.m., 00 to 6:00 p.m., 30 to 10:30 p.m. This will apply for these two weeks. No more than two contact groups for each working group will be held in parallel. However, no contact groups will be held in parallel to a plenary session. Contact groups are open to participation of all parties, other governments, and observers will be permitted to participate unless otherwise decided by the co-chairs of the contact groups. The usual practice and rules will apply to participation of observers. They may speak at the discretion of the co-chairs. In accordance with the guidelines on conduct expected for participants in CVD process, neither parties nor observers may make audio or video recordings in contact groups. Still photographs are also not generally permitted in contact groups. Exceptionally, still photographs or text projected on the screen may be allowed in contact groups for the use during the contact group sessions only. As has been the practice, EMB may take still photographs in contact groups as well. As a reminder, please check the monitors on the online schedule for the location of rooms of each contact group. In addition, I would like to share further guidance for facilitating the discussions in contact groups that you may wish to consider. Clean text coming from the subsidiary bodies should not be renegotiated. The role of the contact groups is to resolve bracket text. Wherever possible, existing approved language from the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, previous decisions, or other agreed text should be used rather than introduce new language. New text should generally be avoided. unless it is necessary to resolve a particular issue. In line with Decision 16/25 and the understanding reached in Cali, efforts should be made to keep decisions concise. This will be a good exercise for us. Existing mandates, decisions, intercessional processes, and approved roadmaps should be respected. This guidance is intended to be applied to all contact groups, on the working groups one and two to ensure a consistent approach throughout. So my colleague from Norway is also saying the same in the other group. So thank you very much. With this, we will now turn our attention to COP17 item 17A, the strategic review and analysis of the programmes of work. Okay, no switch? Good. Substantive 27 consider a strategic review and analysis of programs of work under the convention in the context of the global biodiversity framework. And adopt a draft decision which is reproduced in the compilation of draft decision COP 17/2. In recommendation 27.4, parties also request the executive secretary to propose a systematic approach, timeline and schedule of review and potential updating for the progress of work. And I now invite the Secretariat to provide more information on this process and to introduce the document prepared in response to Substantive Recommendation 27/4. So, Secretariat, you have the floor. Eri.

In paragraph 1 of recommendation 27/4, Sub-Sta requested the Executive Secretary, further to the requests by the Conference of the Parties in paragraph 9 of decision 15/4 and sub-paragraph 4 of decision 16/12, to propose a systematic approach, timeline and schedule of review and potential updating for the programmes of work under the Convention, demonstrating their alignment with the coming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, identifying efficiencies and improving consistency in their implementation using consistent evaluation methodology, to send to the Bureau of the Conference of the Parties for its consideration with a view to addressing the issue at the seventh meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Implementation in the context of the MATIAP Programme of Work. The Bureau of the Conference of the Parties considered the proposed approach, timeline and schedule on 16 April 2026, and decided not to add this item to the agenda of the seventh meeting of the Subsidiary Board on Implementation, given the heavy agenda of that meeting. The proposed systematic approach, timeline and schedule for the review and potential updating of the programmes of work under the Convention is presented in document CBD/Corp/17/10 for the information of parties. The document was issued as a precessional document to allow for its translation in all the UN languages. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, Secretary. You will recall that several programs of work have already been reviewed at COP16, namely marine and coastal biodiversity and island biodiversity, and we are expecting decisions on the strategic review of the programs of work on forest diversity, biodiversity and protected areas at the present meeting. I believe that further discussion is required from Parties to find a common understanding and convergence on the best way forward on how to proceed with this agenda item. Considering the divergent views related to terminology and methodology, I suggest that we establish a contact group to further discuss this and arrive at a compromise text. The contact group is invited to consider this matter on the basis of the draft decision as well as the information contained in document COP 17/10. The mandate of the contact group is to finalize the draft decision by resolving areas of diverging views as reflected in the brackets through the decision and submit a clean conference room paper for consideration by the working group. I would like to invite Ms. Neka Nicholas of Antigua and Barbuda and Ms. Senka Barudanovic of Bosnia and Herzegovina to serve as co-chairs for this contact group. The first meeting of the contact group will be scheduled for later this week. Please consult the monitors or the online schedule because the timing and location may change. Okay. I see no objections. Thank you very much. So we have established our second contact group. We will now turn our attention to item 17B, Strategic Review on Forest Biodiversity. Subs consider the strategic review of an update of the expanded program of work on forest biodiversity in the context of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework at its 27th meeting and adopt recommendation 27/5, which contains a draft decision with a supplement to the expanding programme of work and is included in compilation of draft decisions. Much progress was made on this issue at Subs at 27, And while there remain brackets in the decision and in the annex, I believe that there was general support for the decision and most brackets can be resolved easily with a good spirit of cooperation. I am undertaking informal consultation with some parties to facilitate this process. In that regard, I would like to propose that I prepare a CRP on the basis of the draft decision contained in document COP17/2. With support of the secretariat, we will take up this CRP at a subsequent session of this working group, once all items have at least been taken up once. Right? So I will prepare this CRP. Please come with solutions when we revisit this topic during the week. That's okay? So I see no objections. Thank you very much. So CRP is going to be ready for next session when we deal with COP matters. Thank you. Now let's move to item 17C, strategies review, in this case on protected areas. SubStem considered this issue at its 28th meeting just a few weeks ago. and prepare recommendation 28/5. The draft decision and the annex for that recommendation can be found in the compilation of draft decisions for this meeting in document COP17/2. While substantial progress was made at Sub-Stad, a number of important issues still require further consideration. As reflected in a number of brackets throughout, I believe that further discussion is required for parties to find more convergence on the best way to move forward. Remember, we're not making a new plan. We are updating the plan on protected areas. Considering the divergent views, I suggest that we establish a contact group to further discuss this item and arrive with a compromise text. The contact group is invited to consider this matter on the basis of the draft decision containing document COP17/2 I would like to invite Ms. Ruliana Susanti from Indonesia and Ms. Julie Hammer Monard of France to serve as co-chairs for this contact group. The mandate of the contact group is to finalize a draft decision focusing on resolving areas of divergent views as reflected in the brackets, namely the terminology and the scope of the title of the program of work, how to address ecological connectivity, the remaining brackets in the draft decision and its annex. The first meeting of the contact group is scheduled for tonight at 7:30 p.m. so please consult the monitors on the online schedule to confirm the timing and the location. Is that okay? I see no objections. Thank you very much. So we establish our third contact group. Our next item is COP 17 D, at areas of potential for the work. Sapsa considered this issue at its 27th meeting and prepared recommendation 27/6, containing a draft decision that can be found in the compilation of practice of this meeting, document COP17/2. In recommendation 27.6, parties also request the Executive Secretary to make information provided by a number of multilateral environmental agreements and entities of their activities on the interaction of chemicals and waste, including plastic waste, with biodiversity and ecosystem services in line with target 7 of the framework, available to the Subsidiary Body at its 28th meeting and the Conference of the Parties at the 17th meeting. The compilation of submission is contained in information document COP 17/INF/23. The draft decision contains five sections, A through E. one for each area of potential further work. It's my understanding that some of these sections need further discussions to resolve the contentious issues. Recalling that sub 27, this term was discussed in the same content group as item 17A on the strategic review and analysis of program of work. I will follow the same approach I would like both items to be considered by the same contact group, which we established for item 17A, co-chaired by Ms. Nicholas of Antigua and Barbuda and Ms. Senka Barudanovic of Bosnia and Herzegovina. I see the face of Senka saying yes, yeah. The contact group is invited to consider this matter on the basis of the draft decision contained in document COP17/2. The mandate of the contact group is to finalize the draft decision by resolving areas of diverging views as reflected in the brackets through the decision and submit a clean conference room paper for consideration by the working group. In my preparations for this meeting, I note similarities between paragraph 9 of draft decision under item 18B and part C of the draft decision on this item. Therefore, after informal consultations, I have a proposal that I feel confident could help advance on item 18B on sustainable wildlife management. I propose to move paragraph 9 of the draft decision on item 18B, which refers to a potential program of work on sustainable biodiversity, to the draft decision of this agenda item 17D under section C, entitled "Sustainable biodiversity-based activities, products and services that enhance biodiversity". Therefore, with the help of the Secretariat, I will prepare a non-paper which will include paragraph 9 from the draft decision on item 18, in addition to the text of the draft decision coming from SubStam. The first meeting of the contact group will be scheduled for later this week. Please consult the monitors around the venue or the online schedule because the timing and location may change. It's okay? So I see no objections, so thank you very much. So we add this additional mandate to the contact group we established already on programs of work. Thank you very much. Now, we will now turn our attention to item 17A. matters related to the work programme of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services, IPBES. The issue was considered both in Substantive 27 and Substantive 28. Substantive 27 considered the nexus and transformative change assessments, as well as the scoping report for the second global assessment on biodiversity and ecosystem services. and adopt recommendation 27/2, which contains a draft decision. At Subsah 28 in Nairobi, parties considered the business and biodiversity assessment and adopt recommendation 28/2, also containing a draft decision. Both draft decisions are included in the compilation of draft decisions contained in document COP 17/2. this draft decision was organized to place similar paragraphs from the two recommendations together. This results in consecutive sets of paragraphs regarding each of the three assessments, with the nexus assessment first, followed by transformative change assessment, and finally the business and biodiversity assessment, so following a chronological order. For each term, The set of paragraphs contain a recognition for the assessment, followed by an invitation or encouragement based on the findings of the assessment. Paragraphs regarding request to the Executive Secretary, then encouragement to the regional and subregional technical and scientific cooperation support centers, and finally, invitation to the platform. I know that many paragraphs in the draft decision are under or contain brackets, And I believe that further discussions are required for parties to find convergence and common understanding to agree on a clean text. Considering the divergent views, I suggest that we establish a contact group to further discuss this agenda item and arrive at a compromise text. The contact group is invited to consider this matter on the basis of the draft decision contained in document COP17/2. I would like to invite Mr. Dixon Chitupa of Zimbabwe and Ms. Elif Skinner of the UK to serve as co-chairs for this contact group. The mandate of the contact group is to finalize the draft decision by focusing on resolving areas of divergent views as reflected in the brackets. The first meeting of the contact group is scheduled for tomorrow morning at 10:00 a.m. Please consult the monitors on the online schedule to confirm the timing and locations. Is that okay? I see no objection. So thank you very much. So we establish another contact group. Now we move to item 18B on sustainable wildlife management. I would like to remind you that this issue was considered by Substantive 28, which prepared recommendation 28/4, continuing the draft decision for consideration by the COP. Although Substantive made significant progress in the consideration of this matter, agreement could not be reached on all aspects of this draft decision. And therefore, the text that you have before you still contains some square brackets. Considering the number of brackets and the interest of time, I suggest to establish a contact group for this item. The contact group will be invited to consider this matter on the basis of the draft decision contained in document COP 17/2. And I would like to invite Ms. Letitia Shiwamu Lomonye from South Africa and Mr. Felix Lomans of the Netherlands. to serve as co-chairs and still in this contact group. The mandate of the contact group is to resolve bracket text in the draft decision and annex. As you will recall, when we consider agenda item 17D, areas of potential for the work, I present a proposal to help advance agenda item 18B. I propose to move paragraph 9 to the draft decision on item 18B. which refer to a potential program of work on sustainable biodiversity to the non-paper of agenda item 17D under section C. Therefore, the non-paper for consideration of item 18B will not include paragraph 9 of the draft decision. So, let's work. The first meeting of the contact group is scheduled for tomorrow morning at 10:00 a.m. Please consult the monitors or the online schedule to confirm the timing and locations. Okay? So I see no objections, so thank you very much. So this contact group is established. Now let's move to item 18C, marine and coastal biodiversity and island biodiversity. Substantive 28, consider draft voluntary guidelines on peer review processes for the description of ecologically or biologically significant marine areas, EBSAs, as well as a progress report on intercessional activities undertaken in response to decision 16/17. SubStam, consider this information together with a summary of the submissions for the modification of descriptions of ecologically or biologically significant marine areas and the description for new areas. We have before us a draft decision, including two annexes, contained in compilation of draft decisions in document COP 17/2. I note that a number of paragraphs in the draft decision contain brackets, and I believe that further discussions are required for Parties to find convergence and to agree on a clean text. When I mean clean, it's clean. Considering the diverging views, I suggest that we establish a contact group to further discuss this agenda item and arrive at a compromise text. The contact group is invited to consider this matter on the basis of the decision contained in document COP17/2. And I would like to invite Ms. Patsy Contardo of Chile and Ms. Freddy's Bjorkdottir of Iceland to serve as co-chair for this contact group. The mandate of the contact group is to finalize the draft decision by focusing on resolving areas of diverging views as reflected in the including the annexes. The first meeting of the contact group is scheduled for this evening at 7:30 p.m. Please consult the monitors or the online schedule to confirm the timing and allocation. I hope that's okay. I see no objections. So thank you very much and wish you good luck in this evening works. Thank you. Now we move to COP item 18D, Biodiversity and Agriculture. Subs 27, consider a report on the activities undertaken by the Secretariat pursuant to Decision 15/28. in particular a review of progress in implementation of the Plan of Action 2020-2030 for the Intersessional Initiative for Conservation and Sustainable Use of Soil Biodiversity. Subsequently, adopt recommendation 27/9, including a draft decision. There are just few sets of brackets in the draft decision I will therefore proceed to prepare a conference room paper on the basis of the draft decision contained in document COP 17/2 with the support of the secretariat for consideration by the working group. I may conduct some informal consultation with parties as necessary. Is that okay? So I see no objection, so I will proceed to prepare a conference room paper with the support of the Secretariat, for consideration by the Working Group in a later session. Thank you very much. Colleagues, now we will move to item 18E on invasive alien species. Sub-Stand at its 27th meeting considered a report on the activities undertaken by the Secretariat pursuant to Decision 16/2018 and adopt recommendation 27/8, which is reproduced in the compilation of draft decisions. There are just few sets of square brackets in the draft decision. I will therefore proceed to prepare a conference room paper, CRP, on the basis of the draft decision contained in document COP17/2, with the support of the secretariat. for consideration by the working group. I may conduct informal consultation with parties as necessary. If I see no objections, I will proceed to prepare a conference room paper with the support of the secretariat for consideration by the working group. Thank you very much. So I hope that this group, by the end of the week, we can present clean text to the plenary for adoption on these issues that maybe are not that difficult on invasive species, on forest and agriculture. I hope we can do that. I invite you to work hard on this and to have less decisions pending for the second week. Now, let's move to agenda item 18A, which is biodiversity and climate change. We will now, well, in Sub-Sta at this 27th meeting, consider a report prepared by the Secretariat on the activities undertaken pursuant to Decision 16/22, in particular, the development of a supplement to the voluntary guidelines for the design and effective implementation of ecosystem-based approaches to climate change adaptation and disaster reduction, and options for enhancing policy coherence and cooperation across the Rio Conventions. And adopt recommendation 27/3. The recommendation also includes a request to the Executive Secretary for inter-sessional work. Now, I invite the Secretariat to the floor to introduce the inter-sessional work undertaken and relevant documents. Secretary, you have the floor. Please stand.

Thank you, Chair. On item 18A, The working group has before it the draft decision contained in recommendation 27/3, reproduced in the compilation of draft decisions CBD/COP/17/2, along with document CBD/COP/17/11, progress report on activities on biodiversity and climate change, which was prepared in response to the requests in sub-sea recommendation 27/3. Parties may note the document CBD/COB/17/11, the progress report on activities on biodiversity and climate change, also contains an updated table of additional principles to the version in the annex to the draft decision, resulting from the requested peer review process. The remainder of the annex remains unchanged. The document is complemented by the following information documents: Expanded supplement to the voluntary guidelines for the design and effective implementation of ecosystem-based approaches to climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction, document CBD/COP/17/INF/10; and mapping study on actions, gaps and overlaps for enhancing cooperation and policy coherence and synergies across the Rio Conventions. CBD/INF/11. Thank you, Chair.

Thank you, Secretary. Dear delegates, since this item consists of outcomes of intercessional work requested by Subs 27, I will open this item up for statements from parties and observers. I strongly encourage you to limit your interventions to the outcomes of the intercessional work on the Technical Advisory Secretariat, not to the draft decisions, just to this document. As detailed in the scenario notes, the modalities for the early submission of the statements will be applied to this agenda item. Information document 24 lists the 24 submissions received from parties and the 27 statements from observers on item 18A by the deadline. The list of parties and observers indicated in the information document are also being displayed on the screen. Note that the list of observers only include observers that have registered on site. Colleagues, yes. So these are the parties that submit timely, early submissions. So take a look that you are there, and maybe you don't need to take the floor. So your elements will be considered. And this is the list of observers, 27 observers that were registered properly. Colleagues, are there any objections for any parties or observers list in the information document to your statements be considered, be formally entered on record as the statements officially submitted for this agenda item in this meeting. Please raise your hands if you have any objection. We will go later to our approved observers, but just to be clear that these are submissions presented. I see the United Kingdom.

You have-- Thank you, Chair. The United Kingdom submitted a statement through the early submission process. We would like, however, to make a small addition to that submission. Would you like me to make that intervention now or when you open the floor?

Yeah, thank you, UK. I'll go for observers' approvals and then I'll give the floor to parties and then observers, as we usually do with this case. So I'll give you the floor later. Thank you. So I see no objections to this list of submissions by parties and observers to be considered as presented. Now I will go to the regarding statements submitted by observers. I will go through the list present on the screen one by one. This list only includes observers that have registered on site. As I read the list, I will ask the observer organizations to raise their hand so we can confirm that you are in room. I will then ask parties to kindly press the microphone button if they support the statement made by that observer. When you press the microphone button, press press it only once. So that the green light stays until we have finished. So we may properly record your support. I will read out the first three supporting parties from the speakers list. I do not intend to open the floor at this point. In accordance with the modalities, statements submitted by organizations representing indigenous peoples and local communities have been identified as such on the list. So I will go one by one. I will need the assistance of secretariat here. There are 27, so we need to move quick. First one is African Wildlife Foundation. Are you here? Press your button. It's... No. Press your button only once if you are here. African Wildlife Foundation. I don't see any button, so we will not consider that. Let's go to number two. Alliance of Biodiversity International and SAIYAD. Please press your button. I see seat number 232. I assume you are there. So if you Okay, I've been advised to, it's better if you press the button and wave your hand so I can see you. And in the case that the previous one was not able to find a button, just for this occasion, I'll go back to number one, African Wildlife Foundation. I didn't see any button, but if you are there, please wave your hands. I don't see waving. Okay, so number one is not considered. Number two, you are there. Thank you very much. You wave your hand. Then I will ask parties if you support the statement, the early submission by Alliance for Biodiversity International Science. So press your buttons, parties. I see Togo and Panama, and no more. So it's taken into account. Thank you very much. Let's go to number 3, CGIR. Please press your button and wave your hand. OK, I see you. Then I ask for parties to express if you support every submission. I see Panama, Mongolia, Guatemala. Thank you very much. Let's move to number 4, Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea. Are you there? Yes. And waving, yes. Thank you. So I invite parties to express support. I see Tuvalu, followed by Chile, Fiji, Iceland. Thank you very much. So it's taken into account. Let's go to number 5. Eco Maxo, Queretaro, on behalf of the CBD Women Caucus. Are you there? They are there. Okay. So parties willing to express support, press your button. I see Togo, Chile, Gabon, Burundi, and so on. Thank you very much. Please turn off your buttons because I see Togo for a while there. Okay, thank you very much. Let's go now, number six, Exploring Womanhood Foundation. Press your button if you are present and wave. I don't see it. Can you raise your hand? Okay, thank you. I see many hands. Now I ask parties to express support. I see none. So let's move to number seven, Fungi Foundation. Press your button and wave. I don't see. Are you there? Yeah. Okay, and I see Peru, that was not asking yet support, but okay, now I ask parties to express support. I see Panama, Chile, Peru. Thank you very much. So it's taken into account. Let's move to number eight, genomic biodiversity knowledge for resilient ecosystems. Are you here? Press your button and wave your hand. I see no button. I don't see hands. So it's not taken into account. Let's move. The next one is FAR on behalf of the Global Youth Biodiversity Network.

Press your button.

I see waving and I see the youth seat. Parties willing to express support. Cameroon, Togo. Chile. Thank you very much. Let's move to number 10, Greenpeace International. Are you here? I think it's NGO 275, waving. Good. Now invite parties to express support. Norway, Tuvalu. Thank you. I ask you, yes, to clean the screen. Good. You are well behaved. We're doing fine so far. Number 11, ECLAY, Local Governments for Sustainability, are you here? Waving. ECLAY. I don't see the button of ECLAY. You are not here in the room. So we will not consider. Let's go to number 12, Inter-American Institute of Global Change Research. Are you here? It's IGO 235. Can you wave your hand? Yeah? OK. Support to Inter-American Institute, I see Panama, Brazil. Thank you very much. Now number 13, which is International Chamber of Commerce. Are you here? I see both on business and I see a hand. Good. Support for number 13. Cote d'Ivoire. That's the only one. Thank you very much, take it into account. Let's go to number 14, International Union for Biodiversity. Are you here? I see two buttons. Can your screen please? Good. Now support for International Union for Biodiversity, Marshall Islands, Tuvalu, Norway, Brazil. Thank you. Taking into account. Number 15, International Livestock Research Institute. Are you here? Press your button. Don't see button. Don't see hands. Let's move to the next one. 16, International IUCN. Can you press your button? IUCN. I see support, but I didn't see. Okay. Now it's IUCN, Tunisia, Cote d'Ivoire, and Samoa. I request parties to wait until we confirm The observer is present. I see the support before. And not necessarily they are there. So we take into account IUCN and now move to number 17. Please clean the screen. 17, the Office of United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights. Are you there? I see PFI. Yes, you are here. Can you wave your hand? Yeah, good. and now support Panama, Tuvalu, Brazil. Thank you very much. On board. Number 18, Plant Technology Alliance Limited. Are you here? Can you wave your hand? Can you clean your screen? Previous observer. Yes. I don't see presence of Plant Technology Alliance. So let's move to the next one. Number 19, Provench International. I see a hand. I don't see a button. Press your button. Okay. 6270. Now asking for support. I see Jordan. Thank you. The only one. Number 20, Rainforest Action Network. I see a button and a hand. Okay. Support for Rainforest Action Network. I invite parties to express. I see Nigeria. Only Nigeria. Thank you. Now, let's go to 21, Royal Society for the Protection of Birds. I see a button and a hand. Good. I see Fiji, Marshall Islands, Tuvalu. Okay, on board. 22, Society for Conservation Biology. Are you here? Wave your hand. I don't see buttons or hands. So let's move to the next one. Number 23, Social Environmental Entrepreneurs. Are you here? I see no button, no hands. Let's move to the next one, 24. Stockholm Resilience Center, number 24. Press your button. I don't see a button or a hand. Way in the back. No button. You didn't press any button. I will believe you are Stockholm. So support for Stockholm Resilience Center, Panama. Thank you. Number 25, Nature Conservancy. I see a hand. And the button. Support by Samoa, Mongolia, Vanuatu. Let's move to number 25, no, number 26, UN Development Program. Are you there? I guess, yes. I see support from Brazil, Jordan, Vanuatu, Mongolia, thank you. And last one, while I see number 27, Can you press your button and wave your hand? No button, no hands. Okay, so we're not taking. So we have a number of support statements on every submissions by observers. Just hold on a second, please. Thank you very much. I have a clarification from the secretariat. So, we support those statements, every submission by observers that were present and supported by parties. It was only one case where the observer was here, but it has no support. So, my question on this is if I, if there is maybe some partial support or no support at all for this intervention. This was the case of observer number six, Exploring Womanhood Foundation. So they like to know if still no support from parties or maybe some partial support. I mean, we know it's difficult, but we're trying to be more precise in the application of these modalities for supporting early submissions by observers. So I will ask if there is any maybe partial support or no support at all for observer number six on Exploring Womanhood Foundation. So it was no support. And I see Bosnia and Herzegovina. So you are supporting part of the submission by Exploring Womanhood Foundation. That's my understanding. Just let me check one thing. Okay, now we ask Bosnia and Herzegovina to indicate which part of the statement from Exploring Womanhood Foundation you are supporting, or which part you are not. Some cases, submissions by observer are long or have many elements. I understand you do not support the totality, but you support some parts. of the submission by this. So Bosnia and Herzegovina have the floor. Please press your button once when it's green, until it turns green. Yes, and wait for red. Wait for the red. Don't touch it. Just wait. Microphone to Bosnia. Now. Good.

We give support after.

But which parts? Or totally.

We will provide after.

Okay, so we look to see your specifics on the partial support of submissions from this observer. So with this, we finish with approvals for early submissions. So of course, all parties are in consider and only those observers that we got support from parties. Now, I will open the floor for interventions on item 18A, beginning with parties speaking on behalf of a regional group. Given that the modalities for early submission of statements were intended to be time-saving measure, the parties and observers that submit early statement may wish to refrain from delivering a normal statement, please. except where 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 the written statements as per established procedures. Please request the floor now only if you are speaking on behalf of a regional group. So far I have two requests, one from Tuvalu, followed by South Africa. So remember the time limitations. Tuvalu, you have the floor.

Thank you very much, Chair. I have the honour to speak on behalf of the 14 Pacific Small Island Developing States. Earlier this month, Tuvalu welcomed leaders to Funafuti for a pre-COP to witness impacts of climate change firsthand. So specifically on the text that we're looking at, in the preambular paragraph recalling that decision, we propose to note the vulnerability of small island developing states to ocean warming, acidification, and sea level rise. With respect to paragraph three, Pacific SIDS supports this paragraph. Both advisory opinions were sought by small island states, the International Tribunal on the Law of the Sea at the request of the Commission of Small Island States on Climate Change and International Law, and the International Court of Justice through a General Assembly resolution led by Vanuatu. and Pacific students. In paragraph 4, we propose a reference to pursuing efforts to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change projects that warm water coral reefs would be declined by 70% to 90% at 1.5 degrees Celsius and more than 99% at 2 degrees. For island biodiversity, half a degree is the difference between damaged reefs and no reefs. For the same reason, in paragraph 6B, we propose naming coastal ecosystems and coral reefs and the tipping point for warm water coral reefs. Decision 16/17 already asked us to build the resilience of island coral reefs, seagrass and mangroves to acidification and warming. In paragraph 6a, national climate plans should include ocean-based actions. In paragraph 10, we propose noting the Belém adaptation indicators adopted at the 17th session of the Conference of Parties. are serving, sorry, the seventh conference of parties serving the meeting parties to the Paris Agreement, six of which measure ecosystems and biodiversity. In paragraph 15, cooperation with climate conventions include its ocean and climate dialogue consistent with decisions 16/22, paragraph 16. In paragraph 12, toolkits should be tailored to coastal and island ecosystems. And in paragraph 24 of the primer, the slow onset impacts should name sea level rise and coastal erosion. I thank you, Chair.

Thank you very much, Tuvalu. We're taking note of your comments. Now we'll give the floor to South Africa. Also, we are on the session of major groups, right, representing the region. South Africa.

Thank you, Chair. South Africa has the honour to speak on behalf of the African group. The focus of our work under this item should be the structural integrity and functions of biodiversity and ecosystems. This COP has recognised the essential functional role of biodiversity in underpinning the integrity of ecosystems and ecosystem services. And goal A of the KMGPF is that the integrity, connectivity and resilience of all ecosystems are maintained, enhanced or restored. Our actions should therefore safeguard fauna and flora and sustain nature's contributions to people. Chair, the African Group is deeply concerned about Africa's high vulnerability to climate change and about the impacts already experienced on biodiversity, livelihoods, economies across our continent. We propose focusing on more adaptation delivered through the in situ and ex situ conservation and restoration of ecosystems in a changing climate, with mitigation as a co-benefit. We also stress the importance of adequate, predictable and easily accessible financing, as well as technology transfer and capacity building. The United Nations Environment Programme in its Limiting Overshoot report indicates that human-induced warming is nearing 1.4 degrees Celsius and that the 1.5 degrees Celsius threshold is set to be crossed within the next few years. As a result, some ecosystems will not recover beyond peak warming and that even if a return to below 1.5 degrees Celsius is secured, many nations and communities will face irreversible and permanently change their conditions. We also are concerned that the current approach in the draft decision adds the burden of emissions reductions to biodiversity and ecosystems and moves away from the core objectives of the Convention and could encourage ill-designed and market-driven carbon offsetting that departs from those objectives. As this conference has recalled, nature-based solutions do not replace the need for rapid, deep, and sustained reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. On synergies, the African group supports cooperation that works for developing countries. However, synergies should be party-driven, implemented mostly at national level, pursued where appropriate, based on the availability of the required resources, and aimed at reducing burden. They should never be a reason to reduce funding for any convention, and we note that their effective implementation requires additional finance. The multilateral roadmap presented contains 46 actions with parties and the primary actors responsible for implementation. It would add significant burden for countries, the secretariats and the conventions. We find that some of its actions may go beyond the mandate of this convention, particularly those concerning funding criteria and the international finance architecture and others prioritize high carbon, high biodiversity ecosystems with little regard to resilience considerations. Our detailed textual proposals on the draft decision and its annex are submitted in writing as an annex to this statement. Thank you, Chair.

Thank you, South Africa, on behalf of the African group. I have the request from Peru, I believe, also on behalf of Grolac. So, Peru, you have the floor?

Sorry. Thank you, Per.

I remind you that I will limit the interventions to four minutes for parties speaking on behalf of regions. So we already heard two of these kind of statements. Two minutes for individual parties. So taking account, two minutes. Three minutes for Indigenous Peoples and local communities and major stakeholder groups, and one minute for non-parties to the Convention and other observers, time permitting. Microphones will turn off automatically when speaking limit has been reached. I may close the list of speakers as needed, but I will give a fair warning before I do so. Please read out your key points, especially those that you would like to have Reflecting the round recommendations and be sure to upload your written comments no later than one hour after the close of this session. Now we move to parties. Yes, to parties individually. So this is time for Peru, if you want to press the button and then After Peru will be Bahrain, Russian Federation, and Cook Islands. So I'll give the floor to Peru. Microphone to Peru, please. Technicians, can you give the floor to Peru? So this is because Peru--.

This is because Peru turned off his mic and then has asked for the floor again. So we're asking for technicians to give Peru the floor now, but if they can't do that, then Peru will go forth. Thank you for your consideration, Peru. I give the floor to Bahrain.

Thank you.

Thank you so much. The Kingdom of Bahrain stresses the need to strengthen synergies. However, in keeping with the following points, we believe that it is important to stress the importance of the independence of the Convention on Biodiversity, and one shouldn't impose and in new items under this point. Now, when we tackle the various items, we should respect all existing conventions. The Kingdom of Bahrain is a coastal state, and for this reason, we believe that it is important to strengthen nature-based solutions, We need to preserve our coast, and legislation has to be drafted at a national level which respects our priorities. Thirdly, we back cooperation as well as the Rio Convention. We should impose and guarantee these guarantees without undermining food security and hybrid security. while making sure that we do not impose conditions which fall beyond our national capacities to carry out our work. By way of conclusion, synergies have to take place at a national level, because that would be the perfect solution. Thank you, sir.

Thank you very much, Bahrain. I have 10 more requests for the floor. Can we give the floor to Peru? Because now it moves to number 9, because you pressed your button more than once. Yes, Peru.

Thank you very much, Chair, for giving me the floor. Peru will support the debate on this item with a spirit of collaboration and compromise. We have various proposals for modification of the draft recommendations, which we hope will help us to improve the documents we are discussing. We will send our suggestions for those in writing. Thank you very much, Chair. Thank you, Peru.

Russian Federation, followed by Cook Islands and the UK.

Thank you. Thank you so much, Chair. We highly value the work which has been carried out during the 27th meeting of the COP-MOP. The recommendation of the COP-MOP are a sound foundation for negotiations. The Russian Federation believes that there is a necessity to clearly delineate the mandates of the CBD and other bodies. We consider that it is unacceptable to have overlap of existing climate processes, as well as setting up within the framework of the CBD of any additional requirements regarding national climate measures, which are determined at or contributions at a national level, and national adaptation plans, accountability, monitoring, and mechanisms pursuant to Article 6 of the Paris Agreement. Such approaches must be exclusively voluntary in nature. They cannot be binding or mandatory. They must take into account national specificities as well as the priorities of the various parties in the field of adaptation. We believe that it is premature to create additional mechanisms for monitoring on the basis of the adaptation indicators. As in terms of mitigation, we should not have universal approaches. It is important to preserve flexibility, allow countries to choose their methods. CBD decisions should not introduce new criterion or requirements in terms of climate projects. Our detailed proposals for the draft decision will be sent in writing to the Secretariat. I thank you so much for your attention.

Thank you, Russian Federation. Yeah, I've been advised that we still have some technical problems with the timekeeping. We are adjusting the time, so I invite you to, since we're in the section for statements from parties, to limit to two minutes, please, until we fix this, and then your microphone will be automatically off. So, let's work together. Cook Islands, followed by UK and United Arab Emirates.

Thank you, Chair. The Cook Islands aligns itself with the statement delivered by Tuvalu on behalf of Pacific Small Island Developing States. Chair, for the Cook Islands, climate change and biodiversity loss are not distant threats. They are realities confronting our island's community and ecosystems. Even as we speak, Tropical Cyclone Wati remains within Cook Island waters, threatening our islands, including Sawauro, one of our important protected area. The threat of destructive winds, heavy seas, and storm surges places our fragile coral reefs, coastal ecosystems, biodiversity, and livelihoods at risk. Chair, this is not a past disaster we are reflecting on. It is a climate-related threat unfolding as we meet here at COP17. For our remote islands, the impact of such events can be devastating, and recovery is costly and challenging. Our Prime Minister has consistently emphasized that climate finance must be accessible, timely, and responsive to the reality of small island developing states. Our communities cannot afford to wait for finance while climate threats are already at our shores. The Cook Islands therefore support strong recognition of the ocean climate biodiversity nexus, particularly the protection of coral reefs. coastal ecosystem and nature-based approaches to adaptation and disaster risk reduction. We also emphasize the importance of traditional knowledge and the full and effective participation of indigenous people and local communities, including women and youth. Chair, we call for urgent, predictable, and accessible financial and technical support, particularly for vulnerable island nations. For the Cook Islands, protecting biodiversity is protecting our people, our livelihoods, our culture, and our future. Thank you, Chair.

Thank you, Cook Islands. I'll give the floor to UK, followed by United Arab Emirates and Nigeria. UK.

Thank you, Chair. The United Kingdom submitted a statement through the early submission process. We would, however, like to make a small addition to that submission, so I'll keep my intervention brief and focus only on this point. We thank the Secretariat for its work in developing the multi-level roadmap. Should parties decide to negotiate the roadmap, the UK would like to seek a number of amendments. In addition to those already set out in our early submission, we would like to propose an additional amendment to ensure that the roadmap does not imply the creation of new financing obligations. We have submitted textual amendments on the relevant action reflecting this concern. Thank you, Chair.

Thank you, UK, for the brief. now United Arab Emirates, followed by Nigeria and Zimbabwe.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. Our delegation would like to thank the Secretariat and the subsidiary body for the documents provided. And we see that this draft decision is a good basis for reaching consensus. Our country would like to support the supplementary annex to the voluntary guidelines on ecosystem-based approaches, together with appropriate environmental and social safeguards. This is based on our national experience. Our country has already planted more than 75 million mangrove trees as part of a goal reaching 100 million trees by 2030. This will enable us to cope with our climate change and in line with the Alliance for Climate. And regarding paragraph three and the reference to the advisory opinion of the International Tribune for the law of the sea. We think that this forum or this convention is not appropriate to discuss this area. We would like to continue consultation on this matter. Our country calls for cooperation among the three Rio conventions, while fully respecting the independent mandate of each convention. We believe the Conference of the Parties should take into account the roadmap as non-binding guidance. Regarding paragraph 6, we refer to term "urges" instead of encourage, we also support adding the phrase "in accordance with national circumstances, priorities, and capabilities." At the same time, we support keeping the reference to adequate and accessible means of implementation. Our country will participate constructively in the contact group and will submit recommendations to that effect. Thank you.

Thank you, UAA. So I hear support for guidance, cooperation. you already want to be part of the contact group, we'll establish you. We're going ahead. Now I give the floor to Nigeria, followed by Zimbabwe and Brazil.

Thank you, Chair. Nigeria aligns itself with the statement made by South Africa on behalf of the African Group, and I will keep this intervention very brief. Specifically, we express our strong support for retaining the operative paragraph 15 of the draft decision in its original form without further amendment. Nigeria believes that enhancing policy coherence and cooperation among the conventions remains essential to addressing the interconnected challenges of biodiversity loss, climate change and land degradation. In this regard, we consider the role of the joint liaison group particularly important in advancing coordination, identifying synergies and avoiding duplication of efforts, while fully respecting the distinct mandate of the three conventions. We therefore request for lifting of the bracket on paragraph 15 as originally drafted, including its provision on the availability of resources and avoidance of duplication to enable continued cooperation and policy queries across the Rio Conventions. Thank you, Chair. And we'll also appreciate if this echo feedback can be fixed because it's distracting. Thank you.

Thank you, Nigeria. I hear that we should work together with the three Rio conventions, together but not melt, respecting different mandates. Okay, now I'll give the floor to Zimbabwe, followed by Brazil and Argentina.

Thank you, thank you very much, Chair. Zimbabwe welcomes the analysis prepared in linkages with national strategies, beyond the national biodiversity strategies and action plans. clearly support evidence-based implementation at all levels. Chair's powerful commitment to advance this agenda. Zimbabwe has been leading the World Life and Climate Global Agenda, a science-backed initiative that has gathered a lot of momentum in the intercessional period, culminating in a draft declaration that we are looking forward to launching together with interested parties at UNFCCC COP31. Under this convention, our decisions should be guided by the latest available science. We therefore welcome all I-based assessments done to guide us so far. Technology transfer, knowledge management, and capacity building remain critical to unlock new innovations and the resources for impact for projects at the grassroots level, meeting biodiversity and climate objectives. Zimbabwe therefore welcomes the need for synergies not only across the Rio Conventions, but beyond, as we see the need for synergistic approaches, even as we lead the wetlands conservation agenda as the Ramsar Wetlands Convention COP15 president currently. In particular, supporting the additional principles and safeguards for climate change mitigation actions in accordance with the decisions of the BEM process. Chair, we are going to be submitting our proposed textual changes in writing. Thank you very much.

Thank you, Zimbabwe. I'll give the floor to Brazil, followed by Argentina and Saudi Arabia.

Gracias, Chair.

Brazil...

Thank you, Chair. Brazil welcomes the opportunity to comment on the decision on biodiversity and climate change and welcomes the work conducted by the Secretariat during the past years. us, it's very important for a decision on climate change to recognize shared or combat differentiated responsibilities of countries, and that it references the impacts of greenhouse gas emissions from other sectors on the biodiversity sector. We can't talk of climate change without talking of the energy transition or without talking of historic emissions from developed countries. we believe it's important to also highlight the topics of oceans, vulnerable communities who suffer from the triple environmental crisis as well. We're concerned that a decision on climate change places a greater responsibility on megadiverse countries which don't have the financing support necessary and we need these in order to ensure synergies and sure that they can carry out work in line with their national capacities and the KMGBF. We are slightly concerned by the time that we have, because we have two reports which have very sensitive topics for us within them. We need time to discuss these with other delegations, but we trust in your leadership, Chair, on this topic. Thank.

You.

Thank you very much, Chair. Argentina has various comments and textual proposals for some passages of the document, both in the preamble and operative paragraphs, and we will send these in writing. We'd like to mention briefly a few of these proposals. the draft document there's reference to two at best reports with position set outs which we don't necessarily share and therefore we will send text amendment proposals to set out our position on these on up to paragraph 5 on voluntary dialogues for the same effective implementation on ecosystem based approaches to climate change and adjusting of disasters, we think it would be better to guide the text towards taking note of guidance rather than adopting them. On para 6C, we suggest its elimination, or if that's not possible, the introduction of certain other points, because we don't share everything as set out in the best report, as mentioned. Finally, on the voluntary guidelines. We insist upon the elimination of operative paragraph 12, which is currently in brackets, which is on developing tools for the dissemination of tools on the guidelines. And we'll send all these proposals in writing. Thank you very much.

Thank you, Argentina. We have heard various opinions supporting guidelines and guides, others' reservations. Specific comments on mandates. And we'll take all this into account during the work of the contact group. I give the floor to the last two parties that have requested the floor. They are Saudi Arabia, followed by India.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. As for decision 1628, asked for voluntary participation based on good practices. It didn't call for new print guidelines for adaptation. This has to be determined nationally. Any reduction measures should be taken into an account in line with the schedule by the member countries. We thank the secretariat for their proposal and for the -- but we don't want any policies that go beyond the mandate. We don't any other parallel measures for mitigation outside the United Nations climate Change Framework Convention. There has been no proposal because any additional guidelines or principles can only be applied to internationally adopted mitigation measures or any measures that have been adopted under Article 6 of the Paris Agreement, where any measures should be based on ecological system recovery because any deforestation is increasing over decades. But we need to amend any measures for funding. We express our reserve on any change of the current text. We want to delete item three, sorry, and The microphone was cut off.

Now I'll give the floor to India, last party. Microphone to India, please. Technicians, can you press your button again, India? Yeah, you have the word.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. India affirms the deep nexus between climate change and biodiversity loss. Maintaining the global response must be rooted in equity and principled of common but differentiated responsibilities and respective capabilities. While reaffirming the Paris Agreement's temperature goals, India insists that climate change and biodiversity commitments must remain coherent across multilateral environment agreements without imposing sector-specific mitigation mandates or undermine national sovereignty. The central tenet of Indian position is rectifying the current mitigation-centric bias in international negotiations. India calls for an action-oriented approach that places climate change adaptation on equal footing with mitigation. Domestically, India operationalized this balance through its National Action Plan on Climate Change, embedding biodiversity protection and preservation of ecosystem services as foundational pillar of national climate resilience. Similarly, India implements target 8, 11, 22 of human monitor global biodiversity framework strictly according to the domestic priorities, capacities and circumstances and the indoors voluntary supplements to ecosystem based adaptation guidelines on the same self determined terms. Resource mobilization from the core pillar of India's intervention Addressing biodiversity loss, land degradation and climate change simultaneously requires fulfilling existing financial commitments, specifically under Article 20 of the CBD and Article 19 of the UNFCCC. Developing nations bear the primary obligation to India's adequate, new and additional financial resources. While innovative financial mechanisms are a supplementary support, they must never dilute, replace or shift the legal burden on developing nations. Thank you.

Thank you. Just in time. It seems to me that when your microphone starts blinking is when you have one minute. Right? So with this, we exhaust the list of partners wishing to take the floor. I think we are doing fine, but we still have another document for for at least for first reading. Now is the time to see requests from observers. So you have the floor if you wish to take the floor. I hope can be quick. So I start with youth. You have the floor.

Thank you, Chair. I'm speaking on behalf of the Global Youth Biodiversity Network. We serve as the international coordinating platform for youth participation in the Convention of Biological Diversity. We have submitted a specific text proposal for this agenda item online, and we thank the parties who have expressed their support for this proposal. We are taking the floor to briefly outline our key priorities as used for this agenda item. As we address the supplements of the voluntary guideline, we stress that biodiversity must not be treated simply as co-benefits of climate mitigation. Biodiversity conservation and ecosystem integrity must remain the main objective. Climate mitigation and adaptation measures must contribute positively to biodiversity and respect environmental and social safeguards and human rights. We request the Executive Secretariat to provide a revised version that is fully aligned with the peer review expense supplement before the first contact group session. Dear delegates, the multi-level roadmap is an important step towards stronger cooperation across the Rio Convention, and we need to ensure that this translates into concrete action. We call on parties to move forward with the short-term action and report on progress and challenge ahead of COP18, ensuring the full and effective participation of Indigenous people and local communities, women and youth. We thank you, Chair.

Thank you very much to you. With this, we exhaust requests from the floor. So we are doing very good. I've been taking note of the exemptions, discussions on this matter. I also highlight mentions on the voluntary nature on the guidelines and also the national circumstances. So these are elements to be taken in consideration in the negotiations. Accordingly, I will establish a contact group be co-chaired by Ms. Clarice Keller Siebert of Sweden and Mr. Xiang Gao of China. The mandate of the contact group will be to resolve the outstanding brackets in the draft decision and to reflect any changes that may be needed in light of the new information present in the progress report. In doing so, I request the Contact Group Co-Chairs to consider changes arising from the new information present to COP and avoid reopening previously agreed text by the SubStA that is not directly related to that information or to the content of COP documents. With this, I expect that we will build upon our efforts from the SubStA in order to be more effective in our work during COP. I will proceed to prepare a non-paper with the assistance of the Secretariat in line with established practice. The non-papers are not intended to be a compilation of all proposals. Instead, they will contain my proposal for consensus text aimed at facilitating a more efficient negotiation. So please take this in consideration. Please monitors to confirm the time and location and the usual rules of contact groups will apply. So if I see no objection, we have established another contact group, in this case for climate change. And now we move to COP item 18F, biodiversity and health. SBSTT at its 27th meeting consider a report prepared by the secretariat on the activities undertaken pursuant to decision 16/19 and adopt recommendation 27/10 which is contained in the compilation of draft decisions the sub recommendation among other things include a request to the executive secretary to submit a progress report on the activities requested in paragraph 9 of Decision 16/19, including the draft list of indicators, metrics and progress measurement tools for consideration by the Conference of the Parties at its seventeenth meeting. This report has been produced And now I invite the Secretariat to take the floor to introduce the intercessional work undertaken and relevant documents. So, Secretariat, you have the floor.

Thank you, Chair. On item 18F, the working group will have before it the draft decision containing recommendation 27.10, which is reproduced in the compilation of draft decisions CVD/COB/17/2, along with a document CVD/COB/17/7, which is a progress report on activities on biodiversity and health. which was prepared in response to request in Subserv recommendation 2710, and which contains an update on the activities on biodiversity and health conducted pursuant to decision 1619. This document is complemented by the following information documents. Framework and methodology for indicators on biodiversity and health, which is information document number eight. Steps and process for the development of science-based indicators, metrics and progress measurement tools on biodiversity and health, information document number five. Compilation on existing indicators relevant to biodiversity and health from other processes, which is information document number six. And an operational tool for indicators on biodiversity and health, information document number nine and its annex, thank you.

Thank you very much, Secretariat. I see a request from Tuvalu, but I believe it's all the flag. So I will continue with the presentation of document. Thank you. Dear delegates, since this item consists of outcomes of intercessional work, request by Substantive 27, I will open this item for statements from parties and observers. I strongly encourage to limit your interventions to the outcomes of the intersessional work of the Turkey Legal Secretariat, not to the draft decision. As detailed in the scenario note, the modalities for the early submission of statements will be applied to this agenda item, as we did with the previous topic. As people explained, information document 24 lists the 14 submissions received from parties and 12 statements from observers on item 18F by the deadline. The list of parties and observers indicated in information document are also being displayed on the screen. Note that the list of observers only includes observers that have registered on site. Colleagues, are there any objections from any parties or observers listed in the information document to your statements being formally entered on record as statements officially submitted for this agenda item in this meeting? Please raise your hands if you have any objection, just for the statements to be considered. It's not approval yet of observers. I see again Tuvalu requesting from the floor. Tuvalu, are you objecting?

No, Chair. I apologise, but I wanted to go back to agenda item 18A and seek clarification. I understand you're going to produce a non-paper for consideration by the contact group. Do you have any idea of timing when that will be produced? Thank you.

Okay, so the initial schedule as you saw in scenario note, we hope to start work on climate change contact group by Wednesday afternoon. So the rules require that at least will be three hours in advance or more. So I'm confident that you'll have on time. As for any contact group, the documents there posted to be ready for the contact groups. All contact groups will start on the basis of non-papers, as usual. So I'll work with the Secretariat to these non-papers be ready as soon as possible. Thank you. Okay, let's go back now to our business on Yeah, I see my document. I understand there is no objections for submissions to be taken into account. Now I will move to observers' statements. So we have 11 submissions. So we'll go through the list present on screen one by one. So, I'll start with the list. Please push your button if you are here. And then I will ask for support of parties, if that's the case, to be considered. So, I'm going to start with African Wildlife Foundation. Can you press your button if you are here? I don't see a button or waving. No waving. Let's move to number two, Alliance of Biodiversity International and Science. I see a bottom of C232 and I see a flag. Then I'll ask parties if they want to support statements from Alliance of Biodiversity International and Science. I see Brazil. Thank you very much. So it's taken into account. Let's move now to Born Free Foundation, number 3. Are you here, Born Free? No. You are free to press your button. I see waving, but you didn't press any button. So can I confirm this one is one free? Okay. Now, I ask parties, you are willing to support the intervention, the submission. I don't see. I see Brazil. Thank you. Now let's move to number 4, COHAB Initiative Secretariat. Are you here? Can you wave your hand?

Yes.

So I last parties if they're willing to express support. I don't see any. I see Tunisia. Thank you. Let's move to number 5, ECOMAXA, Queretaro, on behalf of the CBD Women's Caucus. Are you here? I see women, seat 255, waving, yes. Then I ask for parties. I see Cameroon, Tuvalu. Thank you very much. Tunisia. Let's move to Number six, FAR on behalf of the Global Youth Biodiversity Network. Number six, are you here? Waving, yes. Now I ask parties, Tuvalu, Brazil. Thank you very much. Can I kindly ask you to clear your screen with your buttons? Thank you very much. Now let's move to number seven, ICLEI, Local Governments for Sustainability. Is ICLEI present? I see a flag. Now I ask for parties willing to support statements of ICLEI. I see Brazil. Thank you very much. Can we clear the screen, please? Now Let's go to number 8, on International Indigenous Forum on Biodiversity. Are you here? Yes. Okay. So can I ask the support of parties? I see Tuvalu, Marshall Islands and Brazil. Thank you. Next one, number 9, International Livestock Research Institute. Are you here? Can you press your button? I don't see. I see the one that's subnational. Can you press delete your I think it's, can you wipe your hand? Can you delete, turn off your microphone, please? Yes. I see C277. Can I ask again International Livestock Research, if you are here, to press your button? I don't see a button. Okay, let's move to next one on International Union of Conservation of Nature. I see the button and I see the flag. Then I ask parties. I see Tuvalu, Marshall Islands, Tunisia, Mongolia, Fiji. Thank you so much. And the last one, WWF International. I see flag. Now I see, I ask in support from parties, I see Tunisia, Cameroon, Philippines, Mongolia. Thank you so much. So with only one I was double checking that all observers present got support from parties. I had another one with no support, but it seems all present got support, so we can move forward. Just give me a sec. So now we'll open the floor for interventions on item 18F, beginning with parties speaking on behalf of regional groups. So given that the modalities for early submission statements were intended to be a time-saving measure, parties and observers that submit early statements may wish to refrain from delivering a normal statement, except when necessary to make clarifications. We heard only one from UK last issue, very briefly. Partisan observers that did not submit written statements during the informal process may wish to request the floor and submit a written statement as per established procedure. So I remind you for the previous item to submit your statements. Please request the floor now only if you're speaking on behalf of a regional group. Now the floor is open. I see no request from regionals, so I open the floor for parties. Remember the time limitations. So I give the floor to Vanuatu.

Thank you, Chair. Vanuatu has the honour to speak on behalf of the 14 Pacific Island developing states. For Pacific Island states, human health planetary health and ecosystem integrity are one agenda. The health of our communities depend directly on the vitality of our coastal, marine, forest and watershed ecosystems. The Global Action Plan on Biodiversity and Health, adopted in decision 16/19, recognizes the increasing risk of vector, water and food-borne diseases associated with climate change and emphasizes the urgent need to integrate climate, biodiversity and health policies through a coordinated One Health approach. In this regard, BISIT highlights the following core priorities. In paragraph 7, to include information from small island developing states where climate sensitive and zoonotic diseases are closely linked to ecosystem condition. In paragraph 17, any expert workshop should include representation from small island developing states. Decision 16/19 does not refer to small island developing states. This decision is the place to make sure our experiences inform the indicators. On paragraph 5 and its alternative, Pacific states can support applying the One Health approach on the basis of scientific evidence. The Global Action Plan itself calls for strengthening the environmental dimension of the One Health approach. On paragraph 6, we support new additional and predictable resources from the global environmental facility for this work in the language of Article 20 of the Convention. Thank you, Thomas. Thank you, Chair.

Thank you, Bandoatu. And I remind you that I'm asking, I'm giving the floor to hear comments on the progress report, not on the paragraphs we have already in the draft decision that is already in the package for the contact group that will be established. But these early submissions are for this document that is open for first reading, which is the progress report. So that can help to shorten your interventions. Now we'll give the floor to Bahrain, followed by Argentina and South Africa.

Bahrain.

Thank you so much, Mr. President. We back the efforts made regarding the biodiversity project and health. We therefore need to strengthen links between human health and that of the planet, and do so in keeping with the following points. Firstly, independence of mandates without overlap or duplication, and in the preambula we would like to add in keeping with the independent mandate and avoiding any duplication when we refer to the report and cooperation with other organizations. Secondly, the voluntary nature in the operative paragraphs is important, and we would add note instead of welcomes and encourage rather than calling upon parties to integrate their national policies in keeping with the priorities and national capacities and in keeping with national legislation. Thirdly, environmental priorities and the sustainable management. Well, in this field, we back wording which strengthens interest based on blue and green, on the blue and green economy, and which protects coastal areas to conserve food security. For this reason, we call for wording which would lead to sustainable management in keeping with legislation and one which would preserve practices regarding these activities. We would also like to delete all references to sequencing because we haven't discussed this issue yet. We will, of course, send this to you in writing. Thank you.

Thank you, Bahram, and I remind you once again that We're open to listen to comments on the new document, which is the progress report, not on the paragraphs of the draft decision. That can be solved at the contact group. And remember not to include new text. Those are the rules according to the scenario notes. I'll now give the floor to Argentina, followed by South Africa and China.

Thank you, Mr. President.

Thank you, Chair. Argentina believes that the indicators and tools which are proposed in terms of biodiversity and health need to maintain a strictly voluntary and not prescriptive nature and allow it to respect the circumstances, characteristics and national legal frameworks in countries in this regard. We believe it's important to preserve the ability of each party to set out approaches, mechanisms, instruments, which they believe to be adequate to address biodiversity and health in their countries. In addition, we believe it's necessary to note that the full effective participation of IPLCs and other non-state actors in the measures proposed need to necessarily be part or under national legislative frameworks. We have some specific concrete text proposals which we'll send in writing. Thank you. Thank you, Argentina.

South Africa, followed by China and Indonesia.

Thank you, Chair. South Africa welcomes the progress made to the development of the indicators, matrix and progress measurement tools during the intersessional period. We are of the view that these could serve as useful voluntary tools to help Parties in establishing national baselines and where appropriate and in accordance with national circumstances, priorities and capabilities to monitor and report on progress. We emphasize that reporting should remain optional and avoid putting any additional reporting burden on Parties. We reiterate the need for more focused awareness raising, capacity building, technical and scientific cooperation and technology transfer, along with adequate, predictable, timely and accessible financial resources. Excuse me. Consideration should be given to the technical and scientific cooperation centers, given their critical role in supporting parties on this work. South Africa stands ready to contribute to the finalization of the proposed indicators, metrics and progress measurement tools, and we emphasize that this should be a party-led, regionally balanced and participatory process, noting the limited submissions during the inter-sessional period. Chair, South Africa will make additional text proposals in this regard. Thank you, Chair.

Thank you, South Africa. I will give the floor to China, followed by Indonesia and the Russian Federation.

Thank you, Chair. The Chinese delegation thanks the Secretariat for its work on biodiversity and health and supports the continued development and the implementation of the Global Action Plan for Biodiversity and Health pursuant to decision 16/19. China believes that biodiversity and health are interconnected and of great significance to the implementation of the KMGBF. The implementation of the Global Action Plan should fully respect conditions and the priorities and be guided by the practical needs of developing countries. China supports the Secretariat in further promoting capacity building, scientific technology cooperation and technology transfer, strengthening information gathering, partnership cooperation and inter-institutional coordination. Regarding indicators and progress measurement tools, China supports their development and application, yet stresses that the voluntary principle should be upheld. They should be clearly positioned as progress management tools without turning into new mandatory reporting requirements. The list of questions should be further streamlined with the priorities highlighted and ranked. We may start with a small set of core indicators, make full use of the existing data sources, national monitoring systems, and existing report from relevant multilateral processes and avoid duplicate reporting and the establishment of the parallel monitoring systems. Indicator development shall be based on scientific evidence, subject to thorough review by parties and better align with existing international reporting mechanism and national monitoring capacities. China supports parties in applying the One Health approach in light of national conditions. One Health should be science-based, multi-sectoral, and holistic approach built upon best available science and evidence, including completed risk assessment and drawing upon internationally agreed standards and guidelines. Sorry, the microphone is cut.

China, don't forget to post your statements to get everything. I remind you, you have only two minutes. Now I give the floor to Indonesia, followed by Russian Federation and Bangladesh.

Thank you, Chair.

Indonesia recognizes the importance of strengthening the integration of biodiversity and health considerations into national policies. Indonesia welcomes the contribution of the IPBES Nexus Assessment and underscores the importance of cross-sectoral coordination, support the use of the best available scientific evidence, appropriate risk assessment and joint risk assessment to inform prevention, mitigation and response measures to zoonotic threats in accordance with national circumstances. priorities and legislation. Indonesia underlines the importance of providing adequate financial resources, capacity building, technical and scientific operation, and technology transfer, particularly for the developing country parties. We support continuous cooperation with the core department collaboration on one health and other relevant partners, building on existing mechanism and respecting the respective mandates of each organization. Thank you.

Indonesia. give the floor to the Russian Federation, followed by Bangladesh and Guatemala.

Thank you. Thank you so much, Chair. We welcome the work carried out and we believe it necessary to underscore the importance of taking into account the diversity of documents as part of strategic planning, as well as taking into account national specificities when it comes to legislation priorities. We propose that we should avoid avoid proposals which transcend the parameters of the Convention, including proposals which create requirements, mandatory requirements for countries in terms of health and which require approaches which have not been agreed at a national level. Relevant questions must be resolved within the framework of national procedures. Our detailed proposal will be sent to you in writing.

I'll give the floor to Bangladesh, followed by Guatemala and India.

Thank you, Chair. Bangladesh acknowledges the Sub-STA recommendations 27 by 10, and for the preparation of a draft list of indicators, metrics, and progress measurement tools on biodiversity and health. But we think that too many indicators will make a burden on parties to achieve the target of KMGBL. Bangladesh also acknowledges the great initiative of the Secretariat to organize two information webinars, regional dialogue, development of communication and awareness materials, and consultation with the Quadripartite Alliance on Health regarding the development of an online information platform. Bangladesh has updated the online strategic framework where health of environment and ecosystem has been incorporated and environmental performance index has been adopted as a sectoral evaluation tools. We have some textual correction proposal and we'll submit it in written shortly. Thank you, Chair.

Thank you, Bangladesh. Yeah, I listening and hearing reiteration on the voluntary nature of this guidance and no mandatory requirements, really taking that into account, and now the collaboration with the Quatripartite Alliance and One Health support ideas. Now I'll give the floor to Guatemala, followed by India and Cook Islands.

Thank you. Thank you so much, Chair. Guatemala backs the implementation of the Global Plan on Biodiversity and Health. We believe that it is essential to strengthen the environmental aspect of the One Health approach, human health, vegetal health, animal health must all be defended in a comprehensive way. We must base ourselves on facts, scientific elements, and take into account all of the provisions of the Convention. As far as Guatemala is concerned, it is essential to stress the importance of water quality food, traditional knowledge, all linked to the well-being of the population. We underscore that it is important to enjoy technical assistance to achieve objectives in terms of biodiversity and also to achieve objectives in the field of health. We must launch pilot projects and we back the proposed indicators to ensure that we have effective assessment cost-effective assessment. We must also carry out policies which lead to concrete results without making the tasks unduly difficult for developing states, including for the presentation of excessive number of reports. Traditional knowledge is very important, as well as consent, and the principle of equality is just as important. For example, we are thinking of vaccines which are elaborated with digital sequencing information. Thank you.

Parties have requested the floor, India, followed by Cook Islands.

Thank you, Mr. Chair. India took note of extensive work undertaken by the Secretariat on Biodiversity and Health, as well as the progress made in developing integrated science-based indicators, metrics and progress measurement tools. India emphasized that the effective One Health approach must span across human, animal, planet and environment health sectors. This must explicitly encompass the conservation of indigenous animal genetic resources, soil biodiversity, wildlife health and integration of traditional community-based animal health practices such as ethno-veterinary medicines. India took note of IPPS thematic assessment report on linkages among biodiversity, water, food and health and maintain the international health frameworks, including pandemic instruments, must fully respect national circumstances, priorities and internal ratification processes. Regarding indicators, metrics and monitoring tools, India stresses that the process must provide ample opportunities for the Parties to review proposed frameworks without creating additional reporting burdens. Finally, Chair, the implementation of the Global Action Plan cannot super succeed without assured means of implementation in accordance with Article 20 of the conventions. India urges developing country parties to provide adequate, predictable financial resources, capacity buildings, and technology transfers to developing countries. We also request the global environment facility to provide dedicated new and additional financial support tailored to the mandate of the global action plan. Thank you, Mr. Chair.

Thank you, India. And now the last party requesting the floor, Cook Islands.

Chair, the Cook Islands welcomes the consideration of biodiversity and health under the Convention on Biological Diversity and supports stronger implementation of the global action plan on biodiversity and health, and supports the statement made by Vanuatu on behalf of Pacific SIDS. Cook Islands supports the One Health approach that recognizes the interdependence of human, animal, plant, and environmental health. For island countries, biosecurity is an important part of this approach. Preventing the introduction and spread of invasive species, pests, and diseases is essential to protecting biodiversity, agriculture, food systems, and human well-being. We also emphasize the importance of indigenous peoples and local communities as custodians of biodiversity and holders of traditional knowledge. Their knowledge, participation, and leadership should be meaningfully integrated into implementation, alongside the participation of women and youth. For the Cook Islands and the other SIDS, implementation must be supported by adequate, predictable financial resources, capacity building, scientific and technical cooperation, technology transfer and access to appropriate tools and expertise. These measures should reflect the particular circumstances and limited capacities of small island administrations and should avoid creating disproportionate reporting burdens. We further encourage stronger integration between biodiversity, health, food security and climate resilience, including the protection of crop diversity, soil biodiversity, pollinators and resilient food systems. The Cook Islands stands ready to contribute its experience and to work with parties and partners towards an integrated approach in which healthy ecosystems support healthy and resilient communities. I thank you, Chair.

Thank you very much, Cook Islands. With this, we close the list of parties requesting the floor. I will give the Thank you for the patience. Now I open the floor to observers. May want to take the floor on this matter. Remember, it's mainly on the progress report on biodiversity and health. I see youth. You have the floor.

Thanks, Chair. I'm speaking on behalf of Global Youth Biodiversity Network, which serve as the international coordination platform for youth participation in the Convention on Biological Diversity. We have submitted specific text proposal for this agenda item online, and we thank the party who have expressed their support for this proposal. We are taking the floor to briefly outline our key priority as a youth for this agenda item. On biodiversity and health, we highlight that The draft decision must welcome the IPPS Nexus assessment and the pandemic agreement, as well as ensure new additional and predictable finance for the implementation of the Global Action Plan. We welcome the progress on the indicator for biodiversity and health, and we highlight that indicator about the need of diverse sector and actor, diverse value, mental health contribution and traditional practice of indigenous people and local community.

Thank you, Judith. And it's good that you submit your early submission, so we'll take note. You were highlighting what you already expressed. Distinguished delegates, with this, I have taken note of the extensive discussions on this matter. So accordingly, I will establish a contact group to be co-chaired by Ms. Barbara Engels of Germany and Ms. Kishma Primus of Antigua and Barbuda to help me advance this work. I understand that the Sub-Sta parties didn't have a chance to consider any work on the indicators, and as such, could give us an opportunity to consider this, along with the draft recommendation that came from Sub-Sta 27, which already reflect important advances in the discussions on this agenda item. The contact group's mandate is therefore to resolve the outstanding brackets in the draft decision and considering only addition to this text arising from the first reading of the agenda item. in light of the information present in the progress report. We heard some interventions that went beyond that we were asking. So we should keep our rules in place. In doing so, I request the contact group to avoid reopening previously agreed text from Sub-Sta that is not directly related to that information or to the content of the COP documents. With this, I expect that we will build upon our efforts and substance in order to be more effective in our work during COP. To facilitate the work of the contact group, I will proceed to prepare a non-paper with the assistance of the Secretariat on the basis of the draft decision with additional elements taking into consideration the views expressed during the first reading on elements related to the information from the progress reports, are considering that in line with established practice. The non-papers are not intended to be a compilation of all proposals. Instead, they will contain my proposal for consensus text, aimed at facilitating a more efficient negotiation. Details regarding the timing and organization of the group's work will be communicated in due course. The usual rules for contact groups apply. I hope this is agreeable. I see no objection. Thank you very much. Colleagues, just hold on a moment. So this working group is established. We're doing very well in time. So I have a proposal to you. Just let me verify with the Secretariat. We're doing good progress. Just wait a few seconds, please. Yes, I see that there was a request for the floor from an observer. I already established a contact group, so I let DRIs, ITCMS, you have a minute for your intervention.

Thank you very much, Chair. The CITES Secretariat welcomes the progress made since COP16 on the implementation of the Global Action Plan on Biodiversity in Health, including the emphasis on sharing existing guidance, best practices and lessons learned, as well as transnational cooperation with relevant conventions. In this regard, CITES Secretariat would like encourage the compilation and synthesis of information built on existing work undertaken by relevant organizations, taking into account their respective mandates and ensuring that efforts are complementary and mutually supportive. At the site of COP20, parties adopted decisions encouraging the use of existing international guidance and best practices, including developing by WHO and FAO and other One Health partners to address potential pathogen spillover risks associated with the international wildlife trade.

So we heard that intervention from Amob. Several, unfortunately, time is over, but I think you hear the main points from scientific secretariat for consideration. Is any party supporting this statement to be considered on deliberations from the contact group. So I open the floor for parties if there is support to what the Secretary had mentioned. I see Gabon. Thank you very much. So I ask the Secretary, I see Gabon, Cote d'Ivoire, Suriname, Kyrgyzstan. So please submit your statement to be considered. Thank you. So we finally close this issue on biodiversity and health. We still have 20 minutes. Let me see. we can move on with our agenda. Just give me a second. So since we have 20 precious minutes, I propose that we continue with our agenda, in this case to deal with the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, in the understanding that we will not take the floor and we will proceed with the establishment of a contact group, right? So Let me see. Yeah, so we have 20 minutes. I think we can make progress if I don't see any objection. So we can move on to establish so we have clarity on the timing. So we will now turn our attention to matters on the Cartagena Protocol. This working group is charged to considering items 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 13, 14, 15, 16 and 17 of the agenda for the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties of the Protocol. We will first take up item 13 of the Cartagena Protocol MOP. risk assessment and risk management, Articles 15 and 16. The Subsidiary Body on the Substance considered this matter in its 27th meeting and adopted recommendation 27/7, including a draft decision that is reproduced in the compilation of draft decisions. in this case, is document MOP.12/2. The resulting recommendation contains many brackets, recognizes that there are diverging views on the specific elements. There is a clear need to understand how to move forward in this topic and continue to advance the implementation of the Cartagena Protocol. Thus, I will establish a contact group to resolve the outstanding issues. The key aspect to be addressed relate to whether additional voluntary guidance materials should be developed and if so, which topic or topics should be prioritized for discussion. Ideally, limiting the focus to one or two key issues. The process that could be used for the development of such voluntary guidance materials and the resolution of the remaining brackets to advance clean text. I would like again to remind you, dear colleagues, that the working group has a lot of work before us and we need to be very pragmatic and careful with our use of time. With this in mind, in considering the draft decision before the working group, I would like to draw your attention to the fact that the process suggests is similar to the process used for the development of additional voluntary guidance materials on engineered gene drives or Biosafety Technical Series number 7, which was welcomed by parties in most recent decision of this topic. Finally, to make the best use of the time available, I ask the contact group focus exclusively on the bracketed text and refrain from reopening text that is already agreed, with a view to advancing a clean text to the working group. I am confident that the outstanding issues can be addressed efficiently and propose that the contact group initially aim to conclude its deliberations in a single sitting. I propose that this contact group be co-chaired by Ms. Martha Kandawa Schultz of Namibia and Mr. Werner Schenkel of Germany. Is that okay? I don't see objections, so thank you very much. This contact group is now established. As this is the first contact group under the Cartagena Protocol to be established by this working group, allow me to repeat that contact groups are open to participation of all parties. Other governments and observers will also be able to participate unless otherwise decided by the co-chairs. The usual practice and rules will apply to participation of observers. They may speak at the discretion of the chair or co-chairs. Any substantive proposal from an observer must be supported by at least one party. In accordance with the guidelines and conduct expected of participants in CBD processes, neither parties nor observers may take audio or video recordings in contact groups. Still, photographs are also not generally permitted in contact groups, exceptionally still photographs or text project of the screens may be allowing contact groups for use during the contact group discussions only. Has been the practice, EMB may take still photographs in contact groups as well. The contact group is scheduled to meet on Wednesday, 21st October at 7. 30 PM. Be sure to consult the online schedule or the monitors around the venue for the location in any case for any changes. In addition, I would like to share further guidance for facilitating the discussions in contact groups that you may wish to consider. Clean text coming from subsidiary bodies should not be renegotiated. The role of contact groups is to resolve bracket text. Whenever possible, existing approved language from the Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, previous decisions, or other agreed text should be used rather than introducing new language. New text should be generally be avoided unless it's necessary to resolve a particular issue. In line with decision 1625 and the understanding reached in Cali, efforts should be made to keep decisions concise. Existing mandate decisions, intercessional processes, and approved roadmap should be respected. This guidance is intended to apply in all contact groups, as you know, for working rule 1 and 2 in a consistent approach throughout. So thank you very much. And give me a second. We still have 15 minutes to move on. Thank you for your patience. I was looking to the different agenda items for Cartagena Protocol and as you know most of the agenda items require a first reading with the exception of item 8 which I believe we can transfer directly to a CRP so I suggest to address this issue and then next session we can go to all the different documents That will be a little bit lengthy because we have to go through our first reading. So I invite you to go to item 8, which is assessment and review of the effectiveness of the Cartagena Protocol and midterm evaluation of the implementation plan and capacity building action plan of the protocol. This item was considered in depth by the Subsidiary Body on Implementation at its seventh meeting. The Subsidiary Body prepared the draft decision contained in recommendation 7/5, paragraphs 17, 23, 24, 30, 52 and 53. Of recommendation 7/5, contain guidance to the financial mechanism in the compilation of draft decisions contained in document MOP.12/2. These paragraphs have been removed from the draft decision for consideration under the present agenda item 8 and have been included in the draft decision on matters related to the financial mechanism and resources. which will be considered under item 9. As you will notice, in the draft decision, including the compilation of draft decisions, the subsidiary body made great progress and brackets remain only in few paragraphs. I will therefore proceed to prepare a conference room paper with the support of the Secretariat for consideration by the working group later in our meeting. I may conduct informal consultations with parties as necessary. One thing to note is that paragraph 25 of the draft decision recommended by SBI 7 was inadvertently omitted from the draft decision in the compilation of draft decisions. This paragraph will be included under the goal A3.1. in the CRP that I will prepare, just for you to know. You'll have the complete package. If we agree, and if I see no objections, I see Panama requesting the floor. Panama, you have the floor.

Unfortunately, due to lack of resources, We are not able to take part in the SBI conversations in this regard. We reserve the right to look at the document with the seven declarations, and we would like to submit the text proposals which are sent in writing. Panama thanks the Secretariat and the groups for the review of its plan of implementation and for capacity building plan. In Panama's view, the protocol already offers tools which have not been very used. Article 13 enables us to apply a simplified procedure in certain cases. Article 14 enables parties to establish bilateral agreements, regional agreements or multilateral agreements. without reducing level of protection. With this, countries with similar conditions can share experts, information, and experiences in a regulatory standpoint, always respecting the sovereign decision of each party. Therefore, Panama proposes the inclusion of a reference to Articles 13 and 14 in three paragraphs of the draft decision. First, para 29 on target A5. in order to encourage parties to explore these options in paragraph 40, adding an F on its implementation, and in para 51 on target B4 to recognize it as an existing cooperation mechanism. We have submitted these comments to the secretariat in writing. Thank you. Thank you very much, Panama.

We.

Have taken into account your statements. I'd like to recall that the Bureau has requested that we comply with scenario note. What you're proposing is new text. And there's agreement for all contact groups to work on the text which is already there, and in brackets. and do not propose new text, or if you do so, only when proposing a solution. So you're arguing that you weren't present in a previous meeting of the SBI, but the basis of information that we're working on is that from the SBI meeting. So I will consult with the Bureau on this situation, because it's beyond what we've agreed upon. until present we haven't agreed to add any new text to text that has emerged from the subsidiary bodies so the main task of the contact group will be to resolve any issues within brackets but I will consult on this taking to account the specific situation you presented thank you and don't say therefore if I don't see any objections Also showing this.

See no objections for the establishment, well, for conducting and to prepare a CRP on the basis of the draft decision contained in document MOP.12/2, with support of the Secretariat, we will take this CRP at a subsequent session of this working group, once all items have been taken up at once. So thank you very much for your cooperation with these two additional agenda items that we made progress in advance from our original schedule. I think we're doing great. So still for tomorrow, some COPMOP issues on compliance and monitoring and financial mechanism and by the way, the Clean House Corporation detections is a number of documents. We're going to be very busy during the afternoon and evening session tomorrow where we have a plenary and now since we were very fast, let me find my notes on for closing our session of today properly. So, just give me a second. Hold on. So, before closing our session, I will give the floor to the Secretary for any housekeeping announcements. So, you have the floor.

Thank you, Chair.

Just to finalize that the venues for the two.

Contact groups that were established by the working group have now been announced and are on the schedule.

So the contact group on agenda item 18C.

Marine and Coastal Management, will meet in contact group room three, ANCA, on level one.

And the contact group on agenda item 17C, on the programme of work on protected areas, will meet in contact group four, PARS, also on level one. Thank you, Chair.

Thank you, Secretariat. So, colleagues, this concludes our first reading of COP17 agenda items and two elements also from Cartagena Protocol. So, I wish you a good evening. And we will continue our next session of Working Group 2 tomorrow afternoon, where we will continue considering the Cartagena Protocol's COP12 agenda items. Thank you very much for your cooperation. You were great.