5th Science-Policy Forum for Biodiversity and the 8th International Conference on Sustainability Science
Introduction
The world community is currently in the process of developing an ambitious post-2020 global biodiversity framework to be adopted at the fifteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP 15). The framework is intended, inter alia, to accelerate efforts to halt and reverse the global decline of biodiversity, contribute to the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and facilitate the transformational changes needed to place the global community on a path towards realizing the 2050 Vision of Living in Harmony with Nature.
How to realize this vision in practical terms, including mainstreaming biodiversity and fostering transformative change, should be examined by scientists, policymakers and other relevant stakeholders at various levels.
It is also necessary to discuss these issues among other multilateral environmental agreements (including biodiversity-related conventions, UNCCD, UNFCCC and the Paris Agreement) and within the context of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
Objectives
The joint fifth Science-Policy Forum for Biodiversity and the eighth International Conference on Sustainability Science (ICSS 8) aim to provide space for scientists, policy makers and other relevant stakeholders to discuss and make recommendations on how science, technology and innovation could contribute to the effective implementation of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework in order to bend the curve of biodiversity loss and obtain positive biodiversity outcomes and foster transformative change towards achieving the 2050 Vision.
In particular, participants will discuss options and solutions to facilitate the implementation of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework, including potential nature-based solutions for tackling both biodiversity loss and climate change challenges based on solid scientific knowledge and evidence. They will also identify key knowledge gaps and priorities for science-policy research, needs for capacity building and opportunities for increased technical and scientific cooperation.
Virtual Sessions
In light of the postponement of COP 15, and consequently of the fifth Science-Policy Forum for Biodiversity and ICSS 8, to October 2021, the co-organizers have decided to organize a virtual segment of the above events to keep the momentum and provide science-based inputs into the process for the development of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework.
The programme will include five virtual sessions to be held on 13, 14, 19, 21 and 23 April 2021. The sessions will last up to 120 minutes, starting at 6 am (Montreal Time).
Each session will have four to six panelists and a moderator and will include the possibility to interact with the participants via the chat. The panelists will be invited to respond to a limited number of questions during the live session. The exchange through the chat will remain open for three days after the end of each session to give an opportunity for the panelists to answer the questions posted and for the online discussions to continue.
Outputs
Participants will share experiences, knowledge, ideas and diverse perspectives on the various subjects. They will also showcase innovative solutions and tools that could facilitate the implementation of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework.
The conclusions and recommendations of the virtual sessions will be prepared by a dedicated task team, involving the sessions’ co-leads, and will be submitted to the twenty-fourth meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA 24), the third meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Implementation (SBI 3) and the third meeting of the Open-Ended Working Group to contribute to the preparation of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework. This would allow the fifth Science-Policy Forum for Biodiversity and ICSS-8 to contribute to the elaboration of the draft framework well in advance of COP 15.
More information on agenda and registration on the event website.
