29 October 2010: The tenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP 10) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) convened from 18-29 October 2010, in Nagoya, Japan, bringing together delegates representing parties and other governments, UN agencies, intergovernmental, non-governmental, indigenous and local community representatives, academia and industry.

Participants adopted historic decisions that seek to facilitate efforts to address challenges related to the continued loss of biodiversity compounded by climate change. Of particular note for international climate change policy, the meeting adopted a decision on biodiversity and climate change, addressing: financial issues; assessing the impacts of climate change on biodiversity; reducing climate change impacts on biodiversity and biodiversity-based livelihoods; ecosystem-based approaches for adaptation and for mitigation; recognizing biodiversity impacts of climate change mitigation and adaptation measures; valuation and incentive measures; climate change and the biodiversity of dry and sub-humid lands; and ways and means to achieve biodiversity co-benefits.

On geo-engineering, the COP invites parties and governments to ensure, in line with decision IX/16 C on ocean fertilization, in the absence of a science-based, global, transparent and effective control and regulatory mechanism for geo-engineering, and in accordance with the precautionary approach and CBD Article 14, that no climate change-related geo-engineering activities that may affect biodiversity take place, until there is an adequate scientific basis on which to justify them and appropriate consideration of the associated risks. On reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation in developing countries, and forest conservation, sustainable forest management and enhancement of forest carbon stocks (REDD+), the COP requests the Secretariat to provide advice, for approval by CBD COP 11, including on the application of relevant safeguards for biodiversity, without pre-empting any future decisions taken under the UNFCCC, based on effective consultation with parties, and with participation of indigenous and local communities, so that actions are consistent with the CBD objectives and avoid negative impacts on and enhance benefits for biodiversity; and support the development of guidance on how to create synergies between the implementation of national forest biodiversity-related measures and climate-change measures.

Delegates also adopted a decision establishing clear steps to increase cooperation among the Rio Conventions in the lead up to the Rio+20 Summit. Climate-related elements are also included in: the revised Strategic Plan, which includes a 2015 target to minimize anthropogenic pressures on coral reefs and other vulnerable ecosystems impacted by climate change or ocean acidification, so as to maintain their integrity and functioning; the decision on marine and coastal biodiversity, where the COP requests the CBD Secretariat to convene, inviting collaboration with UNFCCC, an expert workshop on the role of marine biodiversity and ecosystems in climate change adaptation and mitigation; and the decision on protected areas, where the COP invites parties to explore how funding opportunities under climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies could contribute to the implementation of the work programme on protected areas, while enhancing co-benefits for biodiversity and climate change adaptation and mitigation. [IISD RS Coverage][CBD COP 10 Website]