6 October 2014: The twelfth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP 12) has opened in Pyeongchang, Gangwon Province, the Republic of Korea, under the theme ‘Biodiversity for Sustainable Development.’

CBD COP 12 will also consider a series of strategic, substantive, administrative and budgetary issues related to: biodiversity and sustainable development; marine and coastal biodiversity; biodiversity and climate change; biofuels; Article 8(j) (traditional knowledge); sustainable wildlife management; invasive alien species (IAS); synthetic biology; and ecosystem conservation and restoration. Decisions taken at the meeting will be referred to as the ‘Pyeongchang Road Map.’

The High-Level Segment, to be held 15-16 October, is expected to include discussions on: integrating biodiversity into the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and post-2015 development agenda; integrating national biodiversity strategies and action plans into national and local development and poverty eradication strategies and planning processes; nature-based solutions for global challenges; biodiversity and creative economy; and peace and biodiversity. The main outcome of the High-Level Segment is expected to be the ‘Gangwon Declaration on Biodiversity for Sustainable Development.’

According to the CBD, delegates at COP 12 will also engage in substantial discussions on ocean biodiversity. The meeting will address the description of ecologically or biologically significant marine areas (EBSAs); priority actions to achieve Aichi Biodiversity Target 10 for coral reefs; the effects of ocean acidification on biodiversity; underwater noise; and activities within the framework of the Sustainable Ocean Initiative (SOI).

In addition, the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization (ABS) will enter into force during the meeting, and governments will hold its first Meeting of the Parties (COP-MOP 1), from 13 -17 October. This meeting will consider the status of the ratification and implementation of the Nagoya Protocol on ABS and address items related to: the ABS Clearing-house and information-sharing; monitoring and reporting; compliance; model contractual clauses and other voluntary instruments; capacity building; awareness-raising; the need for, and modalities of, a global multilateral benefit-sharing mechanism; and organizational, financial and budgetary matters.

Finally, a series of parallel meetings will also convene during the CBD COP 12, including: the Communication, Education and Public Awareness (CEPA) Fair; the Rio Conventions Pavilion; and the Biodiversity Summit for cities and sub-national governments (12-14 October 2014); and several exhibitions and side-events. [IISD RS coverage of CBD COP 12] [IISD RS article on High-Level Segment] [CBD Press Release] [UN Press Release] [IISD RS article on GBO-4]