17 November 2008: Addressing the first meeting of the Ad Hoc
Technical Expert Group (AHTEG) on Biodiversity and Climate Change of the
Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), which is meeting from 17-21 November
2008, in London, UK, CBD Executive Secretary Ahmed Djoghlaf recalled that the
Group’s objective is to provide biodiversity-relevant information to the UNFCCC
through the provision of scientific and technical advice and assessment on the
integration of the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity into
climate change mitigation and adaptation activities.

He noted that the meeting
will focus on two key challenges, namely: identifying the impacts of climate
change on biodiversity, including recognizing vulnerable components of
biodiversity; and further elaborating the positive and negative links between
biodiversity and climate change mitigation. He stressed that the AHTEG
deliberations will form a critical contribution to the UNFCCC’s evolving processes,
helping to build efficient carbon markets and effective response mechanisms. [The
Statement] [Meeting
Documents]