17 February 2015: The Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) has issued a series of notifications calling for views and information on new and emerging issues to be considered by the CBD Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA), the potential impacts of geoengineering on biodiversity, and other climate change-related activities, including experiences with ecosystem-based approaches to climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction.

In the notification on new and emerging issues relating to the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of genetic resources, the CBD Secretariat invited submission, by 15 September 2015, of proposals for new and emerging issues to be considered by SBSTTA, in accordance with the criteria identified in Decision IX/29.

The notification on geoengineering calls for identification of potential peer reviewers for an update on the potential impacts of climate geoengineering on biodiversity and the regulatory framework relevant to the CBD. The update will be prepared for consideration by SBSTTA 19 to be held in November 2015. It also seeks further views by Parties, other governments, indigenous and local communities and other stakeholders on the potential impacts of geoengineering on biodiversity, and associated social, economic and cultural impacts. Additional submissions are invited on measures to ensure that no climate-related geoengineering activities that may affect biodiversity take place until there is an adequate scientific basis to justify them and appropriate consideration of the associated risks. Submissions may also address the exception for small-scale scientific research studies.

The notification on biodiversity and climate change and disaster risk reduction calls for views on: possible indicators to assess the contribution of reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation and the role of conservation, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks (REDD+) in developing countries to achieving CBD objectives; potential mechanisms to monitor impacts on biodiversity from REDD+ activities and other ecosystem-based approaches for climate change mitigation; experiences with regard to the contribution of REDD+ activities to the achievement of CBD objectives and the Strategic Plan; experiences with ecosystem-based approaches to climate change adaptation; and experiences with ecosystem-based approaches to disaster risk reduction.

Finally, the CBD Secretariat has published a notification compiling existing tools, guidance and information related to biodiversity and climate change, and has encouraged CBD Parties to use it for the development of their Intended Nationally Determined Contributions to be communicated in the context of the development of the climate agreement to be reached in Paris, France. [CBD Notification on New and Emerging Issues][CBD Notification on Geoengineering][CBD Notification on Climate Change and Disaster Risk Reduction][CBD Notification on Tools, Guidance and Information on Biodiversity and Climate Change]