29 September 2014: The seventh Meeting of the Parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (Cartagena Protocol COP/MOP 7) has opened in Pyeongchang, the Republic of Korea. It will be followed by the twelfth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD COP 12), which will run from 6-17 October 2014, also in Pyeongchang, and the first Meeting of the Parties to the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization (ABS) (NP COP/MOP 1), which will be held during the second week of CBD COP 12, from 13-17 October 2014.

The Cartagena Protocol COP/MOP 7 will address: handling, transport, packaging and identification of living modified organisms (LMOs); the Nagoya-Kuala Lumpur Supplementary Protocol on Liability and Redress; risk assessment and risk management; socioeconomic considerations; monitoring and reporting; the second assessment and review of the Protocol’s effectiveness; unintentional transboundary movements and emergency measures; and contained use of LMOs. The meeting will also hold a special session on implementation to share views and exchange experiences, focusing on ways to improve the integration of biosafety into relevant national development plans, and mobilize additional resources for implementation.

CBD COP 12 will consider a series of strategic, substantive, administrative and budgetary issues. Among several other items, the meeting is expected to conduct a mid-term review of progress towards the goals of the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020 and its Aichi Targets; review progress of implementation; and address 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; synthetic biology; and ecosystem conservation and restoration.

The NP COP/MOP 1 will exchange information and views on the status of the ratification and implementation of the Nagoya Protocol on ABS and will 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.

A series of parallel meetings include: the Communication, Education and Public Awareness (CEPA) Fair; the Rio Conventions Pavilion; the COP 12 High-level segment under the theme ‘Biodiversity for Sustainable Development’ (15-17 October 2014), which is expected to adopt the Gangwon Declaration; the Biodiversity Summit for cities and sub-national governments (12-14 October 2014); and several exhibitions and side-events. [IISD RS Coverage of Biosafety Protocol COP/MOP 7][IISD RS Coverage of CBD COP 12 and NP COP/MOP 1][Meetings’ Webpage] [IISD RS article on Gangwon Declaration] [IISD RS article on High-level Segment]