12 October 2014: The Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources and the Fair and Equitable Sharing of Benefits Arising from their Utilization (ABS) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) entered into force on 12 October 2014, as the first meeting of the Conference of the Parties serving as the Meeting of the Parties to the Protocol (Nagoya Protocol COP/MOP 1) began.

In marking the entry into force, Braulio Ferreira de Souza Dias, CBD Executive Secretary, said that “the implementation of the Nagoya Protocol represents a milestone not only for the Convention on Biological Diversity, but also in the history of global governance for sustainable development.” He underscored that, “the Protocol will give us the opportunity to develop an economy that is more sustainable and where the value of natural resources will be truly acknowledged.” Achim Steiner, Executive Director of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) said that the entry into force “offers a reminder that the Aichi Targets are within reach.”

On its opening day, COP/MOP 1 adopted the agenda and rules of procedure, addressed organizational matters, heard the Open-Ended Ad Hoc Intergovernmental Committee for the Nagoya Protocol (ICNP) report and exchanged views on the status of implementation. In the afternoon, two Working Groups discussed, inter alia: the financial mechanism and resource mobilization; the Global Multilateral Benefit-sharing Mechanism; cooperation with other conventions under the Nagoya Protocol; and compliance.

The Nagoya Protocol offers a legal framework to ensure that the access and utilization of genetic resources coming from plants, animals, bacteria or other organisms for commercial, research or other purposes, occurs on the basis of ABS agreements, which require prior informed consent and mutually agreed terms between providers and users, according to the CBD. [CBD Press Release] [IISD RS coverage of COP-MOP1] [IISD RS article on ICNP 3] [IISD RS article on Nagoya Protocol] [UN News Feature] [UNEP Press Release] [GEF News]