2 August 2011: The Joint Liaison Group (JLG) of the three Rio Conventions – the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), UN Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD), and UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) – held its 11th meeting, and agreed that terms of reference should be developed to outline the overarching principles of the JLG’s operation and further define its modus operandi. The report of the meeting is now available.

Held on 11 April 2011, in Bonn, Germany, the meeting aimed to take stock of the activities agreed upon at the JLG’s 10th meeting and to clarify how to address proposals for joint activities as an outcome of mandates given to the JLG by the respective Conferences of the Parties (COPs). During the meeting, the series of regional and sub-regional capacity-building workshops organized by the CBD was identified as a unique opportunity to promote synergies in implementation of the three Conventions through a combined process of review, alignment and elaboration of their planning instruments.

It was further agreed to: showcase gender in the context of the Ecosystem Pavilion at each meeting of the COPs, and organize a joint side event on gender and forward the report of the event to Michelle Bachelet, Executive Director of UN Women; and organize a breakfast at the sidelines of the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD, or Rio+20) to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Rio Conventions, aiming to attract high-level “champions” to support the draft negotiation text on synergies among the Conventions.

Also discussed, inter alia, were: exchanges between the scientific subsidiary bodies of the Rio Conventions; harmonization of reporting requirements; and outreach and communication.

The JLG was established in August 2001 as an informal forum for exchanging information, exploring opportunities for synergistic activities and increasing coordination. [CBD Notification] [Summary Report of the 11th Meeting of the Joint Liaison Group]