22 September 2010: A high-level meeting of the UN General Assembly was held on 22 September 2010, in New York, as a contribution to the International Year of Biodiversity. At the event, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon noted that conserving the planet’s species and habitats is central toachieving sustainable development and the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). Following a general discussion, thematic panels were held on the way forward in achieving the three objectives of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), and the internationally agreed biodiversity goals and targets. Participants highlighted, among others: the need for political impetus and flexibility in the negotiations on a draft protocol on access and benefit-sharing; the opportunity to adopt an ambitious post-2010 strategic plan; and the importance of creating an intergovernmental science-policy platform on biodiversity and ecosystem services (IPBES).

A summary of the discussions will be transmitted to the tenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP 10) to the CBD, to be held from 18-29 October 2010, in Nagoya, Japan. [UN Press Release] [High-level Meeting Website] [Background Document A/64/865] [IISD RS Coverage]