To inform the discussions on the global review of collective progress in the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF) during the 27th meeting of its Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA), the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) published a report updating on the Bern Process – a synergies initiative seeking to promote cooperation among conventions and international organizations.

Dated 19 October 2025, the ‘Report of the Bogis-Bossey expert workshop on the Bern Process and the contribution of multilateral environmental agreements to the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework’ (CBD/SBSTTA/27/INF/15), prepared by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), includes two outcomes:

• Suggestions on ways for multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs) to feed information into the global review of collective progress in the implementation of the GBF, including the global report, to be conducted at the 17th and 19th meetings of the CBD Conference of the Parties (COP); and
• Considerations for the planning of future activities in the context of the Bern process, including a potential convening of a Bern IV Conference in 2027.

The Bogis-Bossey Expert Workshop convened in Bogis-Bossey, Switzerland, from 27-28 August 2025. It sought to support the global review of collective progress in the implementation of the GBF by facilitating information exchange and promoting complementarity of inputs from the MEAs to the global review.

Summarizing the main ideas emerging from the discussions, the report highlights the Bern Process as a unique, party-led process. It underscores the need to communicate and strengthen the use of tools and guidance for synergistic implementation of MEAs – as well as of indicators used synergistically at national level, such as the GBF indicators.

For the global report and wider review of collective progress in the implementation of the GBF, the report recommends that:

• MEA inputs complement, rather than duplicate, national reports;
• MEAs coordinate on preparing a concise compilation of MEA contributions to the GBF implementation as part of the global report, highlighting the mapping of GBF targets across MEAs, developed by the Bern Process, as potentially useful in this effort;
• MEA information be integrated throughout the global report, making visible the relevant MEA contributions across the GBF.

The report notes that the monitoring and reporting processes currently underway in many MEAs have some overlap but do not completely align with the GBF monitoring framework indicators. It suggests MEAs contribute to the global review through mentoring, capacity building, and supporting exchanges among parties on the reporting process.

To continue a strategic, sustainable Bern Process, the report points to the need for regular intersessional work while avoiding duplication with other synergies initiatives. It highlights a roadmap of possible Bern Process activities initiated during the workshop, which identifies priority needs and practical actions, including “deep dives” into selected subjects to showcase the value of synergies and available tools from multiple MEA communities.

The report’s findings were also promoted at a 23 October side event during SBSTTA 27. [Publication: Report of the Bogis-Bossey expert workshop on the Bern Process and the contribution of multilateral environmental agreements to the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework]