21 April 2011: The 19th meeting of the Plants Committee (PC 19) of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) convened from 18-21 April 2011, in Geneva, Switzerland. Among other agenda items, it considered the implications of climate change for science-based decision-making, and the activities of other multilateral environmental agreements that may be linked to climate change and CITES.

The US introduced a proposal jointly submitted with Canada and supported by Mexico to focus discussions on climate change impacts on specific science-based decision-making processes under CITES. Mexico clarified that these processes are non-detriment findings (NDFs), the Review of Significant Trade in Appendix II species (RST), and the periodic review of species included in the Appendices. The Africa representative proposed also including the criteria for CITES listing, and emphasized existing impacts of climate change on trade in invasive species.

OThe PC thus established an intersessional working group to: identify scientific aspects of the CITES text and COP resolutions that are actually or potentially affected by climate change; focus on criteria for species listing, NDFs, the periodic review, the RST, quotas, and trade in invasive alien species; and submit its findings to the joint meeting of the scientific committees with a view to a joint submission to 62nd meeting of the Standing Committee in 2012. The PC appointed the US as co-chair of the intersessional working group, noting that the other co-chair will be nominated by the 25th meeting of the Animals Committee (18-22 July 2011, Geneva, Switzerland). [IISD RS Earth Negotiations Bulletin reporting]