20 December 2010: The UN General Assembly (UNGA) adopted the Report of its Second Committee on sustainable development (A/65/436) in a plenary session on 20 December 2010. The Report included recommended resolutions regarding combating desertification, the Decade of Biodiversity, the Intergovernmental Science Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), and protection of coral reefs, among others.

On combating desertification, the UNGA adopted by consensus the draft resolution recommended by the Second Committee (65/160) on Implementation of the UN Convention to Combat Desertification in Those Countries Experiencing Serious Drought and/or Desertification, Particularly in Africa (UNCCD). It agreed to hold a one-day, high-level meeting, on 19 September 2011, on “addressing desertification, land degradation and drought in the context of sustainable development and poverty eradication,” in order to help raise awareness at the highest level, reaffirm the fulfillment of all commitments to the Convention and its 10-year strategic plan and framework (2008-2018), and ensure a higher priority for desertification, land degradation and drought at the UN Conference on Sustainable Development (UNCSD or Rio+20).

Adopting the recommended draft resolution on the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) (65/161), the Assembly declared 2011-2020 as the UN Decade on Biodiversity and asked the Secretary-General to coordinate UN activities in that regard.

Adopting by consensus the report of the Governing Council of the UN Environment Programme (UNEP) on its 11th special session (draft resolution 65/162), the Assembly called on the Council to take the necessary steps to set up the IPBES, which entails convening a plenary meeting to determine modalities and institutional arrangements for the planned body. Outstanding questions include which country will house it and which institutions will host it. UNGA approval was the final step needed in order for UNEP to create the body. UNEP will be the interim Secretariat. Following the action, Bolivia, on behalf of Cuba, Nicaragua, and Venezuela, expressed concern about reaching agreement on the modalities and arrangements for the IPBES before creating it and stressed that all related actions must respect the principle of State sovereignty over natural resources.

The Assembly also adopted Resolution 65/150 on “Protection of coral reefs for sustainable livelihoods and development,” calling on States to take comprehensive, integrated approaches to managing and enhancing coral reefs and related ecosystems, as well as immediate action to respond to climate change and ocean acidification. [Report of Second Committee on Sustainable Development] [Addendum on Implementation of UNCCD (A/65/436/Add.5)] [Addendum on CBD (A/65/436/Add.6)] [Resolution 65/161 on CBD, issued 11 March 2011] [Addendum on UNEP GC’s 11th Special Session (A/65/436/Add.7)] [Resolution 65/162 on UNEP, issued 15 March 2011] [UN Press Release on IPBES] [Summary of GA Plenary Session]