Joint Liaison Group

In August 2001, a Joint Liaison Group (JLG) between the three Rio Conventions was established as an informal forum for exchanging information, exploring opportunities for synergistic activities and increasing coordination. The JLG comprises the officers of the Conventions’ scientific subsidiary bodies, the Executive Secretaries, and members of the secretariats.

Each of the Conference of the Parties of the three conventions has encouraged the JLG to facilitate cooperation at the national and international levels, to identify possible areas of joint activities, and to enhance coordination (CBD decision VI/20, CCD decision 12/COP.6, FCCC decision 13/CP.8). At its fifth meeting in Bonn, Germany (January 2004), the JLG identified three issues as priorities for joint collaboration: adaptation, capacity building and technology transfer.

Terms of Reference and Modus Operandi

The Terms of Reference and Modus Operandi were initially discussed by the Executive Secretaries of the three Rio Conventions at the 11th meeting of the JLG. The Terms of Reference and Modus Operandi were formally approved at the 12th meeting of the JLG.

Joint Statement by the Executive Secretaries of the Rio Conventions calling for the establishment of a Project Preparation Facility (PPF) to increase financing for large-scale, transformative projects which integrate action on land degradation, biodiversity loss, and global warming

Meetings and reports

• 2016 – Fourteenth meeting of the JLG, Bonn, Germany, 24 August 2016
  Summary Report

• 2014 – Thirteenth meeting of the JLG, New York, USA, 24 September 2014
  Summary Report

• 2013 – Twelfth meeting of the JLG, Bonn, Germany, 22 January 2013
  Summary Report

• 2011 – Eleventh meeting of the JLG, Bonn, Germany, 11 April 2011
  Summary Report

• 2010 – Tenth meeting of the JLG, New York, United States of America, 23 September 2010
  Summary Report

• 2009 - Ninth meeting of the JLG, New York, United States, 14 May 2009
  Summary Report

• 2007 - Eighth meeting of the JLG, Madrid, Spain, 12 September
  Summary Report

• 2007 - Seventh meeting of the JLG, Bonn, Germany, 7 June
  Summary Report

• 2004 - Fifth meeting of the JLG, Bonn, Germany, 30 January
  Summary Report

• 2003 – Fourth meeting of the JLG, Bonn, Germany, 19 May
  Summary Report

• 2003
  The Executive Secretaries additionally met on the margins of the meeting of the Council of the Global Environment Facility (GEF) in Washington, D.C. in November 2003.

Options for collaboration

In line with the guidance provided by the bodies of the Rio Conventions, the JLG is developing a number of cooperative activities. Options for enhanced cooperation have already been identified by the three convention secretariats, as outlined in a joint paper, and include:

• Promotion of complementarity among the national biodiversity strategies and action plans (NBSAPs) under the CBD, the national action programmes (NAPs) of the UNCCD, and the national adaptation programmes of action (NAPAs) for least developed countries of the UNFCCC
• Collaboration among national focal points
• Collaboration among the scientific subsidiary bodies to the conventions, the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA) to the CBD, the Committee for Science and Technology (CST) to the UNCCD, and the SBSTA to the UNFCCC
• Development of joint work programmes or plans, of joint workshops (at the international level) and of joint capacity-building activities (including training, and local, national and regional workshops to promote synergy in implementation)
• Case studies on interlinkages
• Facilitation of exchange of information and experience, including improving inter-accessibility of available web-based data
• Cooperation in communication, education and public awareness programmes
• Cooperation in the development of advice, methodologies and tools

Rio Conventions Joint Publications

The Rio Conventions - Action on Adaptation

The Rio Conventions - Action on Forests

The Rio Conventions - Action on Gender