Information

COP 2 Decision II/4
Retired sections: paragraphs 2-4.

WAYS AND MEANS TO PROMOTE AND FACILITATE ACCESS TO, AND TRANSFER AND DEVELOPMENT OF TECHNOLOGY

The Conference of the Parties,

1. Takes note of recommendation I/4 on ways and means to promote and facilitate access to, and transfer and development of technology as envisaged in Articles 16 and 18 of the Convention, adopted by the first meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice, held in Paris, at the headquarters of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization, from 4 to 8 September 1995;

2. Endorses paragraph 1(d) of recommendation I/4, requesting the Executive Secretary to prepare, for consideration by the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice at its second meeting, a substantive and well-focused background document, taking into account the views expressed by States Parties and observers during the first meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice, the first and second meetings of the Conference of the Parties, including those decisions related to the clearing-house mechanism, and the deliberations of the first and second sessions of the Intergovernmental Committee on the Convention on Biological Diversity, and of the open-ended Intergovernmental Meeting of Scientific Experts on Biological Diversity, held in Mexico in April 1994, including its annexed UNEP Expert Panel Reports I to IV. Such a background document should consider the importance of biotechnology to the conservation and sustainable use of biological diversity, especially to developing countries, as well as the enabling roles of capacity-building and the provision of adequate financial resources;

3. Endorses also paragraph 1(e) of recommendation I/4, requesting the Executive Secretary to invite relevant submissions by States Parties, observers and relevant international and non-governmental organizations, including, in particular, the Commission on Sustainable Development and the private sector and to take these into account in the preparation of the background document. The document should also take due cognisance of regional and subregional inputs and comments. The background document should identify key priority issues relating to opportunities for and obstacles to the transfer of technology for consideration by the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice;

4. Requests the second meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice to submit a detailed report to the third meeting of the Conference of the Parties.