Climate change: terms of reference of an Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group
The Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice,
Recalling paragraph 14 of decision VII/15, in which the Conference of the Parties requested the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice, as the next stage of its work on the interlinkages between biodiversity and climate change to develop for consideration of the Conference of the Parties advice or guidance for promoting synergy among activities to address climate change at the national, regional and international level where appropriate, including activities to combat desertification and land degradation, and activities for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity,
Also recalling paragraph 15 of decision VII/15, inviting the conferences of the parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification to collaborate with the Convention on Biological Diversity through the Joint Liaison Group, as appropriate, in developing guidance to Parties in implementing activities that are mutually supportive of the objectives of the three Rio conventions at the local, subnational and national levels,
Recognizing that the Conference of the Parties, in its decision VII/30 on the Strategic Plan, decided to develop a framework to enhance the evaluation of achievements and progress in the implementation of the Strategic Plan, that includes activities aimed at maintaining and enhancing resilience of the components of biodiversity to adapt to climate change,
Recognizing also that the report Interlinkages between Biological Diversity and Climate Change: Advice on the Integration of Biodiversity Considerations into the Implementation of the United Nations Convention on Climate Change and its Kyoto Protocol [19]focuses on the links to, and impacts on, biodiversity in relation to mitigation options but assesses, to a lesser extent, the integration of, and impacts on, biodiversity into adaptation activities,
Decides to establish an Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group on Biodiversity and Climate Change on the basis of the following terms of reference in order to start addressing decision VII/15:
1. Drawing on the report of the Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group on Biological Diversity and Climate Change and other relevant documents including the reports of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and the Millennium Ecosystem Assessment, the Arctic Climate Impact Assessment, and guided by relevant outcomes from the Subsidiary Body for Scientific and Technological Advice and the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change and on other material as appropriate, and by decisions VII/15 on biodiversity and climate change and VII/26 on cooperation with other conventions and international organizations, the Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group will:
(a) Undertake a supplementary assessment on the integration of biodiversity considerations in the implementation of adaptation activities to climate change at the local, subnational, national, subregional, regional, and international levels, whenever appropriate drawing on case-studies and seeking also to identify and avoid duplication in activities between the Rio conventions. In particular, the assessment shall contemplate:
(i) The identification of the major biological factors that contribute to ecosystem resilience under the current and projected impacts of climate change, and the identification of particular adaptation activities carried out under the current thematic areas of the Convention: agricultural biodiversity, dry and sub-humid lands biodiversity, forest biodiversity, inland waters biodiversity, marine and coastal biodiversity, mountain biodiversity, and island biodiversity;
(ii) The potential consequences for biodiversity of those particular adaptation activities, taking into account, but not limited to, technical and technological interventions, highlighting gaps in current scientific knowledge and identifying research needs; and
(iii) The role of biodiversity as an adaptation element by itself;
(b) Based on existing work, including the information contained in the report of the Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group on Biological Diversity and Climate Change and the above supplementary assessment, as well as other relevant sources referred to in the chapeau to the present paragraph, prepare advice or guidance under the thematic areas of the Convention, for use at local, national, regional and international level as appropriate, for planning and/or implementing activities to address adaptation to climate change and that interlink across climate change, biodiversity conservation and sustainable use and land degradation and desertification. The draft advice or guidance may include relevant tools and technologies, including those under the Convention, and take into account traditional knowledge, innovations, and practices of indigenous and local communities, on the integration of biodiversity considerations in the design, implementation, and monitoring of projects aimed at addressing climate change.
Duration of work
2. The work of the Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group should be initiated as soon as possible and completed on time for consideration by the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice at its eleventh meeting.
Annex II
PROVISIONAL AGENDA FOR THE ELEVENTH MEETING OF THE
SUBSIDIARY BODY ON SCIENTIFIC, TECHNICAL AND TECHNOLOGICAL ADVICE
I. ORGANIZATIONAL AND REPORTING MATTERS
1. Opening of the meeting.
2. Organizational matters:
2.1. Election of officers;
2.2. Adoption of the agenda;
2.3. Organization of work.
3. Progress report on the implementation of the programmes of work of the Convention.
II. SUBSTANTIVE ISSUES:
4. In-depth review of programmes of work:
4.1. Dry and sub-humid lands biodiversity;
4.2. Global Taxonomy Initiative.
5. Strategic issues for evaluating progress or supporting implementation of the Strategic Plan, including the 2010 biodiversity target, and contributions to achievement of the Millennium Development Goals:
5.1. Second Global Biodiversity Outlook: review of the draft;
5.2. Millennium Ecosystem Assessment: review of the findings, in particular the synthesis report on biodiversity prepared for the Convention;
5.3. Incentive measures:
(a) Proposals on the application of positive incentive measures and their integration into relevant policies, programmes or strategies;
(b) Proposals on valuation of biodiversity and biodiversity resources and functions;
5.4. Mountain biodiversity: development of goals and sub-targets for the programme of work in the framework of the 2010 target.
6. Other scientific and technical issues as determined by the Conference of the Parties:
6.1. Marine and coastal biodiversity: identification of technical options for the conservation and sustainable use of deep seabed genetic resources beyond national jurisdiction;
6.2. Inland water ecosystems:
(a) Proposals on matters identified in paragraphs 3 and 16 of decision VII/4 relating to national reporting on inland water ecosystems;
(b) Consideration of matters relating to paragraphs 29 and 30 of decision VII/4 on criteria for the designation of Ramsar sites in the context of the Convention on Biological Diversity and guidelines for their application;
(c) Ways and means for making the review of the implementation of the programme of work on inland water ecosystems more comprehensive;
6.3. Forest biological diversity:
(a) Consideration of matters arising from the implementation of paragraph 19 of decision VI/22;
(b) Consideration of the report of the Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group on the Review of Implementation of the Programme of Work on Forest Biological Diversity;
6.4. Invasive alien species: further consideration of gaps and inconsistencies in the international regulatory frameworks;
6.5. Sustainable use: further consolidation of the work on the use of terms and on associated instruments;
6.6. Guidance for promoting synergy among activities addressing biological diversity, desertification, land degradation and climate change.
III. FINAL MATTERS
7. Preparation for the twelfth and thirteenth meetings of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice:
8. Other matters.
9. Adoption of the report.
10. Closure of the meeting.
[19]/ CBD Technical Series No. 10, available at http://www.biodiv.org/doc/publications/cbd-ts-10.pdf.
