The Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice recommends that the Conference of the Parties at its tenth meeting adopt a decision along the following lines:
1.Decides not to add any of the proposed new and emerging issues relating to the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity to the agenda of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice;
2.Noting
decision IX/29 which sets out the criteria for new and emerging issues, and recognizing that the issues of ocean acidification, Arctic biodiversity, ocean noise, and ground level ozone meet the criteria set out by the Conference of the Parties for consideration as new and emerging issues and
further recognizing that ocean acidification and ocean noise do not constitute new issues,
requests the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice to:
(a)Consider the impacts of ocean acidification on marine biodiversity and habitats as part of the ongoing activities under the programme of work on marine and coastal biological diversity, in accordance with the provision in paragraph 4 of
decision IX/20;
(b)Take into account, in the implementation of the programmes of work on protected areas and on marine and coastal biodiversity, the impact of ocean noise on marine protected areas and to consider the scientific information on underwater noise and its impacts on marine and coastal biodiversity and habitats that will be made available by the Executive Secretary prior to the eleventh meeting of the Conference of the Parties;
3.Invites the Arctic Council to provide relevant information and assessments of Arctic biodiversity, in particular information generated through the Circumpolar Biodiversity Monitoring Program (CBMP) of the Arctic Council's Conservation of Arctic Flora and Fauna Working Group, for consideration by the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice;
4.Invites Parties, other Governments and relevant organizations to submit information on synthetic biology and geo-engineering in accordance with the procedures set out in
decision IX/29, for the consideration by the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice, while applying the precautionary approach to the field release of synthetic life, cell or genome into the environment;]
5.Invites Parties, other Governments and relevant organizations to consider the issues identified as possible new and emerging issues relating to the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of genetic resources when implementing existing programmes of work, guidelines and principles under the Convention as well as under other forums and processes;
6.Requests the Executive Secretary, when inviting future submissions of proposals for new and emerging issues relating to the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity and the fair and equitable sharing of benefits arising from the use of genetic resources, to encourage Parties and other proponents to follows the terms and procedures set out in
decision IX/29;
7.[Further requests the Executive Secretary to invite relevant organizations to submit technical information on the impact of ground-level ozone on biodiversity and compile [and analyse] this information and report to the Subsidiary Body at a meeting prior to the eleventh meeting of the Conference of the Parties so as to facilitate consideration of the available scientific information concerning the impact of ground-level ozone on biodiversity.]
