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SBSTTA 18 Recommendation XVIII/10

XVIII/10.Biodiversity and climate change

The Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice
1.Takes note of the progress report prepared by the Executive Secretary contained in document UNEP/CBD/SBSTTA/18/13;
2.Notes with great concern the findings of the fourth edition of the Global Biodiversity Outlook with regard to the impacts of climate change on biodiversity, which indicate that current progress is not sufficient to achieve Aichi Biodiversity Targets 5, 10 and 15, with concerning consequences for the ability of biodiversity and biodiversity-based livelihoods to adapt to the impacts of climate change.
3.Also notes with great concern the findings of Working Groups I, II and III of the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change regarding the impacts of climate change on biodiversity and ecosystem services upon which society depends.
4.Recommends that the Conference of the Parties at its twelfth meeting adopt a decision along the following lines:
The Conference of the Parties,
Acknowledging that while biodiversity and ecosystems are vulnerable to climate change, the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity and restoration of ecosystems play a significant role for climate change mitigation and adaptation, combating desertification and disaster risk reduction,
Recalling the expanded programme of work on forest biodiversity, contained in the annex to decision VI/22, and in particular Programme Element 1, Goal 2, Objective 3, to mitigate the negative impacts of climate change on forest biodiversity,
Also recalling decisions IX/16, X/33, XI/19, XI/20 and XI/21,
1.Takes note of Resolution LP.4(8) on the amendment to the London Protocol (1996) to regulate the placement of matter for ocean fertilization and other marine geoengineering activities, adopted in October 2013, and invites Parties to the London Protocol to ratify this amendment and other governments to apply measures in line with this, as appropriate;
2.Encourages Parties and invites other Governments to integrate ecosystem-based approaches into their national policies and programmes related to climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction in the context the Hyogo Framework for Action 2005 – 2015 endorsed by the United Nations General Assembly in resolution A/Res/60/195 and its revised Framework to be adopted at the 3rd World Conference on Disaster Risk Reduction;
3.Requests the Executive Secretary to promote ecosystem-based approaches to climate change adaptation and disaster risk reduction, taking advantage of opportunities presented by relevant processes and forums;
4.[Welcomes the Warsaw Framework for REDD plus, 60 agreed at the 19th session of the Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change in 2013, and the methodological guidance on the implementation of REDD+ activities that it provides];
5.[Encourages Parties and invites other Governments and relevant organizations to promote and implement ecosystem-based approaches to climate change adaptation and mitigation and disaster risk reduction];
6.[Requests the Executive Secretary:]
(a)[To develop advice including from pilot experiences, on how Parties can be best encouraged to maximize biodiversity related benefits of REDD+ activities and prepare a draft recommendation for consideration by the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice at a meeting prior to the thirteenth meeting of the Conference of Parties;]
(b)[To provide an assessment report on whether and, if so, what kind of additional guidance is requested by REDD+ as well as donor countries and organizations, and, depending on the outcome of the assessment, to prepare a draft recommendation for consideration by the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice at a future meeting prior the thirteenth meeting of the Conference of Parties;]
(c)[To promote non-market based approaches as an alternative mechanism to strengthen multiple components in forests and as a holistic strategy for sustainable use of biodiversity thereby contributing to the consolidation of joint mechanisms for climate change mitigation and adaptation.]
XVIII/9XVIII/11

60REDD plus is used as a shorthand for "reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, conservation of forest carbon stocks, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of forest carbon stocks in developing countries", consistent with paragraph 70 of decision 1/CP.16 of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). The acronym REDD+ is used for convenience only, without any attempt to pre-empt ongoing or future negotiations under the UNFCCC.