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United Nations Environment Programme
  • Overview
  • Documents
  • Background
  • Participation
  • Preparatory Process
  • Outcomes

The ‘Bern III Conference on Cooperation among the biodiversity-related conventions for the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework’ took place from 23 to 25 January 2024. The Conference was hosted by the Government of Switzerland at the Universal Postal Union (Bern, Switzerland). It was organized by the United Nations Environment Programme working in close collaboration with the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity and the United Nations Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre.  

Responding to intergovernmental calls to build on the so-called “Bern Process” and continue to strengthen cooperation and collaboration between multilateral environmental agreements (MEAs), the Bern III Conference aimed to contribute to the efficient and effective implementation of the CBD Kuming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework by identifying opportunities to drive and coordinate an inclusive, collaborative approach towards implementation of the framework while respecting the respective mandates of biodiversity-related conventions and other relevant multilateral agreements. Within this context, the primary objectives of the conference were to: 

  • Identify opportunities to strengthen cooperation and collaboration among MEA parties in the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework at all appropriate levels. 
  • Make recommendations on further steps that could be taken to strengthen cooperation and collaboration among biodiversity-related conventions and other relevant MEAs.  
  • Share practical experiences of cooperation and collaboration in implementing MEAs that could be scaled up as appropriate.   

The Bern Process

The so-called “Bern Process” seeks to foster dialogue, cooperation, and collaboration between biodiversity-related conventions, contributing to the effective and synergistic development and implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.  

Bern I

The Bern I conference was held in Bern (Switzerland) on 10-12 June 2019. The consultation was hosted by the Government of Switzerland and co-chaired by Switzerland and South Africa. It brought together more than one hundred and twenty participants, including representatives of parties to the eight global conventions represented in the Liaison Group of Biodiversity-related Conventions and the two Rio Conventions, as well as representatives and technical experts from the secretariats of relevant organizations, conventions, and other processes. During this meeting, participants discussed areas of cross-cutting importance to the conventions they were representing, possible elements that could be included in the post-2020 global biodiversity framework, and ways for other MEAs to contribute to the preparation of the framework. The outcomes of Bern I informed the co-chairs of the CBD Open-ended Working Group on the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework in its first meeting (OEWG-1).  

The CBD OEWG-1 welcomed the offer from the Government of Switzerland to host a workshop as a follow-up to Bern I. Responding to requests for further consultation, the ‘Second Consultation Workshop of Biodiversity-related Conventions on the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework’

Report Bern I Consultation Workshop

Bern II

Bern II conference took place from 18 January to 2 February 2021. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the meeting was held online and comprised three live virtual sessions and a virtual discussion forum. The consultation was hosted by the Government of Switzerland and co-led by Cambodia and the European Union. It brought together representatives of parties and secretariats of thirteen MEAs, as well as invited observers from international organizations and non-governmental organizations. Bern II aimed to continue facilitating the engagement of other MEAs, in particular biodiversity-related conventions, in the development of the post-2020 global biodiversity framework. Discussions focused on concrete elements including common areas of work that could be included in the framework, as well as mechanisms for the monitoring and review of its implementation. Furthermore, participants identified ways through which parties and secretariats of conventions other than the CBD could contribute towards the framework's development and collaborate on its operationalization. A total of twelve informal conclusions were formulated and shared with a range of MEA advisory and governing bodies. 

Following the adoption of the Kuming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework in December 2022, UNEP organized the ‘Workshop on Cooperation among the Biodiversity-related Conventions for the Implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, in preparation for the Bern III Conference,’ (Bogis-Bossey Expert Meeting). The meeting was convened in response to intergovernmental calls to build on the Bern Process and continue to strengthen cooperation and collaboration between MEAs, including CBD COP decision 15/13. The meeting took place on 27-30 June 2023 in Bogis-Bossey (Switzerland). It was organized in collaboration with the Swiss Federal Office for the Environment. It aimed to gather advice on the aim, scope, agenda, participation, and modalities for a conference to support the Bern Process. The meeting also considered the lessons learned from the Bern I and Bern II Consultation Workshops, paving the way for the Bern III Conference. Following the recommendations from Bogis-Bossey, the ‘Bern Conference on Cooperation among the biodiversity-related conventions for the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework’ took place from 23 to 25 January 2024 in Bern (Switzerland). 

Since the first consultation workshop was held in 2019, the role of the Bern Process has been recognized by a number of MEA governing bodies. Through their decisions, several governing bodies have invited UNEP to build on the Bern Process and continue to strengthen cooperation and coordination among biodiversity-related conventions. 

Report Bern II Consultation Workshop

The Conference was convened in person with participation by invitation only. It was chaired by Clarisse Kehler Siebert from Sweden and Camila Isabel Zepeda Lizama from Mexico, with the support of professional facilitators. Amongst its one-hundred and thirty-three participants, the conference included representatives of parties and secretariats from sixty-nine countries and sixteen MEAs, in addition to a range of other stakeholders, organizations, and individual experts. 

Online Resources 

UNEP’s Data Reporting Tool for MEAs (DaRT) provides private and secure national working space for parties to biodiversity-related MEAs to collect, organize, store, and share knowledge and information that are useful for planning, monitoring, reporting, and review. Additionally, DaRT also hosts a compendia of guidance, including information on (1) key global databases related to biodiversity-related conventions, (2) capturing, managing and using data and information, and (3) achieving synergies among biodiversity-related conventions at the national level. Guidance shared by the MEA secretariats at the Bern III Conference will be uploaded to the compendia, as appropriate.  

The compendia can be accessed here: https://dart.informea.org/compendia   

If you have any questions or comments, please get in touch with Ms. Diane Klaimi 

Preparatory webinars  

Based on the deliberations during the Bogis-Bossey expert meeting, two webinars were organized in advance of the Bern III Conference. Their goal was to inform invited participants on key issues likely to be discussed and thereby help build a common understanding. The first webinar was held in December 2023  and covered the following matters: perspectives from the host country on the Bern Process; the format of the conference; UNEP’s role in facilitating MEA synergies; an overview of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and related CBD COP decisions; and perspectives from the conference co-chairs. The second webinar was held in early January and addressed the following: an illustration of the potential relationships between MEAs; alignment between the Global Framework on Chemicals and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework; and an introduction to the Co-chairs’ paper.  

  • Click here to download the slides from the first webinar.  
  • Click here to download the slides from the second webinar. 

Information and meeting documents 

A number of documents were prepared or identified in advance of the meeting and made available in the “documents” tab above. These include:  

  • Co-chairs’ paper titled “Strengthening Cooperation among Biodiversity-Related Conventions for Implementing the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework: Reflections and Options from the Bern III Co-Chairs.” 
  • Information paper 1. This document summarizes mandates relating to the Bern Process and Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework adopted by the governing bodies of participating MEAs.  
  • Information paper 2. This document lists upcoming meetings of MEA advisory and governing bodies, together with other conferences, which are relevant for the participating MEAs. 
  • Information paper 3. This document comprises a cross-mapping of MEA strategies identifying key entry points for cooperation and collaboration amongst MEAs in implementing the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. 

Meeting report 

The outcomes of the Bern III Conference, including the actions consolidated by the co-chairs based on the meeting discussions, were captured in the meeting report available below.  

This meeting report has been shared with the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD/SBI/4/INF/15) and the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands of International Importance Especially as Waterfowl Habitat (Ramsar/SC63/INF/4).Furthermore, an up to date version of the cross-mapping paper has been prepared for CBD SBI-4 for the information of participants (CBD/SBI/4/INF/13).  . 

As part of the preparatory process for the conference, participants were invited to share case studies on good collaborative practice at the subnational, national, regional and global levels. Participants had the opportunity to provide examples of relevant experience through a dedicated online form, as well as to prepare case study posters. UNEP received 45 case studies, including 42 responses to the online questionnaire and 35 posters. These materials are available below: 

Side event at the sixth session of the United Nations Environment Assembly 

The Governments of Mexico, Sweden, and Switzerland and the United Nations Environment Programme organized a high-level side event at the sixth session of the Untied Nations Environment Assembly. The side event was convened on 29 February 2024 in collaboration with MEA parties and secretariats. It presented the outcomes from the Bern II Conference alongside the views and perspectives of the parties and secretariats of multilateral environmental agreements. More information about the side event is available here.  

Click here to access the video recording of the session.  

Side event at the fourth meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Implementation of the CBD 

A side event on “Cooperation among biodiversity-related conventions and other relevant agreements in support of the KM-GBF: Insights from the Bern III Conference” was held on 26 May 2024 at the margins of the 4th meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Implementation of the Convention on Biological Diversity. The event presented the outcome of the Bern III Conference and initiated a conversation with CBD Parties and observers on cooperation practices and perspectives including in the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF). More information about this side event is available here. A brief summary of the event can be accessed here.  

Food Production
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Each year one third of global food production is lost or wasted.

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