A three-day preparatory meeting for the Sixteenth Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity was held in Amman, Jordan from 1 to 3 October 2024, bringing together representatives of Arab States and international and regional organizations across the Arab region.
The United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) – Regional Office for West Asia, the General Secretariat of the League of Arab States, the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity, organized the meeting in collaboration with the Ministry of Environment in Jordan and the Arab Organization for Agricultural Development.
The aim of the meeting was to provide a forum for Arab countries representatives for an open and constructive discussion on the various agenda items of the upcoming COP16, gain a deeper understanding of collective positions, and explore potential avenues for negotiations on the different issues at hand. The meeting also included a workshop focused on developing the capacity of the participants on Digital Sequence Information (DSI).
The current loss of 10 million hectares of healthy and productive land around the globe each year has a destabilizing effect on ecosystems and the services they provide, while also facilitating the loss of biodiversity. It is therefore essential to adopt a comprehensive approach, as set out in the Global Biodiversity Framework to ensure sustainable production and consumption, phase out harmful subsidies, and ensure the sustainable management of biodiversity.
“The Global Biodiversity Framework's 30x30 target provides an inspiring model for national and regional roadmaps. Recognizing the interconnectedness of biodiversity loss and climate change, we must work together to protect transboundary wildlife, ecosystems, and their services. Mainstreaming biodiversity requires a collaborative approach, involving regional cooperation and, at the national level, a whole-of-government and whole-of-society effort. This means active participation from all sectors, levels of government, civil society, Indigenous peoples, and local communities”, said Sami Dimassi, UNEP Representative and Regional Director for West Asia.
The year 2024 is the one which witnessed the holding of all three Rio Conventions COPs: the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the United Nations Convention to Combat Desertification (UNCCD). This convergence provides a unique opportunity to address the interrelated challenges of biodiversity loss, climate change, and desertification in a coordinated manner, considering the interrelated objectives and shared benefits of the conventions.
For more information please contact Hoda El Turk, UNEP Regional Information Officer for West Asia at elturk@un.org
