PROG researchers contribute to Convention on Biological Diversity’s 2020 Ocean Pathways Week

PROG researchers co-authored and presented a policy brief on Regional Ocean Governance in the Post-2020 Biodiversity Framework at the Convention on Biological Diversity’s 2020 Ocean Pathways Week on 11-15 November 2019 in Montreal, Canada. 

IASS researchers Ben Boteler, Sebastian Unger and Carole Durussel contributed to a policy brief on the role of regional ocean governance in the Post-2020 Biodiversity Framework that provided ideas on opportunities for enhancing Regional Ocean Governance in the Post-2020 Biodiversity Framework. Dr. Carole Durussel, Co-Lead of the STRONG High Seas project, presented the outcomes of the brief during two workshops in Montreal, highlighting four approaches for strengthening the role of regional ocean governance in the Post-2020 Biodiversity Framework through: a) developing and implementing region specific and actionable targets; b) strengthening regional cooperation and coordination to achieve global biodiversity targets; c) enhancing stakeholder engagement within regions; and d) supporting regular follow-up and review mechanisms at the regional level to monitor and track down goal achievement. The policy brief reflects the discussions and outcomes of the Marine Regions Forum, concluded in Berlin on October 2019. A compilation of all policy briefs written for the workshops can be found here.

The first workshop, entitled ‘Advancing Ocean Action towards SDG 14: Leveraging Synergies for Marine and Coastal Ecosystems, Mangroves and Coral Reefs’ (11-13 November 2019) gathered around 40 experts from around the world to discuss lessons learnt from the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 14 Communities of Ocean Action as well as key opportunities and overlaps between the Sustainable Development Goal 14 process, including the upcoming 2020 United Nations Ocean Conference, and the CBD Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework. This workshop provided recommendations for the 2020 United Nations Ocean Conference and the role of the Communities of Ocean Action;

The second workshop, entitled ‘Thematic Workshop on Marine and Coastal Biodiversity for the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework’ (13-15 November 2019) was attended by around 100 experts from all around the world to discuss options and make concrete proposals for the conservation and sustainable use of marine and coastal biodiversity in developing the CBD Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework, including for the set of targets that will supplant the Aichi targets. The outcome of this workshop will contribute to the discussions of the second meeting of the Open-ended Working Group on the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework that will be held in China in February 2020.