Source

Type

Peer Review

Audience

Pages

Notes

Ninth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP9), Bonn, Germany, 19-30 May 2008

IUCN recommends that COP9:

√ Endorses SBSTTA Recommendation XIII/6 to establish an Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group on Biodiversity and Climate Change with a mandate to develop advice on biodiversity, relevant to the UNFCCC decision on the Bali Action Plan (1/CP.13) as well as the UNFCCC
Nairobi work programme;
√ Calls on Parties to adopt the Terms of Reference of a possible Ad Hoc Technical Expert Group (AHTEG) on Biodiversity and Climate Change as contained in UNEP/CBD/COP9/20/Add.3;

In terms of biodiversity and climate change mitigation action
√ Urges Parties to act in accordance with the decision of the London Convention and Protocol on ocean fertilization and not to authorize related activities by their nationals or flagged vessels, including the marketing of carbon offsets, until more studies on impact are available and regulations are in place to avoid or minimize impacts and to verify long-term
sequestration;

√ Urges Parties to adopt measures on a global, regional and national basis to ensure that potential risks of ocean fertilization and other geo-engineering schemes have been carefully considered in advance and if allowed to proceed are subject to permits based on prior environmental impact assessments, advance notification and consultation, and requirements for monitoring of effects and reporting to verify results; and
√ Urges Parties to fully assess the likely risks and benefits of sub-seabed emplacement(which is dumping in the terms of the London Protocol) of carbon dioxide on marine organisms and related ecosystems in advance of permitting any such activity. IUCN urges Parties to address the issue of purity of any carbon dioxide streams in advance to ensure that they are not mixed with other materials that may also be harmful in a marine environment.
√ Urges Parties to adopt an ecosystem approach that integrates efforts to reduce emissions from deforestation and degradation, in coherence with both the CBD and the UNFCCC;
In terms of biodiversity and climate change adaptation
√ Encourages Parties and other States to ensure that conservation measures to reduce the vulnerability of ecosystems and livelihoods are given high priority in global discussions, not only in the context of climate change, but also in those on biodiversity conservation within the framework of the CBD and other biodiversity-related multilateral environmental agreements;
√ Calls on Parties to integrate invasive species management in the context of measures to address climate change and biodiversity loss;
√ Urges Parties to adopt adaptation measures to safeguard agricultural productivity and water supplies, and conservation measures that reduce the vulnerability of ecosystems and the livelihoods of people who depend on them;
√ Encourages Parties to use the UNEP-IUCN Issue-Based Modules and the CRISTAL tool when developing and implementing mutually supportive activities with regard to biodiversity and climate change at global and national levels;