Organizers

United Nations Environment Programme

Background

The Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF), which was adopted in 2022, provides a significant impetus to efforts to increase cooperation and collaboration in the implementation of Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) at all relevant levels, but in particular at the national level. Recognizing the valuable role of the United National Convention Framework on Climate Change (UNFCCC) in delivering the goals and targets of the Kunming- Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, there are visibly mutual benefits for adaptation to climate change and achieving the objectives of the convention. 

The Bern III Conference on Cooperation among the biodiversity-related conventions for the implementation of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, held in Bern, Switzerland, 23-25 January 2024, invited 16 MEAs in relevant thematic clusters, including from chemicals and wastes, desertification and climate change, to discuss collaborative and practical approaches to implement the framework within their respective mandates and achieve mutual benefits in implementing other relevant conventions. The outcomes of the Bern III Conference are highly relevant to the functions and core areas of work of the convention and strengthening means of implementation of the framework. 

The UNFCCC Secretariat contributed to the Bern Conference outcomes and identified key entry points for exploring synergies, drawing on its mandates, including through the GBF Framework target 8 (climate change), Target 11 (Nature’s contribution to People) and target 20 (capacity building) which is highly relevant to the Capacity Building Hub organized in the margins of UNFCCC COP29. 

This side event will highlight efforts from UNFCCC Parties and relevant MEAs on actionable concrete actions concluded at the conference around the topic of cooperation and synergies for coherent Capacity Building programmers. Insights on how the MEAs can contribute to practical solutions and integrated approaches especially on how we can use the golden opportunity of the three Rio convention COPs taking place in the last quarter of 2024 to promote coordinated Rio convention decisions and messages on cooperation and synergies. 

This side event builds on the joint capacity-building programme between the three Rio conventions referred to in documents CBD/SBI/4/10 (paragraph 59), CBD/SBI/4/7/Add.3 (paragraph 9) and CBD/COP/16/10 (paragraph 5). 

Objectives

Key points relating to both the Capacity Building Hub and Bern III discussions/outcomes, may include the following:

• Increased cooperation amongst national focal points to these and other relevant MEAs and intergovernmental processes at the national level, and extension of this to cooperation amongst relevant national agencies

• Build collaborative approaches to project development and resource mobilization to develop and deliver on the ground activities that address climate change and biodiversity loss in a mutually reinforcing manner.

• Facilitate the sharing of experience and appropriate guidance at all appropriate levels so as to build on that experience and scale up examples of good practice.

General Structure

Relevant resources

The report of the Bern III Conference including background documents, may be accessed here.