CBD and Article 8(j)

The Ad hoc Open-ended Inter-Sessional Working Group on Article 8(j) and Related Provisions adopted eight recommendations and made progress on additional issues. However, it faced difficulties addressing three key topics, and did not tackle the issue of revising the CBD terminology from "indigenous and local communities" (ILCs) to “indigenous peoples and local communities” and implications for the Convention’s work. The recommendations will be submitted to COP-11 in October 2012.
IISD RS Meeting Coverage

Local and Regional Authorities in Green Economy

On October 4, UNEP presented a discussion paper at a seminar of the EU Committee of the Regions' in Malmö (Sweden) on the role of local and regional authorities in the transition to a low-carbon, resource-efficient green economy, in advance of the EU Environment Council's discussions on Europe’s position at UNCSD (Rio+20). 

Press Release

Disaster-related Declaration

UN/ISDR has announced the Chengdu Declaration of Action, a five-point strategy addressing natural resource and environmental management, climate change and disaster risks,  adopted on 13 August, in Chengdu (China). Points of the Declaration include focusing on upcoming international meetings such as UNCSD (Rio+20), and working with national governments to include urban sustainable development and resilience as a national priority in the outcome of the Conference.

Major Groups: Preparation for Rio+20

The following new initiatives and publications have been announced in preparation for UNCSD (Rio+20):

- The NGO Major Group has created an interactive website to share news, start discussions, upload videos or post events. The Group has also created a wikispace to prepare statements and joint documents for the Conference. NGO Major Group Website and NGO Major Group Wikispace

-The Farmers Major Group has issued a notice to solicit submissions on the green economy, institutional framework for sustainable development (IFSD) governance, and emerging issues and objectives of the Conference. Farmers Notice

-Local Authorities published a Briefing Sheet explaining the role of subnational governments in the green economy, and announced a forthcoming study titled "Local Sustainability 2012."  Local Sustainability 2012 News

The Group also announced a paper on the role of local governments suggesting that local governments do not appear in the current environmental governance regime, and notes that their representation at UN bodies is defined as "non-governmental."   

Report: A Business Case for Green Economy

UNEP, the UN Global Compact, Oxfam and WRI have released a study titled “Adapting for a Green Economy: Companies, Communities and Climate Change.” The report makes the business case for private sector adaptation to climate change, including through building the resilience of vulnerable communities in developing countries

CBD: Urbanization and Biodiversity

The CBD Secretariat has initiated preparation of an assessment of the links and opportunities between urbanization and biodiversity for COP-11, by inviting parties to encourage sub-national governments, cities and local authorities to send information on the application of the Singapore Index on Cities’ Biodiversity (currently being tested by over 85 cities, and supported by the Plan of Action on Subnational Governments, Cities and Other Local Authorities for Biodiversity 2011-2020, adopted by Decision X/22). 

CBD Notification
Singapore Index on Cities’ Biodiversity

Disasters: Global Platform

The 3rd Session of the Global Platform for Disaster Risk Reduction (DRR) took place from 9-13 May in Geneva (Switzerland) under the theme “Invest Today for a Safer Tomorrow – Increased Investment in Local Action.” Highlights included, but were not limited to:
- The session on climate change adaptation and DRR, where panelists discussed opportunities to harmonize DRR and adaptation in national policies, and in the design and implementation of resilience-building programmes.
- The mountains of risk roundtable, where panelists highlighted the threats of climate change to mountain communities and the need to: mainstream a discussion on mountains into UNCSD (Rio+20); and establish a platform for transboundary cooperation on mountain DRR.

Global Platform Chair's Summary

CBD: Local Communities Meeting

The Secretariat of CBD will convene an ad hoc expert group meeting for local community representatives in Montreal (Canada) from 13-15 July 2011 in regards to paragraph 21 of Decision X/43 and the revised programme of work for Article 8(j) and related provisions of the Convention. Through this process CBD is seeking to identify common characteristics of local communities and to gather advice on how local communities can more effectively participate in Convention processes, including at the national level, as well as how to develop targeted outreach, in order to assist in the implementation the Convention and achievement of its goals.

Notification