The fight against invasive species, the condition of pollinators, climate change and the fight against marine waste and synthetic biology are some of the EU’s priority subjects at the 13th meeting of the Conference of Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP 13 of the CBD) in Cancun, Mexico on 4-17 December.
These subjects were included in the conclusions adopted by European environment ministers on Monday 17 October in Luxembourg, as a basis for the EU's negotiating position at this international conference (see EUROPE 11646).
The EU is also expecting results on the commitments to promote the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, particularly in agriculture, forestry, fishing and tourism, as well as implementation of the 2011-20 strategic action plan for biodiversity adopted in Nagoya in 2010. The Council says that the progress made thus far has been insufficient, and it is “extremely concerned” and anxious that COP13 should enable the level of ambition to me met and action to be defined supporting implementation of the universal sustainable development goals. In this connection, the Council urges the Commission and member states to work coherently and effectively between these processes, at both a domestic and global level.
At the end of the session, European Commissioner for the Environment and Maritime Affair, Karmenu Vella informed the press that "we need to get out of our bubble and bring in private partners. Intentions and objectives are not enough. We need to mobilise all resources if we are going to have a concrete effect”.
This CBD will take place at the same time as the 8th meeting of the parties to the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety (which is still in force) and the second meeting of the Conference of Parties to the Nagoya Protocol on access to genetic resources and the fair share of the benefits relating to their use (see EUROPE 11181). (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)