​Open to all participants registered for the BBF

UNCTAD will be co-hosting panels on 15 November at the Global Business and Biodiversity Forum (BBF) preceding the Fourteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP14). The panels will focus on how trade and Access and benefit sharing (ABS) Mechanism under the Nagoya Protocol, can contribute to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and share cases on sustainable sourcing, BioTrade and ABS principles.

Co-organizers are the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (SCBD), the Development Bank of Latin America (CAF), the ABS Capacity Development Initiative (ABS I)and the Union for Ethical BioTrade (UEBT).

The first panel will be a session led by UNCTAD/CAF focusing on BioTrade and how sustainable sourcing.  And trade can have a positive impact in advancing the 2030 Agenda. It will discuss the how and what are the benefits of implementing sustainable sourcing practices and BioTrade across by Mane, Grupo Boticário, CAF and UNCTAD, identifying opportunities and challenges in achieving the SDGs. It will also focus on how conservation attributes to the economic value of biodiversity by developing incentives, both for conservation and sustainable use.

The second panel is led by SCBD, ABS I and UEBT and will present practical cases and links between sustainable development and access and benefit sharing. The topics discussed are the linkages between SDGs, Agenda 2030 and access and benefit sharing, and the opportunities and challenges related to Nagoya Protocol implementation.

The Forum is co-organized by Government of Egypt under the auspices of H.E Dr. Sahar Nasr Minister of Investment and International Cooperation and the SCBD, taking place from 14-15 November 2018, in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt, ahead of the opening of COP14.

Background

Today over4.4 billion people depend on biodiversity (including forestry, agriculture, and fisheries) for their livelihoods. Addressing the loss of biodiversity is a global imperative, as continued loss will have serious implications to our economic prosperity and social well-being.  In this context, there has been a surge of interest for broader mobilization for support by not only protecting and restoring ecosystems, but also using biodiversity in a sustainable and innovative way for new economic development opportunities.

The Global Business and Biodiversity Forum will feature the numerous mainstreaming topics such as finance, access and benefit sharing, partnerships and effective business engagement. The Forum will aim to enable exchanges of experiences and good practices among practitioners, business leaders, academia, indigenous communities, and policy makers through interactive discussions. The sessions will also explore innovative business models, initiatives, and operations on mainstreaming biodiversity and ecosystem considerations in.  The event will provide a unique occasion for businesses to engage with other businesses, government, NGOs and potential partners to discuss and collarbone on a strategic action to mainstream biodiversity and capitalize on the opportunities.

More details can be found on the COP14 website: https://www.cbd.int/business/meetings-events/2018/default.shtml

This event is developed by UNCTAD with the support of the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs SECO under the Global BioTrade Programme: Linking trade, biodiversity and sustainable development (April 2018–March 2022).