BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:unctad.org BEGIN:VEVENT UID:6a72bdfed8f2f DTSTART:20240424T110000Z SEQUENCE:0 TRANSP:OPAQUE DTEND:20240424T123000Z LOCATION:Online\, SUMMARY:Third meeting of the Informal Working Group on trade and biodiversi ty statistics CLASS:PUBLIC DESCRIPTION:BackgroundThe importance of biodiversity\, trade and particular ly trade in biodiversity-based products for global efforts to tackle biodi versity loss is recognized by internationally agreed objectives\, includin g the Sustainable Development Goals and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiv ersity Framework.Data on commercialization and trade would help countries develop better informed policies related to the management and trade of bi odiversity-based products and services. However\, there is limited data pu blicly available on sustainable trade in biodiversity-based products and s ervices\, and the information available is not comparable and dispersed in many different databases.In September 2022\, the United Nations Conferenc e on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)’s BioTrade Initiative and Statistics Service launched the pioneer Trade and Biodiversity statistical tool (Tra Bio) as an initial step to enable open access to reliable trade-related in formation on biodiversity-based products. TraBio applies a product classif ication of biodiversity-based products covering 1814 HS sub-headings\, a d atabase on trade flow in these products and related indicators\, and a vis ualisation tool.With the aim to improve collection of data and analytical capacity for informed decision-making on trade in biodiversity-based produ cts and support the monitoring and reporting under the SDGs and relevant p rocesses such as the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework\, UNCT AD convened the Informal Working Group of Experts on Trade and Biodiversit y Statistics.The Informal Working Group is expected to convene between Aut umn 2023 and Summer 2024\, mainly through hybrid and/or virtual meetings. These meetings aim to advance on the development of statistics on biodiver sity-based products (e.g.\, common definitions\, data gaps\, new data sour ces and technologies) and consider how the biodiversity-based goods data c ould best contribute to current initiatives and frameworks as an open-sour ce asset. Experts are invited to discuss progress towards a comprehensive trade and biodiversity methodology and identify priorities and partners fo r knowledge of trade and biodiversity statistics by discussing ways to enh ance related information.UNCTAD’s BioTrade Initiative and Statistics Ser vice kick-started the discussion with an Informal lunch event on trade and biodiversity statistics\, organised at the margins of the Twentieth sessi on of the United Nations Economic Commission for Europe’s Joint Task For ce on Environmental Statistics Indicators on 17 October 2023. The first In formal Working Group meeting (23 November 2023) allowed to open a platform of discussion and exchange of information on existing trade and non-trade related databases and their linkages to biodiversity issues\, based on an initial mapping of databases prepared by UNCTAD.The second Informal Worki ng Group meeting allowed to identify and agree on a common understanding o f what “Trade and Biodiversity statistics” shall cover: statistics on biodiversity-based products as defined by UNCTAD BioTrade\, and an holisti c approach to include aspects of the overall supply chain of such products \, including harvesting and catch\, cultivation and farming\, production\, trade and consumption. Statistics on the interactions with the environmen t and ecosystems and their management will also be covered.ObjectiveThe th ird session of the Informal Working Group of Experts on Trade and Biodiver sity Statistics is expected to:Discuss about areas of identification/devel opment of relevant indicators and relationship with relevant linkages with Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) such as the Convention on Bi ological Diversity (CBD)\, the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF)\, and t he Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES)\, the S ustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and existing measuring frameworks\, su ch as the framework to Measure Circular Economy and the System of Environm ental Economic Accounting (SEEA)\, among others.Learn from other experts/a gencies experiences on the integration of biodiversity related data from i ntegrated supply chain\, showcasing interlinkages between different data a reas and topics.Discuss how to structure statistical workstreams\, on clas sifications\, data and indicators\, and use of new technologies and innova tive inputs (ML\, AI and big data) for data dissemination visual tools.The expected outcome of the meeting will be the consensus on the overall line s of work that will contribute to the identification of relevant indicator s and data. This will help making progress on possible concrete steps for the enhancement of trade and biodiversity statistics that can improve info rmation for better evidence-based policy making. Similarly\, this work wil l build on and strengthen ongoing work on other processes including the mo nitoring framework of the Kunming Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.T arget audienceThe event targets members of the Informal Working Group of E xperts on Trade and Biodiversity Statistics.Membership to the WG is open t o experts with interest in biodiversity\, statistics and trade from develo ped and developing countries. It aims to ensure a broad participation\, a balanced geographic and gender representation. Participants will have expe rience on the topic being discussed and agree with the Terms of Reference of the Informal Working Group.  If interested in joining or other related query\, kindly send an email to biotrade@un.org with the Subject: Informa l Working Group of Experts on Trade and Biodiversity Statistics.UNCTAD’s work on trade and biodiversity statistics\, including the Informal Workin g Group and this event\, is developed under the Global BioTrade Programme “Linking trade\, biodiversity and sustainable development” funded by t he Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs SECO.UNCTAD’s work on tr ade and biodiversity statistics\, including the Informal Working Group and this event\, is developed under the Global BioTrade Programme “Linking trade\, biodiversity and sustainable development” funded by the Swiss St ate Secretariat for Economic Affairs SECO.<\;h4>\;Background<\;/h4&g t\;<\;p>\;The importance of biodiversity\, trade and particularly trad e in biodiversity-based products for global efforts to tackle biodiversity loss is recognized by internationally agreed objectives\, including the S ustainable Development Goals and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework.<\;/p>\;<\;p>\;Data on commercialization and trade would help countries develop better informed policies related to the management and trade of biodiversity-based products and services. However\, there is limited data publicly available on sustainable trade in biodiversity-base d products and services\, and the information available is not comparable and dispersed in many different databases.<\;/p>\;<\;p>\;In Septem ber 2022\, the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) ’s BioTrade Initiative and Statistics Service launched the pioneer Trade and Biodiversity statistical tool (TraBio) as an initial step to enable o pen access to reliable trade-related information on biodiversity-based pro ducts. TraBio applies a product classification of biodiversity-based produ cts covering 1814 HS sub-headings\, a database on trade flow in these prod ucts and related indicators\, and a visualisation tool.<\;/p>\;<\;p& gt\;With the aim to improve collection of data and analytical capacity for informed decision-making on trade in biodiversity-based products and supp ort the monitoring and reporting under the SDGs and relevant processes suc h as the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework\, UNCTAD convened the Informal Working Group of Experts on Trade and Biodiversity Statistics .<\;/p>\;<\;p>\;The Informal Working Group is expected to convene between Autumn 2023 and Summer 2024\, mainly through hybrid and/or virtual meetings. These meetings aim to advance on the development of statistics on biodiversity-based products (e.g.\, common definitions\, data gaps\, ne w data sources and technologies) and consider how the biodiversity-based g oods data could best contribute to current initiatives and frameworks as a n open-source asset. Experts are invited to discuss progress towards a com prehensive trade and biodiversity methodology and identify priorities and partners for knowledge of trade and biodiversity statistics by discussing ways to enhance related information.<\;/p>\;<\;p>\;UNCTAD’s BioT rade Initiative and Statistics Service kick-started the discussion with an Informal lunch event on trade and biodiversity statistics\, organised at the margins of the Twentieth session of the United Nations Economic Commis sion for Europe’s Joint Task Force on Environmental Statistics Indicator s on 17 October 2023. The first Informal Working Group meeting (23 Novembe r 2023) allowed to open a platform of discussion and exchange of informati on on existing trade and non-trade related databases and their linkages to biodiversity issues\, based on an initial mapping of databases prepared b y UNCTAD.<\;/p>\;<\;p>\;The second Informal Working Group meeting allowed to identify and agree on a common understanding of what “Trade a nd Biodiversity statistics” shall cover: statistics on biodiversity-base d products as defined by UNCTAD BioTrade\, and an holistic approach to inc lude aspects of the overall supply chain of such products\, including harv esting and catch\, cultivation and farming\, production\, trade and consum ption. Statistics on the interactions with the environment and ecosystems and their management will also be covered.<\;/p>\;<\;h4>\;Objectiv e<\;/h4>\;<\;p>\;The third session of the Informal Working Group o f Experts on Trade and Biodiversity Statistics is expected to:<\;/p>\; <\;ul>\;<\;li>\;Discuss about areas of identification/development of relevant indicators and relationship with relevant linkages with Multil ateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) such as the Convention on Biologica l Diversity (CBD)\, the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF)\, and the Conv ention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES)\, the Sustaina ble Development Goals (SDGs) and existing measuring frameworks\, such as t he framework to Measure Circular Economy and the System of Environmental E conomic Accounting (SEEA)\, among others.<\;/li>\;<\;li>\;Learn fr om other experts/agencies experiences on the integration of biodiversity r elated data from integrated supply chain\, showcasing interlinkages betwee n different data areas and topics.<\;/li>\;<\;li>\;Discuss how to structure statistical workstreams\, on classifications\, data and indicato rs\, and use of new technologies and innovative inputs (ML\, AI and big da ta) for data dissemination visual tools.<\;/li>\;<\;/ul>\;<\;p&g t\;The expected outcome of the meeting will be the consensus on the overal l lines of work that will contribute to the identification of relevant ind icators and data. This will help making progress on possible concrete step s for the enhancement of trade and biodiversity statistics that can improv e information for better evidence-based policy making. Similarly\, this wo rk will build on and strengthen ongoing work on other processes including the monitoring framework of the Kunming Montreal Global Biodiversity Frame work.<\;/p>\;<\;h4>\;Target audience<\;/h4>\;<\;p>\;The ev ent targets members of the Informal Working Group of Experts on Trade and Biodiversity Statistics.<\;/p>\;<\;p>\;Membership to the WG is ope n to experts with interest in biodiversity\, statistics and trade from dev eloped and developing countries. It aims to ensure a broad participation\, a balanced geographic and gender representation. Participants will have e xperience on the topic being discussed and agree with the Terms of Referen ce of the Informal Working Group. &\;nbsp\;If interested in joining or other related query\, kindly send an email to biotrade@un.org with the Sub ject: Informal Working Group of Experts on Trade and Biodiversity Statisti cs.<\;/p>\;<\;p>\;UNCTAD’s work on trade and biodiversity statis tics\, including the Informal Working Group and this event\, is developed under the Global BioTrade Programme “Linking trade\, biodiversity and su stainable development” funded by the Swiss State Secretariat for Economi c Affairs SECO.<\;/p>\;<\;p>\;<\;em>\;UNCTAD’s work on trade and biodiversity statistics\, including the Informal Working Group and th is event\, is developed under the Global BioTrade Programme “Linking tra de\, biodiversity and sustainable development” funded by the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs SECO.<\;/em>\;<\;/p>\;\n\nView m eeting on unctad.org\nhttps://unctad.org/meeting/third-meeting-informal-wo rking-group-trade-and-biodiversity-statistics DTSTAMP:20260805T043718Z END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR