BEGIN:VCALENDAR VERSION:2.0 PRODID:unctad.org BEGIN:VEVENT UID:6a72a6369e761 DTSTART:20240925T120000Z SEQUENCE:0 TRANSP:OPAQUE DTEND:20240925T133000Z LOCATION:Online\, SUMMARY:Fifth meeting of the Informal Working Group on trade and biodiversi ty statistics CLASS:PUBLIC DESCRIPTION:BackgroundThe importance of tackling biodiversity loss is recog nized by internationally agreed objectives\, including the Sustainable Dev elopment Goals (SDGs) and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framewo rk (GBF).Data on trade of biodiversity-based products and its impact on bi odiversity and livelihoods is critical for countries to develop informed s ustainability and trade policies. However\, there is limited data publicly available on sustainable trade in these products and services and their e nvironmental and socio-economic impacts. Available information often is no t comparable and dispersed across many different databases\, making it dif ficult to be effectively used.In September 2022\, the United Nations Trade and Development (UNCTAD)’s BioTrade Initiative and Statistics launched the pioneering Trade and Biodiversity statistical tool (TraBio). It is an initial step to enable open access to reliable and comparable trade-relate d information on biodiversity-based products. TraBio applies a product cla ssification of biodiversity-based products covering 1\,814 HS sub-headings \, an online database on trade flow in these products and related indicato rs\, and a visualisation tool.In October 2023\, UN Trade and Development i nitiated discussions with an Informal lunch event on trade and biodiversit y statistics. The informal Working Group on Trade and Biodiversity Statist ics aims to further improve data collection and analytical capacity for in formed decision-making on trade in biodiversity-based products (e.g.\, com mon definitions\, data gaps\, new data sources and technologies\, identifi cation and assessment of socio-economic and environmental impact). The iWG also aims to support monitoring and reporting of the SDGs and relevant pr ocesses such as the GBF.The iWG met virtually four times between October 2 023 and July 2024. IWG experts were invited to discuss progress towards a comprehensive trade and biodiversity framework and identify priorities and partners for further collaboration and knowledge exchange. The content an d objectives of each meeting can be found on their dedicated webpage (cf. links on right).ObjectiveThe fifth meeting of the informal Working Group ( 5iWG) on Trade and Biodiversity Statistics on 25 September 2024 is expecte d to:Discuss the Working Paper on a draft framework towards enhanced trade and biodiversity statistics\, shared by UN Trade and Development ahead of the meeting.Exchange amongst iWG members on future activities implemented (e.g. participation at CBD COP16) as well as on the future organization o f the iWGThe expected outcome of the meeting is:Receive feedback from iWG members on the Working Paper outlining a draft framework towards enhanced trade and biodiversity statistics.Identify future collaboration opportunit ies with iWG members.Target audienceThe event targets members of the iWG\, who are experts on the issues of trade\, biodiversity\, and/or statistics from developed and developing countries. It aims to ensure a broad partic ipation and a balanced geographic and gender representation. Participants will have experience on the topic being discussed and agree with the Terms of Reference of the Informal Working Group.If interested in joining or fo r other related queries\, kindly email biotrade@un.org with the Subject: I nformal Working Group of Experts on Trade and Biodiversity Statistics. UN CTAD’s work on trade and biodiversity statistics\, including the Informa l Working Group and this event\,is developed under the Global BioTrade Pro gramme “Linking trade\, biodiversity and sustainable development”funde d by the Swiss State Secretariat for Economic Affairs SECO.<\;h4>\;Bac kground<\;/h4>\;<\;p>\;The importance of tackling biodiversity los s is recognized by internationally agreed objectives\, including the Susta inable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversi ty Framework (GBF).<\;/p>\;<\;p>\;Data on trade of biodiversity-ba sed products and its impact on biodiversity and livelihoods is critical fo r countries to develop informed sustainability and trade policies. However \, there is limited data publicly available on sustainable trade in these products and services and their environmental and socio-economic impacts. Available information often is not comparable and dispersed across many di fferent databases\, making it difficult to be effectively used.<\;/p>\ ;<\;p>\;In September 2022\, the United Nations Trade and Development ( UNCTAD)’s BioTrade Initiative and Statistics launched the pioneering Tra de and Biodiversity statistical tool (TraBio). It is an initial step to en able open access to reliable and comparable trade-related information on b iodiversity-based products. TraBio applies a product classification of bio diversity-based products covering 1\,814 HS sub-headings\, an online datab ase on trade flow in these products and related indicators\, and a visuali sation tool.<\;/p>\;<\;p>\;In October 2023\, UN Trade and Developm ent initiated discussions with an Informal lunch event on trade and biodiv ersity statistics. The informal Working Group on Trade and Biodiversity St atistics aims to further improve data collection and analytical capacity f or informed decision-making on trade in biodiversity-based products (e.g.\ , common definitions\, data gaps\, new data sources and technologies\, ide ntification and assessment of socio-economic and environmental impact). Th e iWG also aims to support monitoring and reporting of the SDGs and releva nt processes such as the GBF.<\;/p>\;<\;p>\;The iWG met virtually four times between October 2023 and July 2024. IWG experts were invited to discuss progress towards a comprehensive trade and biodiversity framework and identify priorities and partners for further collaboration and knowle dge exchange. The content and objectives of each meeting can be found on t heir dedicated webpage (cf. links on right).<\;/p>\;<\;h4>\;Object ive<\;/h4>\;<\;p>\;The fifth meeting of the informal Working Group (5iWG) on Trade and Biodiversity Statistics on 25 September 2024 is expec ted to:<\;/p>\;<\;ul>\;<\;li>\;Discuss the Working Paper on a draft framework towards enhanced trade and biodiversity statistics\, share d by UN Trade and Development ahead of the meeting.<\;/li>\;<\;li> \;Exchange amongst iWG members on future activities implemented (e.g. part icipation at CBD COP16) as well as on the future organization of the iWG&l t\;/li>\;<\;/ul>\;<\;p>\;The expected outcome of the meeting is: <\;/p>\;<\;ul>\;<\;li>\;Receive feedback from iWG members on t he Working Paper outlining a draft framework towards enhanced trade and bi odiversity statistics.<\;/li>\;<\;li>\;Identify future collaborati on opportunities with iWG members.<\;/li>\;<\;/ul>\;<\;h4>\;Ta rget audience<\;/h4>\;<\;p>\;The event targets members of the iWG\ , who are experts on the issues of trade\, biodiversity\, and/or statistic s from developed and developing countries. It aims to ensure a broad parti cipation and a balanced geographic and gender representation. Participants will have experience on the topic being discussed and agree with the Term s of Reference of the Informal Working Group.<\;/p>\;<\;p>\;If int erested in joining or for other related queries\, kindly email biotrade@un .org with the Subject: Informal Working Group of Experts on Trade and Biod iversity Statistics.<\;/p>\;<\;p>\;&\;nbsp\;<\;/p>\;<\;p class="\;text-align-center\n\nView meeting on unctad.org\nhttps://unct ad.org/meeting/fifth-meeting-informal-working-group-trade-and-biodiversity -statistics DTSTAMP:20260805T025550Z END:VEVENT END:VCALENDAR