Fifth meeting of the Informal Working Group on trade and biodiversity statistics

Background

The importance of tackling biodiversity loss is recognized by internationally agreed objectives, including the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF).

Data on trade of biodiversity-based products and its impact on biodiversity and livelihoods is critical for 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 different databases, making it difficult 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-related information on biodiversity-based products. TraBio applies a product classification of biodiversity-based products covering 1,814 HS sub-headings, an online database on trade flow in these products and related indicators, and a visualisation tool.

In October 2023, UN Trade and Development initiated discussions with an Informal lunch event on trade and biodiversity statistics. The informal Working Group on Trade and Biodiversity Statistics aims to further improve data collection and analytical capacity for informed decision-making on trade in biodiversity-based products (e.g., common definitions, data gaps, new data sources and technologies, identification and assessment of socio-economic and environmental impact). The iWG also aims to support monitoring and reporting of the SDGs and relevant processes such as the GBF.

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 knowledge exchange. The content and objectives of each meeting can be found on their dedicated webpage (cf. links on right).

Objective

The fifth meeting of the informal Working Group (5iWG) on Trade and Biodiversity Statistics on 25 September 2024 is expected 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 of the iWG

The 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 opportunities with iWG members.

Target audience

The 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 participation 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 for other related queries, kindly email biotrade@un.org with the Subject: Informal Working Group of Experts on Trade and Biodiversity Statistics.

UNCTAD’s work on trade 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 State Secretariat for Economic Affairs SECO.