Convention on Biological Diversity – COP 12. Pyeongchang, South Korea

by Michelle Pazmiño // A drum performance at the Opening Ceremony marked the first day of what is going to be a series of meetings where representatives of different Parties negotiate the present and future of earth’s biodiversity: the 12th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity. Self-evident, this means intense work, hours of being seated at the plenary room,...

Heat in the Room – Day 4 OWG12

by khristian méndez // Temperature has risen in New York City, both on all of the concrete and glass surfaces of this giant man-made complex, as well as in the negotiation rooms. Everybody can agree that we need to eradicate poverty, have access to food, education and health, but as we descend down the list of goals, the views become more and more heated. Divergence on Biodiversity This morning...

Synthetic Biology and the Convention on Biological Diversity

Synthetic biology: What is it? Why does it matter? And why are some countries and NGOs pushing for this discussion at COP11? by Mariana Calderon On Thursday in Working Group 2, during a seemingly innocuous discussion on  Operations of the Convention, a relatively heated discussion caught my attention--delegates were debating a topic buried under agenda item 6.2 of the COP: Synthetic...

COP11 Policy Round Up no. 1

Policy updates from day four of the Conference by Mariana Calderon This morning, now the fifth day of the conference, I realized that there is no way I can follow everything I am interested in, nor everything that I see as most crucial to follow. Took me a while...However, with the help of the marvelous Earth Negotiation Bulletins, and by attending the CBD Alliance briefings and GYBN daily...