Technical and regulatory matters on geoengineering in relation to the CBD

COP decisions

COP 10 mandate

The tenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) adopted decision X/33 which includes, in paragraph 8 (w) and (x), a section on climate-related geo-engineering and its impacts on the achievement of the objectives of the CBD. Below are the relevant paragraphs:

       8. Invites Parties and other Governments, according to national circumstances and priorities, as well as relevant organizations and processes, to consider the guidance below on ways to conserve, sustainably use and restore biodiversity and ecosystem services while contributing to climate change mitigation and adaptation:

       (w) Ensure, in line and consistent with decision IX/16 C, on ocean fertilization and biodiversity and climate change, in the absence of science based, global, transparent and effective control and regulatory mechanisms for geo-engineering, and in accordance with the precautionary approach and Article 14 of the Convention, that no climate-related geo-engineering activities** that may affect biodiversity take place, until there is an adequate scientific basis on which to justify such activities and appropriate consideration of the associated risks for the environment and biodiversity and associated social, economic and cultural impacts, with the exception of small scale scientific research studies that would be conducted in a controlled setting in accordance with Article 3 of the Convention, and only if they are justified by the need to gather specific scientific data and are subject to a thorough prior assessment of the potential impacts on the environment;

       (x) Make sure that ocean fertilization activities are addressed in accordance with decision IX/16 C, acknowledging the work of the London Convention/London Protocol;

In addition to the above, the Conference of the Parties, in decision X/33 paragraph 9(l) and (m), requests the Executive Secretary to:

• Compile and synthesize available scientific information, and views and experiences of indigenous and local communities and other stakeholders, on the possible impacts of geo engineering techniques on biodiversity and associated social, economic and cultural considerations, and options on definitions and understandings of climate-related geo-engineering relevant to the Convention on Biological Diversity; and
• Taking into account the possible need for science based global, transparent and effective control and regulatory mechanisms, subject to the availability of financial resources, undertake a study on gaps in such existing mechanisms for climate-related geo-engineering relevant to the Convention on Biological Diversity, bearing in mind that such mechanisms may not be best placed under the Convention on Biological Diversity.

_______________________________________

** footnote to decision X/33 para 8 (w): Without prejudice to future deliberations on the definition of geo-engineering activities, understanding that any technologies that deliberately reduce solar insolation or increase carbon sequestration from the atmosphere on a large scale that may affect biodiversity (excluding carbon capture and storage from fossil fuels when it captures carbon dioxide before it is released into the atmosphere) should be considered as forms of geo-engineering which are relevant to the Convention on Biological Diversity until a more precise definition can be developed. It is noted that solar insolation is defined as a measure of solar radiation energy received on a given surface area in a given hour and that carbon sequestration is defined as the process of increasing the carbon content of a reservoir/pool other than the atmosphere.

COP 11 mandate

The eleventh meeting of the Conference of the Parties adopted decision XI/20 on climate-related geoengineering. The Conference of the Parties, in decision XI/20, reaffirms paragraph 8, including its subparagraph (w), of X/33, and takes note of the report on the impacts of climate-related geoengineering on biological diversity, the study on the regulatory framework for climate-related geoengineering relevant to the Convention on Biological Diversity and the overview of the views and experiences of indigenous and local communities and stakeholders. The COP also notes the findings contained in the reports:

• that there is no single geoengineering approach that currently meets basic criteria for effectiveness, safety and affordability, and that approaches may prove difficult to deploy or govern (XI/20, paragraph 6);
• that there remain significant gaps in the understanding of the impacts of climate-related geoengineering on biodiversity (XI/20, paragraph 7); and
• the lack of science-based, global, transparent and effective control and regulatory mechanisms for climate-related geoengineering, the need for a precautionary approach, and that such mechanisms may be most necessary for those geoengineering activities that have a potential to cause significant adverse transboundary effects, and those deployed in areas beyond national jurisdiction and the atmosphere, noting that there is no common understanding on where such mechanisms would be best placed (XI/20, paragraph 8).

Update of information

The Conference of the Parties, in paragraph 16 of decision XI/20, requested the Executive Secretary to prepare:

1. an update on the potential impacts of geoengineering techniques on biodiversity, and on the regulatory framework of climate-related geoengineering relevant to the Convention on Biological Diversity, drawing upon all relevant scientific reports such as the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change and discussions under the Environment Management Group, and
2. an overview of the further views of Parties, other governments, indigenous and local communities and other stakeholders on the potential impacts of geoengineering on biodiversity, and associated social, economic and cultural impacts, taking into account gender considerations, and building on the overview of the views and experiences of indigenous and local communities contained in document UNEP/CBD/SBSTTA/16/INF/30.

An interim update of information on the potential impacts of climate geoengineering on biodiversity and the regulatory framework relevant to the Convention on Biological Diversity was made available in June 2014 to the Subsidiary Body at its eighteenth meeting (UNEP/CBD/SBSTTA/18/INF/5).

Following the publication of the Synthesis Report of the Fifth Assessment Report of the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, the update requested by the Conference of the Parties was prepared for the consideration of the Subsidiary Body at its nineteenth meeting. It was finalized following review by Parties and experts during August 2015. The report was presented as document UNEP/CBD/SBSTTA/19/INF/2. The report was then published as CBD Technical Series No. 84: Update on climate geoengineering in relation to the Convention on Biological Diversity: Potential impacts and regulatory framework in October 2016. The Technical Series contains an additional bibliography in Annex 4, updated to September 2016.

More information on geoengineering was presented to SBSTTA-19 in UNEP/CBD/SBSTTA/19/17.

SBSTTA-19 adopted Recommendation XIX/7 on climate-related geoengineering.

The COP, at its thirteenth meeting, considered recommendation XIX/7 and adopted decision XIII/14 on climate-related geoengineering.