The two key issues for the business community at the twelfth meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice (SBSTTA-12), which took place in Paris on 2-6 July, were climate change and biofuels. Both these items provoked a wide range of views amongst the Parties, and the final recommendations reflect how debate ranged from technical aspects of the issue to concerns with mandate and interaction with other international bodies. From a business perspective, strong coordination between international bodies, and clarity on the appropriate forum for addressing various aspects of an issue, is extremely helpful — both in preparing, and in finding appropriate volunteers willing and able to attend meetings.
Climate change and biofuels Climate change and especially biofuels are new topics within the CBD, and our interest was mainly in tracking how the discussion developed and how they will become incorporated into existing work. The business representatives made an intervention in the biofuels debate, stressing the importance of coordination with other inter-governmental bodies, including the OECD, and calling for all possible technologies to be included in information gathering and assessment. Everyone agrees that the situation of biofuel production and use is in flux, responding, in large part, to a changing policy and market environment. Innovation is vital to realize the potential benefits of biofuels, while dealing with the possible risks — both sides were captured in the final recommendation on this issue (Recommendation XII/7). It would seem counter-productive to attempt to pick technologies at this early stage of bio-energy evolution, rather than promoting the objectives that underpin biofuel interest.
Creating a policy framework that enables such positive innovation is a highly complex endeavour. It seems likely that, like the ecosystem approach, successful implementation of measures to promote sustainable production and use of biofuels will — at least initially — need to be context-specific, while common overarching principles and goals are being discussed. Considering such goals and principles will require engagement and coordination of expert agencies at national and international level, acknowledging that this topic has implications for policy on energy, climate change, agriculture, environment, food, innovation, commercialization and trade — and probably more.
Business participation The biofuels issue demonstrates one of the challenges of business participation in the Convention, which is that ‘business’ covers a vast range of interests, varying by sector, by country, and by size. One mechanism that facilitates coordination is the Task Force on the CBD at the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC). Established in 2005, this supports business-to-business and business-to-CBD Secretariat communication and participation in CBD work, as appropriate, and is in addition to the direct engagement by companies and other business groups. Participation in the CBD Task Force is open to all members of ICC national committees around the world (1). Of course, the more opportunities for participation, the more companies see a benefit in sending an employee to engage. The most important discussions are probably those that take place at national level between companies and their government: the CBD Secretariat makes all national government focal point contact information available on its website and companies should avail of this.
Sharing information In the context of a meeting such as SBSTTA, it might be interesting to explore opportunities for panel discussions between representatives of major groups, or discussions of actual experiences on the ground by a representative cluster of stakeholders — local and national government, scientists, businesses, conservation NGOs and civil society. These do occasionally take place in side events already, and the most successful formats could perhaps be considered for more formal inclusion in the schedule as another mode of information sharing. Where relevant to the agenda, it may even be appropriate to invite a senior corporate representative to present, to the Parties, work on biodiversity.
Having a dedicated business liaison at the CBD Secretariat is extremely beneficial, and very much welcomed. This function not only greatly facilitates actions by the CBD to engage with business, it also ensures that business can indeed participate and provide input across the extensive work programme undertaken by the CBD. Given that innovation is necessary for society’s adaptation to sustainable living and that business is the engine of economic development, it is vital that this important stakeholder is present, and its voice is heard.
The agenda of SBSTTA-13 is substantial, and with direct relevance to business activities, especially the in-depth review of the Agriculture and Forest Programmes of Work, and also the revised discussion of climate change. It is anticipated that there will be good participation by private sector representatives, and planning and scheduling for side events should begin later this year, as well as communication with governments regarding their expectations.
Alix Heywood (
[email protected]) is manager for biotechnology, nanotechnology, health care and emerging markets at the International Chamber of Commerce’s U.S. affiliate,
the United States Council for International Business
(1) For more information on how to participate in the Task Force, contact the relevant national ICC Committee (
http://www.iccwbo.org/id100/index.html) or Carlos Busquets (
[email protected]) directly.
(2)
http://www.cbd.int/convention/parties/nfp.shtml