The fifteenth meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP15) to the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) will continue in Montrèal, Canada, from 7-19 December 2022, to adopt a globally agreed framework – called the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework – for “living in harmony with nature.”
World leaders and their governments have a once-in-a-generation opportunity to secure a future for coral reefs through the Global Biodiversity Framework (GBF). Members of the International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI) adopted a consensus recommendation urging CBD Party governments to ensure that the GBF prioritises coral reefs as one of the most vulnerable and important ecosystems.
To ensure a future for coral reefs, ICRI has three asks #ForCoral:
If you would like to learn more about ICRI’s work in urging Parties to prioritise coral reefs at COP15, visit www.coralpost2020.org
In parallel to the negations for the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework, official, and unofficial, side events will be hosted by Parties and Organisations. In order to showcase coral reefs throughout COP15, ICRI has identified and collated events that showcase, apply, or are beneficial for, coral reefs.
If you are hosting, or are aware of, an event that highlights the importance of coral reefs, and/or their associated ecosystems (mangroves, seagrasses), and wish for it to be added below, please contact us here.
This page is updated regularly as events are confirmed – all official CBD side events can be viewed here (last update 28/11/2022).
Side events
SMALL-SCALE FISHERIES AND AQUACULTURE: RICH RESERVOIRS OF BIODIVERSITY AND NUTRITION TO PRESERVE, CULTIVATE AND SUSTAINABLY CONSUME
Time: 13:15 (GMT-5)
Location: JUSCANZ Meeting Room 510C
Organised by: Canada, Iceland
Access: Open to all
This side event will explore the crucial role of small-scale fisheries and aquaculture in sustainably managing, restoring and conserving critical coastal ecosystems and marine biodiversity vital to the food security and livelihoods of millions of people in coastal communities.
COMMUNICATION, EDUCATION AND PUBLIC AWARENESS (CEPA) FAIR
Location: On-site and online
Organised by: Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)
Access: Open to registered participants on site, open to all for online access
The fair on experiences and best practices in Communication, Education and Public Awareness (CEPA) related to biodiversity, consists of two components: 1) a virtual exhibition of outreach materials and 2) thematic side-events (discussions, presentations or performances). The International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI) will be represented in an online exhibition showcasing key multimedia resources produced in the past few years, in the context of ICRI’s work on the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework, and other materials produced to raise awareness on the need to conserve coral reefs.
EGYPT’S CONTRIBUTION TOWARDS THE ADOPTION AND IMPLEMENTATION OF THE POST-2020 GLOBAL BIODIVERSITY FRAMEWOK (GBF)
Time: 13:15 (GMT-5)
Location: Marie Khan Woman’s Caucus meeting room 513A
Organised by: Convention on Biological Diversity, United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Global Environment Facility (GEF) Small Grants Programme (SGP), The Government of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, Egypt
Access: Open to all
This side event will present the outcomes of the fourth national policy dialogue. Policy dialogues were organised by governmental agencies, NGOs and civil societies to develop the capacity of relevant stakeholders to outline concrete and necessary action, plans, and initiatives that can be financed on biodiversity restoration and confront climate changes and its negative impacts on biodiversity. Policy dialogues focused thematically on the implementation of CBD Strategic Plan (2022-2020) and the CBD Draft Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework. Recommendations made for the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework as a result of the policy dialogues included the declaration of the fringing reefs of the Red Sea as a national park.
GLOBAL TARGETS TO CONSERVE AND RESTORE CORAL ECOSYSTEMS
Time: 12:00 – 13:00 (GMT-5)
Location: The Nature Conservancy Pavilion
Organised by: Organised by: G20 Coral Research & Development Accelerator Platform (CORDAP), Global Fund for Coral Reefs (GFCR), International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI), The Nature Conservancy
Access: TBC
This side event will bring together a diverse range of speakers and panellists to highlight existing coral reef restoration implementations at scales not seen before. In addition, this side event will focus on global R&D activities, and plans to sustainably and affordably reach the orders of magnitude increase in capability required to achieve such targets, as well as blended finance initiatives aimed at unlocking private investment for restoration activities will be discussed.
PROTECTING VIETNAM’S NATURAL HERITAGE
Time: 13:15 (GMT-5)
Location: Side-event 1 512E
Organised by: Vietnam, World Wildlife Fund (WWF)
Access: Open to all
This side event will be centred around Vietnam’s natural heritage, which includes about 1,000 reefs, and aim to: promote Vietnam as a global leader in protecting biological diversity and one of the leading countries committed to international agreements (Leader’s Pledge for Nature/UNGA75 and Net Zero/COP26 and NBSAP in 2020-2030) among Asia Pacific countries, and call for collaboration between the public and private sectors to increase financial commitments to protect Viet Nam’s natural heritage through sustainable development, protected areas management, and transboundary conservation initiatives to protect biodiversity.
TRANSLATING THE POST-2020 GLOBAL BIODIVERSITY FRAMEWORK FOR MARINE AND COASTAL BIODIVERSITY
Time: 15:00 – 16:00 (GMT-5)
Location: Nature Pavilion
Organised by: International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) with Conservation International, World Wildlife Fund (WWF), Ocean & Climate Platform, Wetlands International, International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI), The Nature Conservancy (TNC), Global Mangrove Alliance (GMA), Global Mangrove Watch, International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), European Bureau for Conservation and Development (EBCD), Fisheries Experts Group of the IUCN Commission of Ecosystem Management (IUCN/CEM/FEG), GIZ/ Deutsche Gesellschaft für Internationale Zusammenarbeit.
Access: TBC
This event will outline the path to implementation, focusing on showcasing efforts and mechanisms to support the restoration of coral reefs to sustainable financing for the effective conservation, protection and restoration of coral reefs. Following welcoming remarks, the session will support a panel discussion highlighting key considerations for countries, demonstrating a unified coral community ready to act, and support and the implementation of the Post-2020 GBF.
UNITED FOR A DECADE OF CONSERVATION ACTION #FORCORAL
Time: 19:00 – 21:30 (GMT-5)
Organised by: International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI), Global Fund for Coral Reefs (GFCR), G20 Coral Research & Development Accelerator Platform (CORDAP), Principality of Monaco, Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS)
Access: by invitation only
The event will strengthen connections within the coral reef community, highlight the importance of coral reefs during the CBD negotiations on the post-2020 framework, and announce new pledges to achieve nature-positive outcomes for coral reefs by 2030. Key implementing partners for coral reefs of the post-2020 framework will be present at the event to showcase their work #ForCoral through displays of resources and will be available to discuss various implementation mechanisms.
Contact: Francis Staub, Thomas Dallison
INNOVATIONS IN CORAL REEF FINANCE
Time: 12:00 – 13:30 (GMT-5)
Location: Le Westin Montréal, 270 Rue Saint-Antoine O, Montréal
Organised by: Coral Triangle Initiative for Coral Reefs, Fisheries and Food Security (CTI-CFF), Conservation Finance Alliance (CFA), International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Global Fund for Coral Reefs (GFCR), Ocean Risk and Resilience Action Alliance ORRAA, and the Great Barrier Reef Foundation – Reef Restoration and Adaptation Program (RRAP).
Access: RSVP here by December 8
Leading coral finance experts will present best-in-class financial mechanisms and tools to scale finance for coral reef restoration, protection, and reduction of local loss drivers. This event will serve to launch the Global Fund for Coral Reefs’ REEF+ knowledge and finance accelerator currently being developed by GFCR, UNDP, Conservation Finance Alliance, and other partners. The REEF+ Accelerator combines online features, peer learning, and capacity building with an investor meeting place.
Contact: David Meyers, Penny Stock
An ocean of life: Knowledge and solutions for marine and coastal biodiversity under the Post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework
Time: 8:30 – 13:00 (GMT-5)
Location: Rio Conventions Pavilion
Organised by: Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission of UNESCO
Access: open to all with Blue Zone accreditation
This event will explore the challenges and opportunities to move from knowledge to action in marine and coastal ecosystems in the context of the post-2020 Framework. It will bring together high-level speakers from government, science, industry, and philanthropy to explore the data, infrastructure and knowledge needs of different user groups to inform policy and decision-making and showcase global solutions for conserving and restoring marine biodiversity in a changing climate. The event will also launch a major new publication highlighting the role of the UN Decade of Ocean Science for Sustainable Development in achieving the ambitions of the post-2020 Framework.
