Earth Negotiations Bulletin summary of the major negotiations of 2022

 

Wednesday, 4 January 2023

 

Summary Reports The final months of 2022 saw major overlapping meetings on climate, biodiversity, wetlands, chemicals, and more. For those who struggled to keep up, we are glad to reshare our analyses of global efforts to address environmental crises.
	Montreal Protocol MOP 34 Despite phasing out 98% of ozone depleting substances worldwide relative to a 1990 baseline and making major inroads in avoiding catastrophic climate change, parties grappled with recent scientific findings, whether and how to build on the Protocol’s success to tackle other environmental issues and delivering on the Kigali commitments. Read

 

	Intergovernmental Forum on Mining, Minerals, Metals and Sustainable Development AGM 18 A concerted effort to reach the goals of the Paris Agreement would require a quadrupling of critical mineral requirements for clean energy technologies by 2040. The mining sector must reposition itself to supply these critical minerals, while ensuring they are extracted and traded in a responsible manner. Read
	Convention on Wetlands COP 14 Delegates adopted 21 resolutions, including several intended to increase the scope and diversity of engagement in the work of the Convention. These included promoting the role of Indigenous Peoples and local communities in wetland management, connecting with youth, and expanding synergies and cooperation with other multilateral environmental agreements. Read

 

UN Framework Convention on Climate Change COP 27 For the first time, countries agreed to recognize the need for finance to respond to loss and damage associated with the adverse effects of climate change, and quickly established a fund and the necessary funding arrangements, with the details to be worked out over the coming year. Read

Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species COP 19 Delegates adopted 46 proposals to increase or decrease controls on international trade in wildlife and wildlife products, bringing many species of sharks, lizards, turtles, fish, birds, frogs, and plants under the Convention’s control to ensure the sustainability of these species in the wild while allowing their international trade. Read

 

63rd Meeting of the GEF Council The GEF Council endorsed $65 million for biodiversity projects, including more than $18 million to support the development of biodiversity finance plans in 26 countries. GEF Council members, meeting virtually, also approved the establishment of a new Gustavo Fonseca Youth Conservation Leadership program to support the education of promising young conservationists from developing countries. Read

Plastics INC-1 While most delegations seem to agree that there are negative effects surrounding plastic pollution, it was clear they have a lot to negotiate to find common ground on the details and contents of key substantive themes that will determine the scope and guide the implementation of the future international treaty. Read

 

	37th UN-Water Meeting The springboard to the UN 2023 Water Conference, the meeting was the last face-to-face gathering before the water community presents a clear roadmap to put SDG 6 (clean water and sanitation) back on track so it can be achieved by 2030. Read
	UN Biodiversity Conference COP 15 At the conclusion of an often-fractious, two-week meeting and after four years of negotiation, parties adopted the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, a historic package of measures that addresses the dangerous loss of biodiversity and the need to restore natural ecosystems and will guide biodiversity policy through 2030. Read

 

Earth Negotiations Bulletin is a balanced, timely and independent reporting service on United Nations environment and development negotiations.