Launched in November 2018, by the Governments of Egypt and China, in collaboration with the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), the Sharm El-Sheikh to Kunming Action Agenda for Nature and People (Action Agenda) serves as a global mechanism to inspire, connect and mobilize actions for biodiversity and biosafety, in support of the post-2020 Global Biodiversity Framework and the Implementation Plan for the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety. The Action Agenda is available at https://www.cbd.int/portals/action-agenda/.
Since the launch of the web platform in March 2019 to end of July 2021, a total of 205 commitments were published covering 11 action areas, including biosafety. Non-state actors engaged include academic and research institutes, non -governmental organizations, government, private sector, individuals, the UN System, youth and indigenous peoples and local communities.
In the Implementation Plan for the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety that is expected to be adopted at the tenth Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties (COP-MOP 10), Parties and other stakeholders are also encouraged to promote and facilitate public awareness, education and participation on the safe transfer, handling and use of LMOs. The Global Biodiversity Framework, including a target related to biosafety, is also expected to be adopted at the fifteenth Conference of Parties (COP 15) in October 2021. The Global Biodiversity Framework aims to galvanize urgent and transformative action by Governments and all of society, including indigenous peoples and local communities, civil society, and businesses.
Based on the programme of work on public awareness, education and participation concerning the safe transfer, handling and use of living modified organisms (LMOs) that ended 2020, including the Executive Secretary request to establish an online forum and other appropriate means to facilitate exchange of information and experiences on the implementation of the programme of work. Over the years, the Secretariat has launched four online forums on public awareness, education and participation, including access to information, concerning the safe transfer, handling and use of LMOs, involving a number of non-state actors.
To continue to hold discussion groups and share experiences and lessons learned through the Biosafety Clearing-House (BCH), the Secretariat will be reconvening online discussions.
