In May 2024, Alexandra M. Goossens-Ishii of SGI participated in the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) intersessional meetings—the 26th meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice and the fourth meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Implementation—held in Nairobi, Kenya to prepare for the Biodiversity COP16 that will take place in October 2024 in Cali, Colombia. She co-organised the first workshop of an innovative dialogue series aimed at pioneering a human rights-based approach (HRBA) for biodiversity and climate action.
Workshop participants
SGI is co-convening this crucial dialogue series in collaboration with BES-Net, SwedBio, the Climate and Development Knowledge Network and the Forest, Climate, and Livelihood research network (Focali). Supported by the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the United Nations Human Rights Office of the High Commissioner, the initiative aims to bridge the gap between internationally agreed frameworks and their implementation at national and subnational levels. A multi-actor dialogue will take place ahead of the Biodiversity COP16 and will also look for strategic entry points that can catalyze action.
The inaugural workshop focused on amplifying the voices of Indigenous Peoples, local communities, women and youth. It explored practical examples of implementing a human rights-based approach on the ground.
Workshop participants
"With 32 participants from diverse backgrounds, we used innovative methodologies to center discussions around stories and real-world experiences. This approach was incredibly well-received and helped create a rich, inclusive dialogue," reflected Goossens-Ishii.
The dialogue series recognizes the importance of human rights in both the Paris Agreement on climate change and the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF). It aims to enhance understanding and strengthen the capacity of various actors to implement a human rights based approach (HRBA) in biodiversity and climate action.
"By bringing together different stakeholders and acknowledging the power dynamics at play, we're working to ensure that the voices, concerns and strategies of often-marginalized groups are heard and incorporated into biodiversity and climate action strategies," said one of the co-organisers of the workshop.
Looking ahead, two more dialogues are planned to coincide with the UN climate intersessional meetings in Bonn, Germany, and the Nature based Solutions Conference in Oxford, UK. These events will bring together member states, researchers and international NGOs’ representatives to explore best practices, identify common challenges and bridge the gap between academic research and practical implementation of a HRBA in biodiversity and climate policies.
"This dialogue series is a significant step towards integrating human rights principles into global environmental efforts," Goossens-Ishii concluded. "By fostering collaboration between diverse stakeholders, we aim to catalyze action and ensure that biodiversity and climate strategies are not only effective but also equitable and inclusive."
Goossens-Ishii also actively engaged in the CBD intersessional meetings, joining a group of civil society committed to creating entry points for synergies between efforts to combat biodiversity loss, climate change and desertification, conventions known collectively as the Rio Conventions.
At a CBD intersessional meeting
As the dialogue series and the CBD policy discussions progress, SGI remains committed to its role in promoting a rights-based, inclusive approach to addressing the interlinked challenges of biodiversity loss and climate change.
