IIASA researchers will contribute to multiple side-events at the 17th Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity – an international meeting bringing together governments, researchers, and policymakers from around the world.
This year, the event will focus on:
- Implementation of the KMGBF, including 2030 targets
- Biodiversity finance and closing the global funding gap
- Monitoring and accountability mechanisms
- Ecosystem restoration and expansion of protected areas
- Equitable benefit‑sharing from genetic resources
- Indigenous Peoples’ and local communities’ leadership
- Integration of biodiversity with climate and sustainable development agendas
IIASA participation
Piero Visconti
Gerald Steindlegger
- Engaging key stakeholders as part of the SITCA strategy, with a particular focus on building bridges between international organisations, NGOs, governments, the private sector, and forest owners through dialogue, interactive discussions, and the exchange of scientific findings.
- 22 October
Side event with the Building for Forests Alliance (FAO, BbN, UN-Habitat, IUFRO, and other partners), where he will deliver a presentation and participate in a panel discussion. The objective is to address and discuss key biodiversity-related issues relevant to SITCA from a scientific perspective, including the relationship between sustainable forest management, timber construction, climate protection, and biodiversity. Meetings and discussions with key environmental NGOs are also planned at the Nature Positive Pavilion, with the aim of understanding different perspectives, addressing critical questions, and strengthening dialogue between the relevant stakeholder groups.
About the event
COP17 is the next major global biodiversity summit under the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD). It will gather 196 Parties to assess progress on the Kunming–Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) and accelerate implementation. Armenia was elected host and COP president due to its ecological significance and regional leadership.
The participation in CBD COP17 forms an important component of the roadmap towards UNFCCC COP31, particularly in terms of aligning climate, biodiversity, forests, and sustainable construction agendas and engaging relevant international stakeholders.
A further objective is to raise awareness and inform decision-makers by providing an evidence-based perspective on sustainable forest management and timber construction, including their economic viability, technical performance, and potential contribution to climate protection.
Upcoming Events
Chulalongkorn University, Thailand
Training workshop: Demographic analysis with applications to aging, health, and education
Austrian Academy of Sciences, Festive Hall, Dr. Ignaz Seipel-Platz 2, 1010 Vienna