CBD COP15: The UN Biodiversity Conference

The UN Biodiversity Conference was originally scheduled to take place from 15-28 October 2020, in Kunming, China, but was postponed several times as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. On 18 August 2021, the CBD Secretariat announced that COP 15 would take place in two parts. The first part took place in a virtual format, from 11-15 October 2021. The second part of COP 15 was expected to take place face-to-face meeting in Kunming, China. After several date changes, this part was moved to Montreal, Canada. On 21 June 2022, the CBD Secretariat announced:

• after close consultation among the Government of China as COP President, the Bureau, the Secretariat and the Government of Canada as host of the Secretariat, it has been decided that the second part of the Meetings will take place at the seat of the Secretariat, in Montreal, Canada from 5 to 17 December 2022; and
• China, as COP 15 President, will continue to preside over the Meetings, with the logo and the theme of COP 15 maintained. China will also convene the High-Level Segment and lead the facilitation of negotiations. To this end, the Government of China has agreed to fund the travel of Ministers from Least Developed Countries and Small Island Developing States to Canada to participate in the High-Level Segment.