SBSTTA-28 Reviews CBD Biodiversity Targets Ahead of COP17 Yerevan

SBSTTA-28 in Nairobi provides for science-based, practical advice under the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity ahead of COP17 in Yerevan, Armenia. Deliberations comprise review of progress on the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework 2030 targets and discussions on synthetic biology.

SBSTTA-28, CBD, and Biodiversity Targets:

Dimension	Key Details
SBSTTA	SBSTTA provides for scientific, technical, and technological advice to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity.
COP17 to CBD (location and role)	COP17 comprises the 17th Conference of the Parties to the CBD in Yerevan, Armenia, and authorises decisions on action for nature and reviewing global progress.
KMGBF	Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KMGBF) comprises a 2022-agreed plan with 23 goals to reach by 2030.
KMGBF (examples of goals)	KMGBF comprises goals such as protecting more land and ocean, and stopping species from going extinct.
Progress assessment	National reports from 129 countries comprise an assessment that the world is not on track to meet most 2030 targets, and that money, technology, and capacity have not flowed to developing countries fast enough.
SBSTTA-28 (agenda items)	SBSTTA-28 comprises discussions on marine and coastal biodiversity, sustainable wildlife management, an update to the programme of work on protected areas, and work related to the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services.
Synthetic biology (definition)	It comprises the use of genetic engineering and related technologies to design, modify, or build new biological parts, organisms, or systems, including gene-edited crops and microbes engineered to produce chemicals or medicines.
Synthetic biology (research and patents)	Advanced synthetic biology research and patents comprise ownership by a small number of rich countries and companies.
Synthetic biology (potential applications)	It comprises potential applications such as restoring degraded ecosystems, fighting invasive species, and producing goods more sustainably.
Synthetic biology (concerns)	It comprises concerns including unintended ecosystem effects if engineered organisms spread beyond laboratories or fields, uncertainty on regulation of rapidly evolving tools, and questions on control and profit from the technology.
COP16	COP16 in Cali in 2024 authorises drafting a full action plan and establishment of a new expert group to study risks and benefits of synthetic biology.
IUCN World Conservation Congress	The International Union for the Conservation of Nature World Conservation Congress in Abu Dhabi in October 2025 mandates a case-by-case approach on releasing genetically engineered organisms into the wild, instead of a moratorium.
Thematic action plan (SBSTTA-28 output on synthetic biology)	A draft thematic action plan provides for sharing money, training, and technology related to synthetic biology among countries.
Developing countries	Developing countries’ position comprises the need for more money, training, access to technology, and knowledge-sharing so countries can benefit from synthetic biology and manage risks safely.