In 2007, the world became a predominantly urban society. An estimated three-quarters of economic production now takes place in cities. Urbanization brings with it the possibilities of improved access to jobs, goods, and services for poor people in developing countries and beyond as globalization trends connect cities worldwide.

In many countries, degraded ecosystems represent immense opportunity for both biodiversity restoration and human health. When properly designed, the restoration of ecosystems is a proven, safe and immediately available means to protect biodiversity and the vital benefits it provides.

In light of the adoption of the Nagoya Protocol, it is important for countries that have or are in the process of putting in place national ABS measures to share their experiences in implementation.

This new report connects the dots between the climate and oil crises, new technologies and corporate power. It warns that the world’s largest companies are riding the coattails of the “Green Economy” while gearing up for their boldest coup to-date – not just by making strategic acquisitions and tapping new markets, but also by penetrating new industrial sectors.

This report contains abstracts of posters presented at the 15th Meeting of the Subsidiary Body on Scientific, Technical and Technological Advice of the Convention on Biological Diversity, 7-11 November 2011, Montreal, Canada.

The first edition of the “Cities and Biodiversity Outlook” (CBO-1) will consist of a global assessment of the links between urbanization, biodiversity and ecosystem services.

Water is essential to life. The vocabulary of water percolates into daily conversations worldwide, whether in relation to personal or societal survival, the status and health of the global environment, or to water’s importance in other realms of sustainable development including food and energy security.

Proposed amendments to phase down hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs) under the Montreal Protocol received support from a diverse group of developing and developed countries during the Thirty-first meeting of the Open-ended Working Group of the Parties to the Montreal Protocol on "Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer" (OEWG 31) held on 1-5 August 2011

Integrated water resources management (IWRM) combines land and water management through broad-based stakeholder participation to realize multiple co-benefits in watersheds. IWRM recognizes the economic benefits of managing water and related resources in an integrated manner to provide high levels of ecosystem services (ES).

The Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) has released a study that provides scientific and technical information on ways to ensure that the design and implementation of policies for REDD+ (reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation  in developing countries, as well as conservation, sustainable management of forests and enhancement of carbon stocks)

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