• Overview
  • Background
  • Agenda

This webinar is the first in a webinar series to provide a briefing about the Bern Process since it started in 2019, focusing on key efforts since 2024, when the Bern III Conference  took place, and showcasing collaborative work by UNEP, the co-chairs and the MEAs to accelerate cooperation and collaborative actions for the  the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework  (KM-GBF). These actions include cooperation in implementation, preparation of guidance and information documents, advancing decisions and resolutions of the governing bodies, side events and capacity- building workshops that took place in the regions. Recognizing that there is mutual benefit to be found in cooperation at all appropriate levels, the way forward on the Bern Process to continue its support to future planning with respect to the role of multiple MEAs in supporting implementation of the KM-GBF, remains relevant. 

Date: Wednesday, 25 June 2025

Time: 17:00 - 18:30 EAT

Register Here

The webinar aims to reflect on: 

  • An overview of the Bern Process and how it increased MEA implementation effectiveness, including on-the-ground activities at the national and regional levels.  

  • The work of the Co-chairs during the conference and afterwards promoting the practical actions of the Bern III Conference through their roles.  

  • How the MEAs secretariats and national governments accelerated synergies for the KM-GBF and other international commitments. 

This webinar is organized by UNEP in collaboration with the CBD Secretariat, Mexico, Sweden and Switzerland 

For more information, please reach out to Diane Klaimi, Programme Management Officer, Law Division, UNEP 

The Bern Process has been driving effective cooperation and collaboration among and between the parties of over 16 multilateral environmental agreements in support of the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework (KM-GBF) implementation since 2019. Bern I and Bern II Consultations enabled effective collaboration among the MEAs that led to a strengthened role of MEAs in the KM-GBF. In January 2024, UNEP convened the Bern III Conference on cooperation among the biodiversity-related conventions for the implementation of the KM-GBF. The conference brought together representatives of parties and secretariats of 16 MEAs, together with a range of other stakeholders, organizations and individual experts. The open exchange on cooperation to implement the KM-GBF resulted in a wide range of concrete ideas for increased collaboration among MEAs at global, regional and national levels. This included recognition of the value of the conference itself, and the potential for building on the “Bern Process”. The idea of an associated seminar series or Webinars was one of the suggestions made by participants.  

This is a Tentative Agenda

17:00 - 17:05: Opening Remarks (UNEP and SCBD (tbc)

17:05 - 17:15: Overview of the Bern Process  

  • The Bern Process on Cooperation among the MEAs and how UNEP supported the implementation KM-GBF, by engaging the different clusters of conventions, including chemicals and wastes, desertification and climate change, developing and rolling out integrated approaches and mapping tools.
  • Support the global synergies agenda more broadly through UNEA and through regional capacity-building workshops in Africa and Latin America in a whole-of-society approach.  

Ms. Diane Klaimi, Treaties Programme Manager, UNEP 

17:15 - 17:35: Bern III Conference Practical Outcomes,  

  • How the Co-chairs worked to make sure the report findings were disseminated through MEA governing bodies. 

  • How the Co-chairs further integrated and promoted the actions through follow-up actions at national levels, what worked or didn’t work.

Ms. Clarisse Kehler Siebert, Co-Chair Bern III, Senior Policy Advisor at the Swedish Environmental Protection Agency  

Ms. Camila Zepeda Lizama, Mexico, Co-Chair Bern III, Head of International Affairs Unit at the Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources of Mexico 

 17:35 - 17:50: Strengthening Synergies across MEAs: Chemicals & Wastes and Biodiversity in Focus 

Ms. Malgorzata Stylo, Programme Management Officer at UNEP, Chemicals and Health Branch 

17:50 - 18:05: Open Q&A Session with the Audience

  •  Impressions, Questions to Panellists and Comments  

18:05 - 18:15: Closing Remarks 

  • Future of the Bern Process, Bern IV Conference;  Bogis Bossey expert workshop on Global review 

Ms. Diane Klaimi, Treaties Programme Manager, UNEP 

Closing Remarks on behalf of Switzerland  

Mr. Niklaus Wagner, Federal Office for the Environment of Switzerland

Moderator: Ms. Tita Korvenoja, Chief Environmental Conventions and policy Branch, UNEP