The UNEP/AEWA Secretariat would like to inform you that the Standing Committee has decided to postpone MOP8 to 2022 (dates need to be confirmed) in order to increase the chances of holding this meeting face-to-face, as wished by many Parties in their responses to the questionnaire on MOP8.

MOP8 was scheduled to take place on 5 – 9 October 2021 in the framework of the ‘One with Nature’ exhibition in Budapest at the kind invitation of the Government of Hungary. The dates and venue had been confirmed by the Standing Committee at its extraordinary meeting on 28 July 2021. A thorough risk analysis of the situation in the follow up, however, has identified several difficulties for Contracting Parties, especially those from Africa, regarding their safe departure and travel to Budapest under the pandemic circumstances. After further discussions the Standing Committee therefore concluded that the risk of only being able to welcome very few delegates from the region of Africa in Budapest is extremely high and would undermine the effectiveness of negotiations and the principles of collaboration and inclusivity which are central to AEWA.

The Standing Committee and the Secretariat express their sincere appreciation for the efforts undertaken by the Hungarian Government’s representatives to find a way to host the meeting during this very difficult year, despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. The Secretariat is in discussion with the Government of Hungary concerning the possibility of holding events in the margins of the international exhibition. Further information will be provided to you as soon as possible.

For more details, please contact the Secretariat at aewa.secretariat@unep-aewa.org