Multilateral negotiations in UNEP: a case study of the convention on biological diversity

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to assess the effectiveness of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBO) as an international Framework Convention, setting out obligations for both North and South in respect of equitable sharing of benefits accrued from the commercial use of biological resources. The research also investigates the extent to which, the South stands to benefit from the Convention on Biological Diversity given its limited financial resources and technological bankruptcy. Specific objectives were to carry out a critical review of the Convention on Biological Diversity in order to show the dynamics of multilateral negotiations within the North-South context. The study also aims at giving a detailed analysis of the implications of the Convention on political and economic relations between developed and developing countries (North-South) in order to serve as guidelines to policy makers.

A theoretical and empirical study, which involved survey studies, was conducted. Interviews with UNEP Secretariat, Permanent Representatives accredited to UNEP from both North-South, experienced/inexperienced participants in eBO were carried out. The purpose of the interviews was to determine the views and attitude of the relevant participants towards the functioning of CBO in respect to North-South perspective. Stratified sampling method was used because of the huge size of participants involved in CBO deliberations.

The first hypothesis predicts that .multilateral negotiations on the CBO between North-South leads to equitable sharing of benefits accrued from the utilisation of biological resources. This standpoint was the least supported by the views of the respondents Multilateral negotiations on the CBO between the North and the South do not lead to equitable sharing of benefits accrued from the utiliza-tio-n of biological resources, was a standpoint which

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respondents believed to be true. The second hypothesis, which predicts that the level of preparedness influences the degree of benefits derived from utilization of biological resources was also, confirmed by respondents.

Results of the study show that the premise that the CSO is a way forward of trying to enhance equitable sharing of benefits accrued from the utilization of biological resources only if fair play between North and South is put in place .