2022/023: Nomination of Candidates for the COP-Appointed Councillor Subject Areas of Aquatic Mammals and Climate Change

Through this Notification the Secretariat is seeking nominations for suitable candidates for the COP-appointed Councillor subject areas of Aquatic Mammals and Climate Change.  

Annexed to this Notification are generic terms of reference for COP-appointed Councillors. Parties are invited to submit nominations in writing to the Secretariat, [email protected], copying  [email protected], by 28 February 2023. Candidates do not have to be nationals of the Party submitting the nomination, or even of a CMS Party. Candidates should be internationally recognized experts in the field which they are proposed to cover as a COP-appointed Councillor. Nominations should include a statement justifying the candidature, a CV of the candidate, as well as a declaration by the candidate expressing their readiness to accept the appointment if selected.  Appointments will be for the intersessional period between COP14 (October 2023) and COP15, approximately 3 years later.  Appointments are normally renewed by each subsequent meeting of the COP for the following intersessional period, subject to the confirmation of the corresponding subject area among those to be covered by COP-appointed Councillors.

Considering that COP-appointed Councillors are usually called to coordinate and/or chair working groups at CMS Scientific Council meetings, normally operating in English without simultaneous interpretation, a good command of English is considered necessary to efficiently undertake the task. Knowledge of the other working languages of the Scientific Council (French, Spanish) would be an asset.

The position of COP-appointed Councillor is not remunerated.  Based on currently applicable rules and policies, and subject to availability of resources, the Secretariat will cover the travel and subsistence allowance related to the participation of the COP-appointed Councillors to meetings of the Sessional Committee of the Scientific Council (normally two in the intersessional period between COPs) and of the COP (normally one meeting in a triennium).

The Secretariat will compile all nominations received and will make them available to COP14 for consideration. Prior to COP14, the Sessional Committee will consult on the nominations received with a view to formulating its recommendations on the selection of candidates to the COP.

For further information or clarification on the COP-Appointed Councillor subject areas and the nomination process, please contact the CMS Scientific Adviser Mr. Marco Barbieri [email protected].

Background

The 13th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to CMS (Gandhinagar, India, 15-22 February 2020) decided on the appointment of COP-appointed Councillors for the intersessional period between COP13 and COP14 for the following subject areas:  Birds, Terrestrial Mammals, Aquatic Mammals, Fish, Climate Change, Connectivity/Networks, Marine Pollution, Bycatch, and Invasive Species/Wildlife Disease.  Based on a recommendation of the Scientific Council, COP13 also agreed on a review process that should occur every two COP cycles to ensure the ongoing applicability of the subject areas (see document UNEP/CMS/COP13/Doc.15.1 Revision of COP-appointed Councillor Subject Areas for details).  The subject areas approved by COP13 are therefore expected to be confirmed for the intersessional period between COP14 and COP15.

The COP-appointed Councillors for Aquatic Mammals (Dr. Giuseppe Notarbartolo di Sciara) and Climate Change (Prof. Colin Galbraith) have informed the Secretariat that they are not going to seek reappointment for the intersessional period between COP14 and COP15.  The current COP-appointed Councillors for all other subject areas have confirmed their availability to remain in their appointed positions following COP14.

Last updated on 20 December 2022