In the context of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD), where was the…

Concept

Under an international environmental treaty, the Conference of the Parties is the governing body that periodically reviews implementation and takes decisions.

A COP meeting venue must be identified from the treaty body’s official meeting record, separately from the treaty secretariat’s headquarters or the place where the treaty was opened for signature.

Application

The official CBD record lists the first ordinary meeting of the Conference of the Parties (COP 1) as held in Nassau, Bahamas, from 28 November to 9 December 1994. Therefore, among the given places, the Bahamas corresponds to the recorded venue.

Cross-check and contrast

• Montreal hosts the Secretariat of the Convention on Biological Diversity, which is an administrative association rather than the COP 1 venue.

• Geneva is a major centre for United Nations and international organisations, but it is not the venue recorded for CBD COP 1.

• Rio de Janeiro hosted the 1992 Earth Summit, where the CBD was opened for signature; that event is distinct from the first COP meeting.

Result

The first CBD Conference of the Parties was held in the Bahamas.