As part of our work on Digital Sequence Information (DSI), a notable event took place in the summer of 2021: The second informal DSI Dialogue was to support the preparation of negotiations at CBD COP 15. Originally planned as an in-person meeting in 2020, the Dialogue had to be cancelled due to the pandemic. With in-person gatherings still unfeasible in 2021, the sponsors and organisers opted for a virtual format.

This raised two key challenges: a) How to foster open, trusting exchanges under the Chatham House Rule without face-to-face interaction? b) How to accommodate global time zones without excessive night sessions for some participants. Though not fully resolved, several features helped make the most of the situation.

To encourage open discussion, the dialogue focused on important but ’non-threatening‘ topics, such as comparing current conditions with desired futures and identifying necessary changes. Virtual breakout rooms and the chat function enabled direct exchanges among all participants. To address time zone issues, five online events were held over two weeks, three of them in regional groups.

A clear advantage of going virtual was increased accessibility, as no travel costs allowed wider participation. Around 140 people from all continents — including government officials, academics, private sector actors, and local community members — joined to explore options, criteria, and requirements for change in DSI. The report from the DSI Global Virtual Dialogue is available here. (English, PDF, 1.4 MB).