The United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) has recently called for an extra $200 billion funds from various sources to assist developing countries in managing nature until 2030. This demand is part of the new Global Biodiversity Framework’s official draft, which includes numerous targets and proposals set for 2030.
Background of the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)
Established in 1993, the CBD is a legally binding treaty that mandates the conservation of biological diversity, the sustainable utilization of its components, and the fair and equitable distribution of benefits resulting from genetic resources use. Almost every country, with the United States as a notable exception, has ratified the treaty.
The CBD Secretariat, headquartered in Montreal, Canada, operates under the United Nations Environment Programme. The signatories of the CBD, known as Parties, convene regularly at the Conference of Parties (COP).
Supplementary Agreements and Protocols
In 2000, the Convention adopted the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, aimed at safeguarding biological diversity from potential risks posed by living modified organisms resulting from modern biotechnology. Subsequently, the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources was adopted in 2010, extending protections to traditional knowledge associated with genetic resources.
Biodiversity and Human Well-Being
Biodiversity and its associated benefits are crucial for human well-being and a healthy planet. However, despite concerted efforts, biodiversity is deteriorating worldwide and this decline is projected to worsen under business-as-usual scenarios. To address this, the post-2020 global biodiversity framework expands on the Strategic Plan for Biodiversity 2011-2020.
Purpose of the New Global Biodiversity Framework
This new framework serves as a guiding force to protect nature and maintain its essential services for humans from 2020 to 2030. It aims to stimulate urgent and transformative action by Governments and society as a whole, facilitate regular monitoring and review of progress, and ensure effective capacity building for conservation.
Goals, Targets and Financial Support
The new framework sets four goals for 2050, including halting the extinction and decline of biodiversity, conserving nature’s services to humans, ensuring fair benefits from genetic resources use, and bridging the financial gap. The framework includes 21 action-oriented targets for urgent action over the next decade until 2030.
Moreover, the framework underlines the importance of financial support for its implementation, especially for developing countries which are most vulnerable to biodiversity loss. An additional $10 billion per year international financial flow to these countries forms part of the overall proposed increase of $200 billion per year.
Framework and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
The framework contributes crucially to the realization of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, with progress towards SDGs also helping to create conducive conditions for the framework’s implementation.
Theory of Change of the Framework
Built around a theory of change, the framework recognizes that urgent policy action at multiple levels is required to transform current economic, social and financial models. The trends exacerbating biodiversity loss are projected to stabilize by 2030 and allow for the recovery of natural ecosystems in the following 20 years, thereby achieving the Convention’s vision of “living in harmony with nature by 2050”.