At the recently held 15th Conference of Parties (COP15) to the United Nations Convention on Biological Biodiversity, a critical new framework was adopted. Known as the “Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework” (GBF), it comprises four goals and 23 targets, all of which are set for achievement by 2030. The conference took place in Canada’s Montreal, with the first part of COP 15 occurring in Kunming, China where over 100 countries adopted the Kunming Declaration, reinforcing their commitment to address the biodiversity crisis.
Key Targets of the GBF
The GBF features several critical targets aimed at restoring and conserving the global ecosystem. These include a 30×30 Deal that calls for restoration of 30% of degraded ecosystems globally by 2030, and the conservation and management of 30% of various areas such as terrestrial, inland water, and coastal and marine regions by 2030. Other key targets involved reducing risk from pesticides, reducing nutrients lost to the environment, stopping extinction of species, tackling climate change through nature-based solutions, and greening up urban spaces, among others.
Major Outcomes of COP15
COP15 resulted in several significant achievements in addition to the adoption of the GBF. One notable outcome included the Money for Nature initiative, in which signatories agreed to channel USD200 billion per year to conservation initiatives from both public and private sources. Other major outcomes included commitments from big companies to report impacts on biodiversity, countries identifying and phasing out subsidies depleting biodiversity, and setting national action plans for monitoring and reporting progress.
India’s Role at COP15
At COP15, India notably called for a dedicated fund to assist developing countries in implementing a post-2020 global framework to halt and reverse biodiversity loss. According to India, these countries bear most of the burden of conservation targets and thus require adequate funding and technology transfer. The country also highlighted that conservation of biodiversity should be based on ‘Common but Differentiated Responsibilities and Respective Capabilities’ (CBDR).
What is the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD)?
The CBD is a legal treaty enforced since 1993 and ratified by 196 nations to conserve biodiversity. It compels countries to protect biodiversity, ensure its sustainable use, and promote fair and equitable benefit sharing. Its secretariat is based in Montreal, Canada, and it regularly convenes meetings called Conference of Parties (COP). Supplementary agreements to the CBD include the Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety and the Nagoya Protocol on Access to Genetic Resources. Together, these guide countries to protect biodiversity and share the benefits arising from their utilization.
Relation with the UPSC Civil Services Examination
One of the initiatives launched by the UNFCCC Secretariat in 2015, known as “Momentum for Change: Climate Neutral Now” aligns with the goals set out in the GBF. The initiative aims to achieve climate neutrality and features a three-step process that involves individuals, companies, and governments measuring their climate footprint, reducing their emissions as much as possible, and offsetting whatever they cannot reduce with UN-certified emission reductions. This initiative has previously been a question in the UPSC Civil Services Examination, pointing towards the increasing importance of environmental conservation and biodiversity in civil services examination syllabuses.