A little less than two years ago, a historic agreement was signed at the Kunming-Montreal biodiversity summit to stop the destruction of life on Earth caused by human activity. The Global Biodiversity Framework agreed in 2022 sets targets to protect 30% of the planet by 2030, to reform environmentally damaging subsidies worth $500 billion, and to restore 30% of degraded ecosystems.
The Conference of the Parties (COP16) on Biodiversity, held in Cali, Colombia, from October 21 to November 1, is the first COP since Montreal aimed at implementing the agreement reached at that summit. This meeting has served to evaluate the global commitment of countries to the conservation of our ecosystems, as agreed among 192 countries at COP15, as well as to reflect on the implementation of the Global Biodiversity Framework, the commitments established and the challenges that still remain. they persist.
As president of the European Parliament delegation in Cali, I have had the opportunity to discuss the most critical issues of these two weeks of negotiations, to reflect on the instruments necessary to carry out the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework, and to analyze how each country is translating the international commitments agreed in Montreal into their national plans to halt biodiversity loss.
Precisely, one of the issues that has raised the most concern at COP16 has been the failure of many countries to present their revised National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAP). So far, less than a quarter of countries have met this commitment, which may raise questions about our willingness to halt biodiversity loss by 2030. The global biodiversity framework agreed in Montreal in 2022 sets out 23 ambitious targets to 2030. However, six years from that date, the path to achieving them is not entirely clear. Until now, the objectives within the framework of the Convention on Biological Diversity aimed at stopping the loss of biodiversity and the destruction of ecosystems have never been achieved, largely because these have always been proposed on a voluntary basis. Therefore, it is a key moment to show commitment and reinforce trust between the parties. It is imperative that all parties present their NBSAPs as soon as possible, not only to comply with what was agreed, but to ensure a sustainable future and to send the right signal that the world needs.
Another of the challenges of COP16 has revolved around financing. Discussions have focused on the creation of a new independent fund that would facilitate access to financial resources by developing countries or on the restructuring of the current Global Environment Facility. The proposal for a new fund has faced resistance from many developed countries, which fear that the creation of a new fund will not mobilize more resources than those already available. However, what is essential is to achieve the goal of mobilizing $200 billion annually, as set out in target 19 of the Kunming-Montreal framework, and to reallocate $500 billion annually in subsidies that are harmful to biodiversity, as indicated in target 18. Although some developed countries have announced monetary commitments, these are still insufficient, and progress in identifying environmentally harmful subsidies is still limited. Adequate funding channeled to those who need it most is key if we are to effectively implement the Global Framework, but unfortunately, negotiations have ended without agreement in this regard.
On the other hand, the equitable distribution of benefits derived from genetic resources has been another issue of urgent attention. Goal 13 of the Kunming-Montreal framework seeks to ensure that communities and countries that conserve these resources receive fair compensation for their use. This is not only an act of justice, but also a way to generate resources to finance the global framework. The proposal of the African Group to contribute 1% of the retail sales of companies and the proposal of the presidency, Colombia, that companies of a certain size that use these resources contribute 0.1% of their income or 1% of its profits, have been interesting starting points, having finally reached an agreement so that the pharmaceutical and cosmetics companies that benefit from these resources contribute voluntarily to a fund called the Cali Fund, intended for the countries of origin of those resources.
Another relevant point has been the implementation of article 8j of the Convention on Biological Diversity, which recognizes the importance of the traditional knowledge of indigenous communities. Strengthening the rights of indigenous communities is not only essential from a social justice perspective, but is also crucial for the effective conservation of biodiversity. Therefore, the agreement on the creation of a permanent body that represents indigenous peoples and that allows them to consult on UN decisions related to nature conservation is to be celebrated. It is essential that these communities have a leading role and real access to international resources.
Monitoring and evaluating progress has also been discussed at this COP, although agreement on the monitoring framework could not be reached. Without a clear framework that allows verification of compliance with commitments, the effectiveness of the actions would be questionable. The discussion on indicators and verification mechanisms has focused on ensuring that countries not only sign agreements, but also act accordingly, that is, ensuring that actions actually translate into results.
In turn, after more than eight years of negotiations, an agreement has been reached to identify and conserve ecologically significant marine areas in international waters, for which a group composed of experts from various regions of the world will be established to identify and describe areas. Ecologically or Biologically Significant Marine Sites (EBSAs) based exclusively on scientific and technical criteria.
Finally, the undeniable connection between biodiversity and climate change has been discussed, as well as the need to assimilate the “One Health” approach. Restoring ecosystems is key to addressing the climate crisis and implementing an approach that integrates the health of people, animals and ecosystems. Therefore, not only is the recognition of this connection at COP16 sufficient, but it will be essential that the decisions adopted at the climate COP29 in Baku recognize the essential role of our ecosystems in mitigating and adapting to climate change. Ignoring this connection would be a serious mistake that could compromise both our conservation efforts and our ability to confront climate change.
The end of COP16 has revealed slow progress and several obstacles that still remain. However, although the path ahead is challenging, it has also become clear that collective commitment and collaboration between all countries is the only way to successfully implement the Global Biodiversity Framework. If we want a sustainable and just future, all countries must commit to making biodiversity conservation an unavoidable priority. We all have to demonstrate seriousness and build trust. The health of our planet is non-negotiable and we must act now.
#Peace #nature
