Peace with nature

A little less than two years ago, a historic agreement was signed at the Kunming-Montreal biodiversity summit to put an end to 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, reform environmentally damaging subsidies worth $500 billion and 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 to implement the agreement reached at this summit. This meeting served to assess the global commitment of countries to the conservation of our ecosystems, as agreed between 192 countries at COP15, as well as to reflect on the implementation of the Global Biodiversity Framework, commitments taken and the challenges that remain to be met. they persist.

As chair of the European Parliament delegation in Cali, I had the opportunity to address the most critical issues of these two weeks of negotiations, to reflect on the instruments necessary for the implementation of the Kunming- Montreal for Biodiversity and analyze how each country translates the international commitments agreed in Montreal into its national plans to end biodiversity loss.

Precisely, one of the issues that raised the most concern during COP16 was the inability of many countries to present their revised National Biodiversity Strategies and Action Plans (NBSAPs). So far, less than a quarter of countries have met this commitment, which could raise questions about our commitment to halting biodiversity loss by 2030. The global biodiversity framework agreed in Montreal in 2022 sets 23 ambitious goals by 2030. However, six years on from this date, the path to get there is not entirely clear. Until now, the Convention on Biological Diversity’s goals to halt biodiversity loss and ecosystem destruction have never been achieved, largely because they have always been proposed on a voluntary basis. It is therefore a key moment to show commitment and strengthen trust between the parties. It is imperative that all parties present their NBSAPs as soon as possible, not only to comply with what has been agreed, but also to ensure a sustainable future and send the right signal that the world needs.

Another challenge of COP16 concerns financing. Discussions focused on the creation of a new independent fund that would facilitate access to financial resources for developing countries or on the restructuring of the current Global Environment Facility. The proposal for a new fund has encountered resistance from many developed countries, who fear that the creation of a new fund will not mobilize more resources than those already available. However, the main thing is to achieve the goal of mobilizing $200 billion per year, as outlined in Goal 19 of the Kunming-Montreal framework, and reallocating $500 billion per year in subsidies harmful to biodiversity, as outlined in Target 18. Some developed countries have announced monetary commitments, but these are still insufficient and progress in identifying environmentally harmful subsidies is still limited. Adequate funding for those who need it most is essential if we are to effectively implement the Global Framework, but unfortunately the negotiations ended without an agreement on this.

On the other hand, the equitable distribution of benefits from genetic resources is another pressing issue. Goal 13 of the Kunming-Montreal framework aims 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 means of generating resources to finance the global framework. The African Group’s proposal to contribute 1% to corporate retail sales and the Colombian presidency’s proposal that companies of a certain size that use these resources contribute 0.1% of their revenue or of 1% of their profits, were interesting starting points, having finally reached an agreement for pharmaceutical and cosmetic companies that benefit from these resources to voluntarily contribute to a fund called Cali Fund, intended for the countries of origin of these resources .

Another relevant point was the implementation of Article 8j of the Convention on Biological Diversity, which recognizes the importance of traditional knowledge of indigenous communities. Strengthening the rights of indigenous communities is not only essential from a social justice perspective, but also crucial for the effective conservation of biodiversity. We must therefore welcome the agreement on the creation of a permanent body which represents indigenous peoples and which allows them to consult on UN decisions related to nature conservation. It is essential that these communities play a leading role and have real access to international resources.

Monitoring and evaluating progress was also discussed at this COP, although agreement on the monitoring framework could not be reached. Without a clear framework to verify compliance with commitments, the effectiveness of actions would be questionable. The debate on indicators and verification mechanisms has focused on ensuring that countries not only sign agreements, but also act on them, i.e. ensuring that actions actually translate into results .

In turn, after more than eight years of negotiations, an agreement was 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 created to identify and describe the areas. Marine sites of ecological or biological importance (ZIEB) based exclusively on scientific and technical criteria.

Finally, the undeniable link between biodiversity and climate change was mentioned, as well as the need to assimilate the “One Health” approach. Ecosystem restoration is essential to address the climate crisis and implement an approach that integrates the health of people, animals and ecosystems. Therefore, not only is recognition of this link at COP16 sufficient, but it will be essential that decisions adopted at COP29 on climate in Baku recognize the essential role of our ecosystems in mitigating and adapting to climate change. climate change. Ignoring this link would be a serious mistake that could compromise both our conservation efforts and our ability to address climate change.

The end of COP16 revealed the slow progress and several remaining obstacles. However, while the road ahead is difficult, it has also become clear that collective commitment and collaboration among 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 essential priority. We all need to show seriousness and build trust. The health of our planet is non-negotiable and we must act now.